Wild's Sellout Streak In Danger, Tickets Remain For Every Game

Wild's Longest Active Sellout Streak In Danger, Still Have Tickets Available For Every Game

NHL's "longest active sellout streak is in danger of ending," as the Wild has "tickets available for every game this season," including Friday night's preseason game against the Blue Jackets, according to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The Wild is around a 90% renewal rate of its 16,500 season tickets for the '09-10 campaign, and Wild COO Matt Majka said, "We have struggled to renew season tickets in the same way we always do, which is 95[%] plus." Russo reports the "only inventory the team has left to sell is premium seating," which ranges from $65-95 per ticket. Majka said that the economy has "forced the Wild to be 'more creative than we ever have been.'" Russo notes because some season-ticket holders "share tickets with a partner who no longer can afford them, the Wild has a couple of plans that 'tries to marry people that lost a partner.'" Majka: "We're doing our best to make sure our building's full." Majka "knows what other franchises are going through and said it could be worse." Majka: "We are fortunate to be in this market." The Wild entering this season have sold out all 365 home games in franchise history, including both the preseason and postseason (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/18).

TO CATCH THE PREDATORS: YAHOO SPORTS' Ross McKeon wrote fans "have to wonder what the priorities are these days" for the Predators. After the team reached the playoffs four consecutive seasons, the Predators finished last in the Central Division last season. The team "should feel the urgency to improve because everyone else around them sure are getting better," but they instead are "looking within to find the answers while walking a tightrope with the salary cap in a much different way than most teams." The Predators have one of the "smallest payrolls in the league, committing approximately" $42M. There is a "whopping $14.5[M] or so available before hitting the cap." Cap rules "stipulate teams must spend within $16[M] of the ceiling, so the Preds barely qualify" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/17).