The ECHL, considered the Double-A level of minor league hockey, averaged 4,252 fans per game during the ’16-17 regular season, marking the league’s lowest figure since ’07-08. The league’s 27 teams, flat compared to a season ago, saw attendance fall 3% from the ’15-16 season. The ECHL has now seen three straight seasons of attendance declines. The Ft. Wayne Komets once again led all ECHL teams with an average of 7,568 fans, up 1% from last season. Two clubs saw double-digit gains, with the Adirondack Thunder leading all clubs (+15%). Six clubs saw double-digit percentage drops. The Manchester Monarchs saw the sharpest fall, with the New Hampshire-based club down 23% for the season. The ECHL will gain two teams next season when the Jacksonville IceMen and Worcester Railers join. However, it also is losing the Alaska Aces, who folded following the season.
|
ECHL REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE
|
| TEAM |
GAMES
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
| Ft. Wayne Komets |
36
|
272,456
|
7,568
|
7,484
|
1.1%
|
| Toledo Walleye |
36
|
254,660
|
7,074
|
6,982
|
1.3%
|
| Tulsa Oilers |
36
|
219,971
|
6,110
|
6,089
|
0.3%
|
| Orlando Solar Bears |
36
|
197,912
|
5,498
|
6,226
|
-11.7%
|
| Utah Grizzlies |
36
|
192,949
|
5,360
|
5,095
|
5.2%
|
| Florida Everblades |
36
|
190,215
|
5,284
|
5,214
|
1.3%
|
| Missouri Mavericks |
36
|
182,447
|
5,068
|
5,154
|
-1.7%
|
| Colorado Eagles |
36
|
171,039
|
4,751
|
4,906
|
-3.2%
|
| Atlanta Gladiators |
36
|
170,573
|
4,738
|
4,943
|
-4.1%
|
| Wichita Thunder |
36
|
168,801
|
4,689
|
4,682
|
0.1%
|
| Allen Americans |
36
|
156,234
|
4,340
|
4,571
|
-5.1%
|
| Idaho Steelheads |
36
|
153,119
|
4,253
|
4,198
|
1.3%
|
| Cincinnati Cyclones |
36
|
151,697
|
4,214
|
4,565
|
-7.7%
|
| Greenville Swamp Rabbits |
36
|
142,616
|
3,962
|
3,658
|
8.3%
|
| Quad City Mallards |
36
|
141,418
|
3,928
|
4,369
|
-10.1%
|
| Reading Royals |
36
|
140,764
|
3,910
|
3,750
|
4.3%
|
| South Carolina Stingrays |
36
|
134,434
|
3,734
|
3,957
|
-5.6%
|
| Alaska Aces* |
36
|
130,430
|
3,623
|
3,829
|
-5.4%
|
| Indy Fuel |
36
|
129,287
|
3,591
|
3,856
|
-6.9%
|
| Manchester Monarchs |
36
|
128,863
|
3,580
|
4,622
|
-22.6%
|
| Rapid City Rush |
36
|
119,563
|
3,321
|
3,717
|
-10.6%
|
| Brampton Beast |
36
|
111,813
|
3,106
|
2,784
|
11.6%
|
| Norfolk Admirals |
36
|
107,414
|
2,984
|
3,767
|
-20.8%
|
| Adirondack Thunder |
36
|
101,883
|
2,830
|
2,462
|
15.0%
|
| Wheeling Nailers |
36
|
95,419
|
2,651
|
2,795
|
-5.2%
|
| Kalamazoo Wings |
36
|
83,992
|
2,333
|
2,298
|
1.5%
|
| Elmira Jackals |
36
|
82,815
|
2,300
|
2,785
|
-17.4%
|
| ECHL TOTALS |
972
|
4,132,784
|
4,252
|
4,386
|
-3.1%
|
NOTES: Attendance figures for last season include the Evansville IceMen, who were dormat for the '16-17 season, but will return in Jacksonville for the '17-18 season. Next season also will include the expansion Worcester Railers. * = Alaska Aces ceased operations after the '16-17 regular season.
