Tourney constraints frustrate hockey parents as Xcel Energy Center prepares for higher capacity

Even the dreary weather isn’t dampening the spirits of hockey fans gathering at Xcel Energy Center arriving for the return of the Minnesota state hockey tournament.

“We’re back, it’s good,” says Mark Farrington from Eastview. “It’s good to have a little sense of normalcy for these kids that put up with so much over the last year or so.”

“Just lots of emotion and lots of excitement,” adds Sarah Sauer of Andover. “And yeah, for her to get the opportunity to be a part of this team.”

Sauer and her family are in St. Paul to watch their daughter Nora, a freshman, play for the Andover Huskies. It’s her very first state tournament.

"They really have to become a team,” Sauer said. “You know they’re not going to have the crowds there that are cheering them on, but they’ve got a lot of support from us parents who’ve been there all year.”

And what a difference a pandemic year makes.

In 2020, there was a packed house and cheering fans at the X, with its 18,000 seat capacity. The boys’ and girls’ hockey tournaments finished up just before the shutdown.

This year, only 250 people are allowed in because of COVID-19 safety protocols.

“It was a hard decision for the high school league because so many people want to come to the tournament,” said Kelly McGrath, Xcel Energy Center’s director of marketing. “It’s such an annual tradition for families and groups of friends who come to downtown St. Paul and enjoy the tournaments.”

That 250-person limit mandated by the Minnesota Department of Health continues for just a few more days.

On Thursday, the MDH-approved capacity for the X will rise to 3,000.

Latest loosening of statewide COVID-19 restrictions addresses gatherings, venues

Some wish the change could have come with the start of the tournament.

“I don’t particularly care for it, especially when it’s going to be 3,000 on the first,” Farrington says. “What’s the difference between now and the first? But at least they’re skating and it’s good."

There are numerous other COVID safety measures at Xcel Energy Center, including seating in pods of two and the use of zip-ties to cordon off seats. Face coverings are required, of course, and the venue is also requiring guests to do an online self-health check.

“You answer a quick series of questions that basically say you’re not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or haven’t been in close contact,” McGrath said. “Our guests will show that to security when they come, then they’ll scan their own ticket. We have touchless ticket scanners.”

McGrath said the arena will also have 500 hand sanitizing stations and an anti-viral spray is being used to coat touch areas.

She also says UV lighting system is installed on escalators to clean handrails. Every other sink in restrooms will be disabled, as well as hand dryers. Paper towel dispensers are installed instead, McGrath says.

2021 Boys and Girls State Hockey Tourney Central

And then there’s Vic Peterson, a hockey dad from Breezy Point.

"We are a team made up of three high schools who’ve never been to the state tournament,” Peterson says. “So for obvious reasons it’s exciting."

His 15-year-old son Isaac is on the Northern Lights Lightning Team. For their Tuesday draw, they’ll get 114 seating tickets. If they get to the next round on Friday, they’ll get 600 tickets — a big change in 48 hours, Peterson says.

"Can we please look at the body of the event, which is from Tuesday to Saturday?” he asks. “Rather than split those restrictions up, let’s bring those all into one for the length of the entirety of it, even if it is asking for 48 hours."

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to Gov. Tim Walz’s office for comment about the changes coming April 1 but did not hear back.

Meanwhile, Peterson says with four tickets, his family, like many others, is making some tough decisions.

“Isaac has an older sister and a younger brother, both who play hockey,” he explains. “Do we ask them, do we give them the tickets, or do we give to grandma and grandpa, who sacrificed so much and they’re now fully vaccinated. Never been able to see Isaac play in a year.”

Sauer says she understands about safety concerns versus the desire to be a part of the tournament. She too is thinking about the seniors in her family.

"It’s still fun, but it’s hard because we have a lot of relatives, grandmas and grandpas that can’t be there,” Sauer said. “It’s still an opportunity for (the players). I’m glad we can be here. At least we can be in Xcel, right, instead of not even having a state tournament.”