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.
