Before Gophers center Nick Bjugstad made his decision Thurday to return to college, the U of M still had between 200 and 300 season tickets available for men's hockey. They sold about 50 more since then.
The seats available are all in Sections 3 and 4 and 22 and 23. Those are the corners on the side of the rink closest to TCF Bank Stadium. That end of the rink is also the one the visiting team attacks in the first and third periods.
"We have general admission with no donation still available," said Mike Chandler, the Gophers assistant ticket manager, "but most of the seats available require a $100 donation."
Chandler said more than 90 percent of season-ticket holders from last season renewed, or about 7,300. "The renewal rate was higher than we expected," he said, "but lower than we have had traditionally. Everyone was pretty happy."
Most season tickets for this season, 2012-13, required a preferred seating donation of $100, $200 or $300 in addition to the $755 base cost per ticket.
The 'U' has had a waiting list for men's hockey tickets for 20-some years, but now there is none.
"Last year we put a big dent in it," Chandler said. "It was just shy of 3,000 probably 10, 15 years ago."
He said the 'U' will keep selling season tickets until near the end of August.
