Living in Minnesota, I was extremely happy when professional hockey was finally brought into our city.
The Minnesota Wild was founded in 1997 but didn’t begin playing until the 2000-2001 season.
They compete in the Central Division of the Western Conference of the NHL. They play at the Xcel Energy Center, which has a seating capacity of almost 18,000, four spectator levels, one suite level and three for general seating. The hockey season usually gets started in early October, right when the weather in Minnesota turns chilly. It runs sometime in April, which is perfect. Watching the games gives me something to look forward to over the winter. Our local weather forecast is full of blizzard warnings, snow flurries, snow squalls, road closings, school closings and dangerous wind chills. It’s very unpleasant to spend time outdoors. I am not happy about the hours I spend shoveling the walkways and driveways. The majority of the time, I’m trapped in the house. I follow the Wild and look forward to the games. The only reason I don’t invest in season tickets is because I worry about dangerous road conditions. It’s easier to watch on television at home. I have access to snacks, drinks and my comfortable chair. Sometimes I invite friends over, and we make it a party. The regular season ends in early April, right when the weather starts warming up. I always try to get my hands on playoff tickets. However, they sell out fast and the Wild rarely make it past the first round. In twenty-two years, they’ve only made the second round four times.