Wild Expect Sellout Crowd Saturday As NHL Returns
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — Minnesota Wild officials say they expect a sellout Saturday when the team opens at home after the lockout that wiped away half the season.
Chief operating officer Matt Majka says strong ticket sales suggest a full house for the 8 p.m. game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Teams across the National Hockey League are working to win back fans after the 119-day lockout.
The Wild are hosting "Wild Wednesday," featuring a free intrasquad scrimmage at 7 p.m. Fans will get $10 concession vouchers and discounts on Wild jerseys and apparel during the event. Tickets for that scrimmage are already gone.
Single-game tickets go on sale Wednesday morning.
The Minnesota Wild released its TV schedule on Tuesday, and officials announced that all 48 games in the shortened season will be on TV.
The Wild open the season at 8 p.m. Saturday at Xcel Energy Center as part of Hockey Day Minnesota. That game will be broadcast on Fox Sports North. The Wild will have 43 other games broadcast on Fox Sports North, including its first three games.
The Minnesota Wild will make four appearances on national television. The first is Sunday, Jan. 27 when it travels to face the St. Louis Blues on the NBC Sports Network. That network will also broadcast the Wild hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 30, at the Detroit Red Wings on March 20 and another home game against the Blackhawks on April 9.
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