The Hurricanes and Devils lead all Eastern Conference clubs in gains at the gate this NHL season, with both clubs seeing a double-digit percentage jump. Average attendance at PNC Arena is up 15% compared to the same point last season, and up around 13% compared to the Hurricanes' final average last season. Meanwhile, Devils games at Prudential Center are up 13% from the same point last season and up 11% from the end of the '11-12 season. The Canadiens lead all Eastern Conference teams at the gate (second overall in NHL) with 21,273 fans per game, continuing the club's sellout streak. The Islanders, who have announced the club will leave for Brooklyn for the '15-16 season, continue to see attendance slide at Nassau Coliseum. Below is team-by-team attendance for the Eastern Conference through March 5, with comparisons to the same period last season, as well as to each club's final attendance last season. See yesterday's issue for Western Conference figures (THE DAILY).
|
NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE THROUGH MARCH 5
|
| HOME TEAM |
GMS
|
AVG.
|
%
CAP.
|
'11-12 THRU
MARCH 5
|
%
+/-
|
GMS
|
'11-12
FINAL
|
%
+/-
|
| Canadiens |
13
|
21,273
|
100.0%
|
21,273
|
0.0%
|
35
|
21,273
|
0.0%
|
| Flyers |
11
|
19,750
|
101.1%
|
19,749
|
0.0%
|
30
|
19,764
|
-0.1%
|
| Maple Leafs |
10
|
19,362
|
102.9%
|
19,518
|
-0.8%
|
33
|
19,507
|
-0.7%
|
| Senators |
12
|
19,001
|
99.2%
|
19,209
|
-1.1%
|
33
|
19,356
|
-1.8%
|
| Lightning |
11
|
19,204
|
100.0%
|
18,380
|
4.5%
|
31
|
18,468
|
4.0%
|
| Sabres |
11
|
18,965
|
99.4%
|
18,679
|
1.5%
|
34
|
18,680
|
1.5%
|
| Penguins |
10
|
18,647
|
101.4%
|
18,558
|
0.5%
|
31
|
18,566
|
0.4%
|
| Capitals |
11
|
18,506
|
100.0%
|
18,506
|
0.0%
|
33
|
18,506
|
0.0%
|
| Hurricanes |
10
|
18,091
|
96.8%
|
15,700
|
15.2%
|
36
|
16,043
|
12.8%
|
| Bruins |
9
|
17,565
|
100.0%
|
17,565
|
0.0%
|
33
|
17,565
|
0.0%
|
| Rangers* |
14
|
17,200
|
100.0%
|
18,189
|
-5.4%
|
31
|
18,192
|
-5.5%
|
| Devils |
11
|
17,151
|
97.3%
|
15,184
|
13.0%
|
31
|
15,397
|
11.4%
|
| Panthers |
13
|
16,817
|
87.4%
|
16,471
|
2.1%
|
33
|
16,628
|
1.1%
|
| Jets |
10
|
15,004
|
100.0%
|
15,004
|
0.0%
|
35
|
15,004
|
0.0%
|
| Islanders |
13
|
12,563
|
77.4%
|
13,051
|
-3.7%
|
34
|
13,191
|
-4.8%
|
| E.C. TOTALS |
169
|
17,904
|
97.3%
|
17,642
|
1.5%
|
493
|
17,642
|
1.5%
|
| NHL TOTALS |
333
|
17,668
|
96.1%
|
17,333
|
1.9%
|
983
|
17,445
|
1.3%
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTES: All NHL attendance data is based on totals posted immediately following games. Figures do not reflect any subsequent adjustments made by teams or the league. * = With the ongoing renovations to Madison Square Garden, capacity for Rangers games is now 17,200, down from the previous capacity of 18,200.
