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NHL Sets New Average Attendance Record During Lockout-Shortened '12-13 Season

NHL teams averaged 17,768 fans per game during the lockout-shortened '12-13 regular season, breaking the previous league record set during the '08-09 season (17,460). This season's average was also up 1.9% from '11-12, marking three straight seasons of average attendance growth for the NHL. The Canadiens led all Eastern Conference clubs with 21,273 fans per game (second in NHL), and have sold out every game at Bell Centre since Jan. 8, 2004. The Devils saw the biggest gains among Eastern Conference teams, up 11% at Prudential Center despite missing the playoffs. The only Eastern Conference club to see even a small drop at the gate was the Maple Leafs (-0.4%). The Hurricanes also saw strong gains, up 9.5% at PNC Arena. Listed below is a trend of NHL average attendance from recent years. Also listed is team-by-team attendance for Eastern Conference clubs. See tomorrow's issue for Western Conference figures (THE DAILY).

NHL REGULAR-SEASON AVERAGE ATTENDANCE TREND
SEASON
AVERAGE
SEASON
AVERAGE
'12-13*
17,768
'06-07
16,961
'11-12
17,445
'05-06
16,955
'10-11
17,164
'04-05
LOCKOUT
'09-10
17,070
'03-04
16,550
'08-09
17,460
'02-03
16,592
'07-08
17,265
'01-02
16,760

NOTES: * = Lockout-shortened season

NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE
HOME TEAM
GMS
TOTAL
AVG.
% CAP.
PREV.
% +/-
GMS ('11-12)
Canadiens
24
510,552
21,273
100.0%
21,273
0.0%
41
Flyers
24
474,878
19,787
101.3%
19,764
0.1%
41
Maple Leafs
24
466,229
19,426
103.2%
19,507
-0.4%
41
Senators
24
465,801
19,408
101.3%
19,356
0.3%
41
Lightning
24
457,337
19,056
99.2%
18,468
3.2%
41
Sabres
24
455,290
18,970
99.5%
18,680
1.6%
41
Penguins
24
447,560
18,648
101.4%
18,566
0.4%
41
Capitals
24
444,144
18,506
100.0%
18,506
0.0%
41
Bruins
24
421,560
17,565
100.0%
17,565
0.0%
41
Hurricanes
24
421,451
17,560
94.0%
16,043
9.5%
41
Rangers*
24
412,800
17,200
100.0%
18,192
-5.5%
41
Devils
24
410,739
17,114
97.1%
15,397
11.2%
41
Panthers
24
407,806
16,992
88.3%
16,628
2.2%
41
Jets
24
360,096
15,004
100.0%
15,004
0.0%
41
Islanders
24
319,362
13,307
82.0%
13,191
0.9%
41
E.C. TOTALS
360
6,475,605
17,988
97.9%
17,743
1.4%
615
NHL TOTALS
720
12,792,723
17,768
96.9%
17,445
1.9%
1,230
 

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 renovation of Madison Square Garden, capacity for Rangers games this season was 17,200, down from the previous capacity of 18,200.

 

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