The Ducks have been "at or near the top of the standings most of the season, but they're closer to the bottom in home attendance," according to Helene Elliott of the L.A. TIMES. Their announced average of 15,367 in eight home games "represented 89.5% of capacity at Honda Center, which was 22nd after Sunday's games." NHL teams overall had "played to 94% capacity, down from last season's final 97% but a solid number because attendance traditionally increases after New Year's." Ducks Exec VP & COO Tim Ryan said, "None of us are ever happy unless we're completely sold out, but I think there's a lot of good signs right now." Elliot writes among those signs is "a 20-year pattern of attendance spiking in the second half of the season, especially when the team plays well." Ryan also cited "increased season-ticket sales, which reached 11,000 to start the season." That is "up from 9,500 last season and the highest" since '10. Ryan said, "If I had to guess, we will be sold out of suites in the next 12 months." Meanwhile, the expanded team store and opening of the Grand Terrace restaurant "also boost their bottom line." Ryan: "We've set records for both merchandise sales and food and beverage sales for single games that stood for 20 years. That says that we're moving in the right direction" (L.A. TIMES, 11/19).
