Record 19,559 attend Boys’ Hockey Tournament semifinals,

most ever to attend any hockey game in Minnesota;

New total tournament attendance record also set

Xcel Energy Center and the Minnesota State High School League have announced that a number of new records have been set in the State of Hockey. On Friday, March 7, 19,559 fans attended the 2008 State Boys’ Hockey Tournament Class AA semifinals at Xcel Energy Center, setting a new record for the largest crowd to ever attend a hockey game in the state of Minnesota. The record breaks the mark of 19,463 set on March 17 for the 2007 Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five championship game.

Additionally, a new boys’ hockey total tournament attendance record was set with 129,721 fans attending both Class A and Class AA sessions at Xcel Energy Center and Mariucci Arena. The previous record was set in 2006 when 125,201 attended the tournament.

Three new daily attendance records were also established, each eclipsing the marks that had been set at the 2006 state tournament. On Thursday, March 6, the daily total was 38,801, which broke the previous mark of 37,552. Friday’s attendance reached 40,914, surpassing the previous tally for that day of 39,099. The trend continued into Saturday when the attendance total reached 37,687, beating the previous record of 36,949.

Three single-session records were also set. During the Thursday evening session, the attendance of 19,247 surpassed the previous high Class AA quarterfinal attendance of 19,050 set in 2004. On Friday evening, the 19,559 in attendance also set a new overall single-session and Class AA semifinal session record, moving past the mark of 18,985 set in 1982. Saturday evening’s crowd of 18,689 surpassed the record of 18,073 set in 1981.

2008 State Boys’ Hockey Tournament Paid Attendance By Session

Session / Attendance
Wed. Afternoon (A Quarterfinals) / 5,457
Wed. Evening (A Quarterfinals) / 6,086
Thur. (Mariucci A Consolation Semis) / 1,126
Thur. Afternoon (AA Quarterfinals) / 19,247*
Thur. Evening (AA Quarterfinals) / 18,428
Fri. (Mariucci AA Consolation Semis) / 11,486
Fri. Afternoon (A Semifinals) / 9,869
Fri. Evening (AA Semifinals) / 19,559*
Sat. Morning (Mariucci A & AA Consol. Finals) / 11,638
Sat. Afternoon (A Third Place and Finals) / 7,380
Sat. Evening (AA Third Place and Finals) / 18,689*
Total Tournament / 129,721

* = Single session record