ST. LOUIS – Happy home opener day! While the St. Louis Blues’ new season started last week, the home slate and fan festivities to celebrate the new season are set for Tuesday.
The Blues open the home slate of the 2024-25 season on Tuesday with a division matchup against the Minnesota. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Enterprise Center.
If you’re planning to head to Downtown St. Louis on Tuesday, either to attend the game or enjoy a hockey atmosphere, you’ll want to plan ahead. Tens of thousands are expected between the big game and a pregame pep rally.
Here’s what to expect for the pep rally and home opener:
Pregame rally
From 2:30-4:45 p.m., the Blues will host an outdoor pregame rally at Union Station. The rally includes live music, T-shirt tosses, contests and appearances from Blues staff and alumni. Some lucky fans might even win tickets to the home opener.
Live music from Russo & Co. will begin around 2:30 p.m.
Captain Brayden Schenn and other Blues staff and alumni are tentatively scheduled to speak to the crowd at the rally around 3:30-4 p.m.
Louie, the Blue Crew and Blues broadcasters Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale are all set for public appearances.
Guests can grab food or drinks from a variety of vendors and restaurants near the rally.
Home opener
The Blues (2-1-0) will host the Minnesota Wild (1-0-2) in their home opener.
Starting at 4:30 p.m., ticketed fans can begin entering the Enterprise Center.
Sometime likely between 5:30-6 p.m., pregame warmups will be held. Fans can watch both teams up close during this time, even if their tickets are in the upper sections.
All fans are asked to be at their seats by 6:15 p.m. That’s approximately when the Blues hope to begin pregame introductions, not just for the starting lineup, but the whole team.
Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., though could be slightly delayed based on the pace of pregame warmups.
Popular parking spots around the Enterprise Center include the Kiel Center Garage, Union Station and Justice Center Garage. Be prepared to pay, either by cash or card, depending on your ultimate parking location. Some spots could cost up to $40. Click here for a look at some parking spots.
Inside the stadium, fans can only pay for goods and services with the Enterprise Center using a credit or debit card. No cash is allowed. There are several new local and national food vendors for fans to enjoy, including selections from Freddy’s and Wendy’s.
The Blues will wear their standard home jerseys for Tuesday’s home opener.
How to watch or listen
If you can’t make it out to Tuesday’s home opener, here is what you need to know in order to watch or listen.
Puck drop: Scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Channel: ESPN
Pregame coverage on ESPN will begin at 6 p.m.
ESPN may air parts of the Blues’ home opener ceremonies and player introductions, in addition to interviews, but given this game is for a national audience, it’s unclear how much of the pregame festivities will be featured on the broadcast. To find a cable service that uses Bally Sports Midwest near you, click here.
If you follow the Blues outside the league’s designated DMA, you might be able to catch a stream for the game through ESPN+. This is not an option for Blues fans watching within close proximity to St. Louis due to local blackout restrictions. For more information on these services, click here.
Fans without access to either can also follow along the game on local radio station 101.1 ESPN.
Blues roster
This will likely be the Blues starting roster for Tuesday’s season opener…
FORWARDS
Zack Bolduc*
Pavel Buchnevich
Radek Faksa
Dylan Holloway
Mathieu Joseph
Kasperi Kapanen
Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours
Brandon Saad
Brayden Schenn
Robert Thomas
Alexey Toropchenko
Nathan Walker
DEFENSEMEN
Philip Broberg
Justin Faulk
Pierre-Olivier Joseph*
Matthew Kessell
Nick Leddy
Colton Parayko
Scott Perunovich*
Ryan Suter
And as for goalies, Jordan Binnington should draw the start with Joel Hofer expected to serve as the backup.
NOTE: An asterisk indicates that player could be a scratch for Tuesday’s game due to game roster restrictions. Only 18 skaters (non-goalies) can dress for game action.
Home opener history
The Blues are 34-20-1-2 (1 overtime loss, 2 ties) all time in home-opener games over 56 seasons.
St. Louis has won seven of its last 10 home openers, riding a four-game winning streak and five-game point streak in such action.
The Blues tied twice in their first six seasons of existence, including their first-ever game in 1967. The NHL dropped ties after getting past the 2004-05 lockout.
St. Louis has never hosted the Minnesota Wild for a home opener.
