Twelve NHL teams are showing attendance increases over
last season, but only the Red Wings, Rangers, Avalanche and
Flyers are "playing to capacity crowds," according to Allen
Panzeri of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. Among Canadian teams, the
Flames are averaging 14,635 in the 17,104-seat Canadian
Airlines Saddledome, a drop of 2,017 per game from the same
point last season; the Canucks' 15,320 average is 3,012
short of selling out GM Place; the Senators are drawing
15,646 to the 18,500-seat Corel Centre, leaving 2,854 seats
"empty." Panzeri reports that "only" the Canadiens and the
Maple Leafs "are close to playing before capacity crowds,"
averaging 20,336 and 15,649, respectively. Panzeri: "While
the trends in Canada are worrisome, those franchises don't
come close to ranking among the NHL's trouble spots." An
Isles official said the team gave the NHL an attendance
figure for an October 21 game that conflicted with Game 4 of
the World Series, but "wouldn't make that number public."
Estimates put the gate at "about" 3,500. The Hurricanes are
averaging "just" 6,950 in Greensboro, down 1,858 from the
same point last year (Allen Panzeri, OTTAWA CITIZEN, 11/11).
