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Wild Playoff Success Means Big Business For St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnesota Wild fans are waiting to hear when the playoff push will continue.

The announcement could come Monday night. For area businesses, home games mean large crowds and even larger profits. Reg Chapman explored more on how a packed Xcel Center means big dollars for businesses.

In the shadow of the Xcel Energy Center sits a row of businesses benefiting from the success of the Minnesota Wild. The closest bar to the X, Eagle Street Grille, is a favorite among most hockey fans.

Owner Kevin Geisen says game nights are electric.

"It's packed wall-to-wall with excited people," Geisen said.

They are excited people who are also spending money and having a good time. Geisen says this playoff push for the Wild has his profits high and his fun meter in the red.

With round two around the corner, Geisen says he expects money to flow like his beer tap will come game time.

"This one with Chicago is going to be fantastic because they travel really well we even have customers that are Wild fans that are getting to know Chicago fans so to an extent its becomes a little more deeper and more exciting," Geisen said.

Next door at Zamboni Pizza, Edddie Garceau says business triples on game day.

"It does not matter if they are winning or losing. It's nuts either way," Garceau said. "It's pretty nuts for the couple of hours, to or three hours before the game."

Garceau says walk-in business slows when the game starts, but deliveries pick up. When the Wild play, extra staff is needed to deal with the rush.

The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs puts the Wild against Chicago, and this time around, business owners say the weather has helped.

"To where we can have our deck and patio open to really reach the capacity that we're built for," Geisen said.

Businesses along West Seventh say they hope the Wild play Friday or Saturday at Xcel Energy Center. Both are great days for fans to make it out for a great experience in St. Paul.

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