Stars tickets sell better than last 2 years?

These are tough economic times, to be sure.  So when I read the Sr. VP of Marketing Collin Faulkner's twitter message that said the Stars tickets sold better than the last 2 years, it made me wonder what could have caused this great news.  Here are a few things I think could have contributed to the uptick in ticket sales.

1) The opponents.  The Stars are playing several popular opponents at home this season.  For example, we're hosting the defending Cup champs twice this season (February 11 and March 17 for those that are interested.)  Then we get the Penguins and Sidney Crosby's cute face on November 3rd.  Tack on a little Ovechkin action with the Capitols on December 2nd.  Those are teams we don't get to see in person every year.  I wouldn't be surprised if those two games are sold out fairly soon.  Granted, today's sales are only for the October and November games.  Thank you Penguins and...

2) Modano playing for the Red Wings.  It was painful and sad for many of us to see Modano don the hated Red.  Opening night is usually a big sell, but opening night with Modano playing against his former team?  October 14th we'll see Mo in Red for the first time.  Pretty sure any Modano or Red Wings fan in the area will want to see that (on top of the Stars fans that want to see hockey on opening night because...well, we've been dying for the season to start since last season ended!)  Red Wings games usually sell out anyway, and it makes me angry every time I go to them and see at least half of the fans wearing Red.  Come on Stars fans...show your Stars loyalty and don't wear the RED!

3) Dynamic pricing.  That dynamic pricing is making some games affordable for families on a budget.  After some fans got to take advantage of it some last season, I'm sure people are looking for steals to go see games.  Even if you are seeing the Blues, any hockey is better than no hockey!

4) Did I mention we're dying to see some hockey?  Ok, just checking.

5) The future of the Stars is now.  The older guys are out, and the new guys are in.  What Stars fan isn't excited to see what Jamie Benn's going to do to follow up his 22 goal rookie season?  And what will Wandell do with a full season under him?  Is Steve Ott going to give us the same production as last season while maintaining that slightly-irritating edge to his game that we all know and love and adore?  Will Mark Fistric continue his progress to becoming one of the better young defensemen we have?  Will Adam Burish push our lower 6 forwards to play with more grit and be tough to play against?  Will Kari Lehtonen stay healthy?  Will the defense play more confidently in front of him?  All of these questions and more will be answered when the team gets out on the ice.  I think the Stars are intriguing enough for people to come out to the games to see just what kind of team we might have this year.  The potential is there, and anything can happen. 

As the NHL commercials say "History will be made."  Will YOU be there to see it?