The Blackhawks are the only NHL team yet to register a loss in regulation this season -- they are 10-0-3 entering Friday's game against the Sharks -- and with the club's '10 Stanley Cup championship not too far removed, the city of Chicago has "fallen head over heels" for the team, according to Ben Strauss of the N.Y. TIMES. The team has sold out 193 consecutive games, and their "season-ticket-holder waiting list, which is near 11,000, grew by about 250 during the lockout.” Comcast SportsNet Chicago has seen its five highest-rated Blackhawks broadcasts "all come this year." Blackhawks TV announcer Pat Foley, referencing the team’s logo, said, “I see more Indian heads than I’ve ever seen around town, and I grew up here in the ’60s with Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull. It’s been that way for a few years now, and, of course, the winning stokes excitement” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/15). In Chicago, Danny Ecker cited data from SeatGeek and noted tickets for remaining Blackhawks' home games on the secondary market are priced about 13% higher than last year's average resale price and "almost identical to the increase in price when buying directly" from the club. While the Blackhawks “don’t want to ‘price out’ the average fan," the sellout streak and "four straight years of leading the league in attendance represent some pretty staunch demand.” CSN Chicago is averaging a 5.05 local rating to date, “well above" the 3.11 that the club finished with last season" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 2/14).
