NHL Attendance Just Trailing Last Year Through Three Weeks

NHL Attendance Down Slightly From Last Season

Through the first three weeks of the NHL season, attendance is “off only marginally league-wide from the level of a year ago,” the first season after the lockout, and an attendance drop “was to be expected,” according to Brian Milner of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Predators Exec VP/Business Affairs Steve Violetta said, “The reason you see some week-day crowds so far this season in the 10,000 to 12,000 range is because that is likely close to the season-ticket base of those teams. Not too many groups or walk-up tickets are sold in most markets on a Tuesday.” But Milner writes it is “not too early to point out that the NHL continues to lose ground in certain U.S. markets” and that some teams “are badly run and poorly located.” Sports Business Group President David Carter: “In the macro sense, the league is coming back. In a micro sense, looking market to market, there are certainly challenges.” Milner notes the Predators rank 22nd in average attendance, drawing 15,652 through three home games, the Blackhawks 28th (12,372 average for four games), the Islanders 29th (11,692 for four games) and the Blues 30th (11,599 for four games). The Blackhawks “have the most empty seats, nearly 40[%] in a stadium that holds 20,500 people.” The Sabres have sold out all four home games to rank 9th averaging 18,690 fans, ranking behind the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes. Those clubs “are among a dozen teams selling out their buildings for every game” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/24).

STARS ECLIPSED: In Dallas, Mike Heika reports the Stars played before an announced crowd of 16,639 last night against the Canucks, but it “look[ed] closer to 9,000,” which makes it “unofficially the second smallest crowd to see a regular season game at American Airlines Center.” The game was played at the same time as Giants-Cowboys “MNF.” The Stars asked the NHL to reschedule the game, but the league “decided it would be unfair to the Canucks, who are in the midst of a five-game road trip.” Stars President Jim Lites said that he “suggested to the NHL that it would be smart to start the season in November and finish in July,” which would allow for “fewer conflicts with football.” It also would “allow the NHL the ability to showcase the Stanley Cup Finals with limited distractions from other sporting events.” Lites said, “I know it would be a big change, but I think it’s one that needs to be considered” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/24).

TARNISHING CROWN: In L.A., Chris Foster reported the Kings have had three announced crowds of less than 15,000 “for the first time in five seasons,” including failing to sell out a game against the Red Wings for the first time since Staples Center opened in ’99 (L.A. TIMES, 10/22). The team did sell out its game Sunday against the Ducks, the second sellout in six home games (THE DAILY).