MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A handful of Minnesota Wild fans, tired of the NHL lockout, got their hockey fix at the Mariucci Arena.

At the Gopher ticket office, a few Wild fans were found grabbing seats for Friday’s sold out game against Michigan State. Patrick Dixson was one of them.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Edgar Linares Reports

“I wish the Wild were playing especially with the team they’re coming back with. There’s enough politics in the presidential election right now. We don’t need politics in something that’s a form of pride and entertainment for our state,” Dixson said.

Chris Bahl, Associate Athletic Director for External Relations says single game tickets for the Gophers are doing well, and that may have something to do with the NHL lockout.

“We’re in Minnesota hockey fans are hockey fans. People here in Minnesota want to see hockey and we have a great product,” Bahl said.

Season ticket sales for the Gophers have been surging since the team made it to the Frozen Four last year, but lost in the semifinals to Boston University.

Bahl is telling Wild fans that they should come down to Mariucci this year for entertaining hockey.

Dixson – a hockey fan who’s waiting patiently for the Wild to get going – says he doesn’t have sympathy for NHL players and owners who can’t agree on how to split more than $3 billion in revenue.

“I know they were locked out they didn’t choose to strike, but for them to be complaining in an economy like this… from a fans perspective it’s disheartening,” he said.