The Minnesota Wild are returning home, after losing two straight to Colorado in the second round of the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The team is hoping a boost from the local hockey fans can get them back into the series, and the Wild are making Grand Casino Arena a destination, even if you don't have a ticket to Saturday night's game: they're hosting an outdoor watch party.
"It's a mobile video screen trailer. We'll be providing the feed from TNT and I think fans are going to have a great viewing experience," Minnesota Wild Director of Experiential Events Jim Vanek explains. "If you don't have a ticket to go into the game, the next best place to be is on West 7th Street watching the game right outside the arena."
Vanek says it all kicks of at 5:00 p.m. with a pregame party on West 7th Street and in the surrounding bars and restaurants. The outdoor watch party will be directly adjacent to Gates 2 and 3 outside Grand Casino Arena.
The puck drops at 8:00. The Wild are down, but Vanek says he expects that to all change once they're back in front of their hometown fans.
"I just don't think there's going to be anything else like it, besides being in the arena," Vanek adds. "Being out on the street, on West 7th, I think it's going to be a really unique atmosphere and something that I think people are going to want to be a part of. And they'll have memories for years to come."
A ticket will not be required to enter the free event, and capacity is subject to a first-come, first-served basis. All fans will be required to pass through security screening to enter.
The streets around the area will be closed, so be aware if you're driving through St. Paul Saturday afternoon and evening.
- Westbound lanes of Shepard Road will be closed from Jackson St. to Eagle Parkway
- Jackson St. will be closed from Kellogg Blvd. to Shepard Road for outbound downtown traffic
Pregame festivities will feature live programming from the Wild on 7th podcast, a Red Bull DJ set, a drum line performance and more. Food and beverage will be offered on site, and note that all transactions will be card-only. Alcohol purchases will require valid identification, as usual.
As for the game not happening until Saturday, with three full days off in between games? It's because Grand Casino Arena is hosting home games for the PWHL's Minnesota Frost, also in the playoffs. They are currently tied with Montreal at a game apiece ahead of Thursday's Game 3, and Friday's Game 4.
By the way - the weather looks to be close to ideal. Saturday's high is 70, with evening temperatures mostly in the 60s. Game on.
A map of road closures before the Wild and Avalanche Game Three in St. Paul Saturday.
(Minnesota Wild)
