NHL Attendance Just Trailing Last Year Through Three Weeks
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NHL Attendance Down
Slightly From Last Season |
Through the first three weeks of the NHL season, attendance is “off only
marginally league-wide from the level of a year ago,” the first season after
the lockout, and an attendance drop “was to be expected,” according
to Brian Milner of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Predators Exec VP/Business Affairs
Steve Violetta said, “The reason you see some week-day crowds so far this
season in the 10,000 to 12,000 range is because that is likely close to the season-ticket
base of those teams. Not too many groups or walk-up tickets are sold in most markets
on a Tuesday.” But Milner writes it is “not too early to point out
that the NHL continues to lose ground in certain U.S. markets” and that
some teams “are badly run and poorly located.” Sports Business Group
President David Carter: “In the macro sense, the league is coming back.
In a micro sense, looking market to market, there are certainly challenges.”
Milner notes the Predators rank 22nd in average attendance, drawing 15,652 through
three home games, the Blackhawks 28th (12,372 average for four games), the Islanders
29th (11,692 for four games) and the Blues 30th (11,599 for four games).
The Blackhawks “have the most empty seats, nearly 40[%] in a stadium that
holds 20,500 people.” The Sabres have sold out all four home games to rank
9th averaging 18,690 fans, ranking behind the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes.
Those clubs “are among a dozen teams selling out their buildings for every
game” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/24).
STARS ECLIPSED: In Dallas, Mike Heika reports the Stars played
before an announced crowd of 16,639 last night against the Canucks, but it “look[ed]
closer to 9,000,” which makes it “unofficially the second smallest
crowd to see a regular season game at American Airlines Center.” The game
was played at the same time as Giants-Cowboys “MNF.” The Stars asked
the NHL to reschedule the game, but the league “decided it would be unfair
to the Canucks, who are in the midst of a five-game road trip.” Stars President
Jim Lites said that he “suggested to the NHL that it would be smart to start
the season in November and finish in July,” which would allow for “fewer
conflicts with football.” It also would “allow the NHL the ability
to showcase the Stanley Cup Finals with limited distractions from other sporting
events.” Lites said, “I know it would be a big change, but I think
it’s one that needs to be considered” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/24).
TARNISHING CROWN: In L.A., Chris Foster reported the Kings have
had three announced crowds of less than 15,000 “for the first time in five
seasons,” including failing to sell out a game against the Red Wings for
the first time since Staples Center opened in ’99 (L.A. TIMES, 10/22).
The team did sell out its game Sunday against the Ducks, the second sellout in
six home games (THE DAILY).
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