The Metropolitan Sports Center was built for the new National Hockey League expansion team, the Minnesota North Stars.  The first game of the season was on  October 11, 1967, on the road against the St. Louis Blues, another expansion team. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. On October 21, 1967, the North Stars played their first home game against the California Seals. Spectator seats were in the process of being installed as fans arrived at the arena for the first time. The North Stars won 3-1.

In 1970, a team song was written by Herb Pilhofer and Dick Wilson, called “Go For a Goal, North Stars.”  Arne Fogel gives us great background info:  “That’s me singing on it. Dale Menten is probably there as well, and also a guy on many sessions at the time, Bruce Winther. Most prominent female voice on the disc is that of Joanie Knutson (Joanie Pilhofer at that time).  We cut the song during one session, and were called in several days later to re-do it; the client could not hear the articulation of the ‘L’ at the end of the word ‘Goal’ (it sounded like ‘Go for a Go’). So, we did it again, and that’s why you can hear us seemingly ‘over-articulating’ the letter ‘L’ at the end of the word ‘Goal’… ”  Just saw this for sale for $337.50, but you can Hear it Here.