A lot of Wild fans say about Xcel: Let's Go Crazier

July 28, 2016 at 2:19AM
Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk knocked off the top puck of a tribute to Prince in hockey pucks during team warm ups before game 6. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 24, 2016, St. Paul, MN, Xcel Energy Center, NHL, Hockey, Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars, First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs, Game 6
Pucks and Prince: There might be something to it for Wild games at Xcel Energy Center. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

If pressing needs for the Wild are put in any kind of order, scoring goals is high on the list — and deciding what song to play when those goals are scored at Xcel Energy Center is much further down the list.

But a good organization pays attention to all details, big and small. And it also listens to its fans. As such, a movement with roots in tragedy is gaining steam as a permanent feel-good story.

The Wild traditionally has played Joe Satriani's "Crowd Chant" after the home team scores a goal. You might not know what it's called, but it is VERY recognizable, even if you're just a marginal Wild fan. As far as goal songs go, you can do far worse. Some even think the Wild's song is among the best in the NHL.

But when Minnesota music legend Prince died in April, the Wild paid homage by temporarily using "Let's Go Crazy" as its goal song in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs.

A lot of fans loved it, and some people — myself included — wondered if the song's use should be more than temporary. When the Wild scored four goals in the third period of a frantic comeback that fell just short, the Prince song felt as if it played a role in the energy of the building.

Power to the people: The Wild is listening. The organization recently sent an e-mail to season-ticket holders with a five-question survey attached. After querying fans about expectations and the Wild's brand, the final question was this:

"After Prince passed away in April, a few fans reached out to see if the Wild would consider changing the home ice goal celebration song to 'Let's Go Crazy', in honor of the legendary Minnesota artist. We did use it as our goal song for Game 6 against Dallas. We thought it would be a good time to ask our best fans, our Season Ticket Holders, what they thought. Should the Wild change the home ice goal celebration song at Xcel Energy Center?"

Survey takers were presented with these options: Keep the current song; change to "Let's Go Crazy"; or change the song, but offer more options — with the ability to recommend a specific song.

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"There is no additional polling planned beyond the surveys sent to Wild season-ticket holders," Wild official John Maher, who is in charge of brand content and communications, said in a statement. "That said, we certainly also pay attention to the sentiment of people engaging on this topic on social media. We're thrilled that folks are excited to talk about their Wild game experience in the middle of the summer!"

Maybe the survey comes back overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the current song. Or maybe fans speak for change (about three-fourths of voters in a startribune.com poll said they'd endorse a switch to "Let's Go Crazy").

Again: Most fans probably care less about the song than they do about hearing whatever it is more often during the season, but this still seems like a smart and in-touch move by the Wild.


Joe Satriani performs at the Parker Playhouse on September 12, 2013 in Ft Lauderdale ,Florida (Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP) ORG XMIT: T
In what could be an Xcel Energy Center song-off for Wild homes games: the incumbent Joe Satriani and his “Crowd Chant” — you might know it better as the “WHOA … WHOA … OH … OH!” song — vs. Prince and his epic “Let’s Go Crazy.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
His birthday concert at First Avenue on June 7, 1984, was his last before he became a megastar, as "Purple Rain" hit theaters the following month. (David Brewster/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS) ORG XMIT: 1184088
His birthday concert at First Avenue on June 7, 1984, was his last before he became a megastar, as "Purple Rain" hit theaters the following month. (David Brewster/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS) ORG XMIT: 1184088 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Minnesota Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

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Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune

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