Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Hastings Entertainment, Inc. 2006 Incentive Stock Plan of our report dated March 28, 2006, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Hastings Entertainment, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended January 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP  

Fort Worth, Texas 

September 6, 2006