The ECHL, considered the Double-A level of North American hockey, is averaging 4,541 fans per game to date, up 11% from the same period last season. The increase has been fueled by the success of some expansion clubs. Four new teams joined the ECHL this year, with the Ft. Wayne Komets leading all clubs with 7,402 fans per game. The Komets came over from the Central Hockey League after last season. The expansion Orlando Solar Bears are also doing well in the club's inaugural season, ranking third among all clubs in average attendance. Among returning clubs, the Ontario Reign are seeing the biggest increase, up 24% at home in Southern California. The Kalamazoo Wings, Alaska Aces and Utah Grizzlies also are seeing double-digit percentage increases at home. The Elmira Jackals are seeing the sharpest drop at the gate (-21%), followed by the Bakersfield Condors (-11%), Reading Royals (-10%) and Stockton Thunder (-10%) (THE DAILY).
|
ECHL ATTENDANCE THROUGH JANUARY 30
|
| TEAM |
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
'11-12 GMS
|
| Ft. Wayne Komets* |
22
|
162,846
|
7,402
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| Ontario Reign |
21
|
150,905
|
7,186
|
5,785
|
24.2%
|
18
|
| Orlando Solar Bears* |
19
|
123,337
|
6,491
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| Toledo Walleye |
21
|
127,166
|
6,056
|
5,826
|
3.9%
|
23
|
| Colorado Eagles |
23
|
121,647
|
5,289
|
5,289
|
0.0%
|
20
|
| Stockton Thunder |
23
|
119,528
|
5,197
|
5,749
|
-9.6%
|
20
|
| Gwinnett Gladiators |
23
|
117,773
|
5,121
|
4,953
|
3.4%
|
22
|
| Evansville IceMen* |
26
|
132,724
|
5,105
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| Florida Everblades |
20
|
96,422
|
4,821
|
4,726
|
2.0%
|
21
|
| Alaska Aces |
24
|
114,647
|
4,777
|
4,242
|
12.6%
|
28
|
| Utah Grizzlies |
21
|
99,725
|
4,749
|
4,178
|
13.7%
|
25
|
| S.F. Bulls* |
21
|
98,311
|
4,681
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| Bakersfield Condors |
21
|
92,392
|
4,400
|
4,951
|
-11.1%
|
22
|
| Las Vegas Wranglers |
22
|
96,272
|
4,376
|
3,989
|
9.7%
|
21
|
| Cincinnati Cyclones |
23
|
96,261
|
4,185
|
4,442
|
-5.8%
|
18
|
| Idaho Steelheads |
20
|
78,983
|
3,949
|
3,884
|
1.7%
|
19
|
| Reading Royals |
24
|
87,984
|
3,666
|
4,055
|
-9.6%
|
20
|
| South Carolina Stingrays |
24
|
78,301
|
3,263
|
3,100
|
5.2%
|
23
|
| Trenton Titans |
23
|
73,502
|
3,196
|
2,915
|
9.6%
|
20
|
| Kalamazoo Wings |
22
|
69,287
|
3,149
|
2,710
|
16.2%
|
20
|
| Greenville Road Warriors |
25
|
79,009
|
3,160
|
3,161
|
0.0%
|
22
|
| Elmira Jackals |
22
|
59,185
|
2,690
|
3,391
|
-20.7%
|
22
|
| Wheeling Nailers |
24
|
58,086
|
2,420
|
2,575
|
-6.0%
|
24
|
| ECHL TOTALS |
514
|
2,334,293
|
4,541
|
4,099
|
10.8%
|
429
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTES: Figures from last season include the Chicago Express, which folded after one season in the league. * = Expansion team.
