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The Minnesota Wild’s start to the 2019-20 campaign has been perhaps their worst launch to a season since the team started 1-6-0 in Todd Richards’ first year as head coach back in 2009-10. Finally, though, the Wild managed to put together a solid performance Sunday evening as they chalked up their second win of the season in a back-and-forth 4-3 thriller against the Montreal Canadiens.
Ironically, there was a much smaller turnout for the victory than what we’ve become so accustomed to in recent years. Why? Because for the first time since December of 2013, the Wild failed to sell out Xcel Energy Center. Per Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota’s sellout streak ends at 251 games, including regular season and postseason.
Announced attendance today will be 17,344
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 20, 2019
Two home games into this season, and the #mnwild's 251-game sellout streak is over.
The Wild had sold out 230 straight regular-season home games and 21 straight playoff games since Dec. 5, 2013
It’s not exactly rocket science. Fans want to watch sports teams that, you know, don’t lose all the time. Unfortunately for the Wild, they’ve been losing a whole lot as of late — especially on home ice. In fact, only one team, the Los Angeles Kings, lost more games on home ice than the Wild last season.
Minnesota is obviously wild (see what I did there?) about hockey. After all, it’s not called the “State of Hockey” for nothing. But for the Wild to not sell out their own arena in just their second home game of the season?
Buddy. That’s a problem.