Dan Wallace: Wild to Host Winter Classic 2021 at Target Field!!!

Why is the only team who couldn't sellout their outdoor game getting another one?

Boring team. Boring event.

Cant see why the Wild would get a game now. What deserving teams in the NHL haven't had an out game yet or have not been invited to one?. Anyone have an answer to that?.

Cant see why the Wild would get a game now. What deserving teams in the NHL haven't had an out game yet or have not been invited to one?. Anyone have an answer to that?.
- isitin1

About half the league falls into the category of deserving to play in their first, host their first, or host their second outdoor game before MN hosts their second. Columbus, Carolina, Anaheim, Nashville, Montreal, Detroit, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, St. Louis, San Jose, Islanders, & New Jersey all arguably fit into one of those categories.

Because it’s the state of hockey. Because target field is amazing (last time it was at TCF).

No brainer to go to MN again over other cities that do not have the same passion for the game.

Because it’s the state of hockey. Because target field is amazing (last time it was at TCF).

No brainer to go to MN again over other cities that do not have the same passion for the game.
- Dahlmanyotes

So... because the team has a slogan you remember, they should get a Winter Classic? That's ridiculous.

If MN had some huge passion for an NHL outdoor game, it would have sold out the one it had, the way everywhere else does. It's not like people are saying Arizona or Miami should get this over MN.

Wow!!! I didn't think I would see so much hate towards the Wild for getting this. It's one of top spots for outdoors hockey. Games for the Winter classic should be in Minnesota more often!

Wow!!! I didn't think I would see so much hate towards the Wild for getting this. It's one of top spots for outdoors hockey. Games for the Winter classic should be in Minnesota more often!
- Gusrichards

While I admit this team is not necessarily a team average NHL fans seek out to watch, i do think it's appropriate for Minnesota to finally get the "Winter Classic"... As you stated Gus, clearly one of if not thee top spot for outdoor hockey in the US. Not difficult to figure out, not a huge market but arguably one of the most important states for American Hockey period.

Antilles argues the Wild outdoor series game was not sold out, which is accurate, however, the total attendance was just short of 51K in a stadium that seats approx 52K... The Wild were originally allocated 35k tickets to sell locally(which they did) and the Hawks 10K, leaving approximately 8 thousand tickets for the NHL's discretion, ie. NHL Alum, management, players etc.. of which the NHL at the last minute returned a pack of 4000 tickets in the final weeks leading up to the event. According to the local media all but 400 were sold, so the game was not a legitimate "sellout"... but IMO, the NHL dropped the ball on that, not the Wild organization.

Guessing the Winter Classic will not have a problem selling out.

It was a 52,000 person stadium that was 99% sold. Only Boston has any bragging rights on potentially being as important to American hockey. This winter classic is going to be amazing!

To bad we had to see the Hawks get it 4 times, a number of other teams get it multiple times, and now watched the frickin Stars and Preds get one, and it was like 55 degrees there! Bull poop

While I admit this team is not necessarily a team average NHL fans seek out to watch, i do think it's appropriate for Minnesota to finally get the "Winter Classic"... As you stated Gus, clearly one of if not thee top spot for outdoor hockey in the US. Not difficult to figure out, not a huge market but arguably one of the most important states for American Hockey period.

Antilles argues the Wild outdoor series game was not sold out, which is accurate, however, the total attendance was just short of 51K in a stadium that seats approx 52K... The Wild were originally allocated 35k tickets to sell locally(which they did) and the Hawks 10K, leaving approximately 8 thousand tickets for the NHL's discretion, ie. NHL Alum, management, players etc.. of which the NHL at the last minute returned a pack of 4000 tickets in the final weeks leading up to the event. According to the local media all but 400 were sold, so the game was not a legitimate "sellout"... but IMO, the NHL dropped the ball on that, not the Wild organization.

Guessing the Winter Classic will not have a problem selling out.
- MnGump

This is inaccurate. Wild failed to sell 400 of their allotment, the team announced having tickets still available prior to the league releasing more to the Wild. The NHL also couldn't get corporate sponsors to buy as many tickets as usual, so had to release a larger number than normal back to the Wild; which was a problem for the Wild. The league normally releases some tickets back, but most teams have waiting lists of people to buy tickets for an outdoor game, the Wild didn't.

I think the Winter Classic can sellout in MN too. But there are cities who've never had an outdoor game, and cities where people couldn't get tickets because they sold out within minutes, that should have been a higher priority for an outdoor game than MN at this point.