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ECHL Attendance Flat; Ontario Reign Back On Top With Strong Numbers In SoCal

ECHL teams, playing at what is considered the Double-A level of North American hockey, averaged 4,706 fans per game during the ’13-14 regular season, relatively flat compared to last season. The league played with one less team to start the season, as the Trenton Titans ceased operations after ’12-13. The league also had to deal with the folding of the S.F. Bulls in the middle of the ’13-14 season. Leading the league at the gate were the Ontario Reign, who had the top average for the fourth time since relocating to Southern California for the ’08-09 season. Attendance for the Reign was up 8% at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The Fort Wayne Komets, who held the top spot last season, ranked second in ’13-14 with an average of 7,211 fans per game, down 5%. The Stockton Thunder continued to see attendance drop this season, down 13% from ’12-13. The club, which led the league at the gate in ’08-09 with 6,218 fans per game, has seen attendance drop 30% since that season, with the club now ranked 11th in the league. Prior to the Bulls folding, the club had seen a 45% attendance drop. The Utah Grizzlies and South Carolina Stingrays led all teams in gains at the gate, up just over 8% each. Next season, the ECHL will maintain 22 clubs, as the league brings in the Indy Fuel.

ECHL ATTENDANCE TREND
SEASON
TEAMS
GAMES
TOTAL
AVERAGE
'13-14
22
774
3,642,779
4,706
'12-13
23
828
3,887,521
4,695
'11-12
20
720
3,082,764
4,282
'10-11
19
684
2,967,804
4,339
'09-10
20
720
3,229,463
4,485
'08-09
23
779
3,317,017
4,258
'07-08
25
900
3,756,191
4,174
'06-07
25
900
3,752,503
4,169
'13-14 ECHL REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE
TEAM
GAMES
TOTAL
AVG.
PREV.
% +/-
GAMES ('12-13)
Ontario Reign
36
293,670
8,158
7,575
7.7%
36
Fort Wayne Komets
36
259,594
7,211
7,583
-4.9%
36
Orlando Solar Bears
36
228,772
6,355
6,668
-4.7%
36
Toledo Walleye
36
216,797
6,022
6,298
-4.4%
36
Evansville IceMen
36
193,272
5,369
5,415
-0.9%
36
Colorado Eagles
36
190,404
5,289
5,289
0.0%
36
Gwinnett Gladiators
36
186,170
5,171
5,437
-4.9%
36
Florida Everblades
36
181,627
5,045
5,116
-1.4%
36
Utah Grizzlies
36
180,112
5,003
4,622
8.2%
36
Bakersfield Condors
36
174,930
4,859
4,618
5.2%
36
Stockton Thunder
36
172,283
4,786
5,485
-12.8%
36
Alaska Aces
36
166,277
4,619
4,783
-3.4%
36
Las Vegas Wranglers
36
164,899
4,581
4,561
0.4%
36
Cincinnati Cyclones
36
152,249
4,229
4,447
-4.9%
36
Reading Royals
36
147,140
4,087
4,023
1.6%
36
Idaho Steelheads
36
143,909
3,997
3,987
0.3%
36
South Carolina Stingrays
36
137,247
3,812
3,528
8.1%
36
Greenville Road Warriors
36
123,496
3,430
3,605
-4.8%
36
Kalamazoo Wings
36
112,969
3,138
3,252
-3.5%
36
Elmira Jackals
36
94,628
2,629
2,464
6.7%
36
S.F. Bulls*
18
41,263
2,292
4,164
-44.9%
36
Wheeling Nailers
36
81,071
2,252
2,488
-9.5%
36
ECHL TOTALS
774
3,642,779
4,706
4,695
0.2%
828
             

NOTES: Figures for the '12-13 season include the Trenton Titans, which ceased operations after last season. * = The S.F. Bulls ceased operations in January after 35 games.

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