Through the first two months of the '17 regular season, the NHL's average attendance is flat compared to the same time frame last season. Teams are averaging 17,244 fans per game, with the Blackhawks on pace to lead all clubs for a 10th consecutive year. Among the major changes this season are the Red Wings opening the new Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit and the expansion Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Both teams are playing before sellout crowds, while a total of 14 teams are averaging at or above capacity. At Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Blue Jackets attendance is up 15.1% -- the biggest gain among NHL clubs. The Panthers have seen the largest drop in attendance at 9.6%. The Islanders are down 5.9% to date for a league-low 11,686 per game.
|
NHL REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE THROUGH DEC. 4
|
| TEAM |
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
% CAP.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
GMS ('16-17)
|
| Blackhawks |
13
|
280,127
|
21,548
|
109.3%
|
21,554
|
0.0%
|
14
|
| Canadiens |
15
|
319,530
|
21,302
|
100.1%
|
21,288
|
0.1%
|
14
|
| Red Wings^ |
13
|
253,695
|
19,515
|
100.0%
|
20,027
|
-2.6%
|
14
|
| Flyers |
14
|
270,497
|
19,321
|
98.6%
|
19,578
|
-1.3%
|
15
|
| Maple Leafs |
13
|
250,590
|
19,276
|
102.4%
|
19,222
|
0.3%
|
11
|
| Lightning |
13
|
248,196
|
19,092
|
100.0%
|
19,092
|
0.0%
|
11
|
| Wild |
13
|
246,581
|
18,968
|
105.6%
|
18,983
|
-0.1%
|
10
|
| Flames |
15
|
279,737
|
18,649
|
96.7%
|
18,502
|
0.8%
|
13
|
| Penguins |
12
|
222,875
|
18,573
|
101.0%
|
18,532
|
0.2%
|
13
|
| Capitals |
15
|
277,590
|
18,506
|
100.0%
|
18,506
|
0.0%
|
12
|
| Oilers |
13
|
238,511
|
18,347
|
100.0%
|
18,347
|
0.0%
|
13
|
| Kings |
14
|
255,220
|
18,230
|
100.0%
|
18,263
|
-0.2%
|
13
|
| Blues |
14
|
254,763
|
18,197
|
95.0%
|
18,329
|
-0.7%
|
15
|
| Stars |
12
|
217,029
|
18,086
|
97.6%
|
18,399
|
-1.7%
|
11
|
| Sabres |
13
|
233,255
|
17,943
|
94.1%
|
18,293
|
-1.9%
|
12
|
| Golden Knights |
12
|
214,221
|
17,852
|
102.0%
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| Canucks |
12
|
213,608
|
17,801
|
94.4%
|
18,238
|
-2.4%
|
14
|
| Rangers |
18
|
320,116
|
17,784
|
98.8%
|
18,045
|
-1.4%
|
15
|
| Bruins |
13
|
228,345
|
17,565
|
100.0%
|
17,565
|
0.0%
|
11
|
| Sharks |
14
|
242,037
|
17,288
|
98.4%
|
17,491
|
-1.2%
|
12
|
| Predators |
14
|
240,021
|
17,144
|
100.2%
|
17,161
|
-0.1%
|
12
|
| Ducks |
15
|
242,244
|
16,150
|
94.0%
|
15,911
|
1.5%
|
12
|
| Blue Jackets |
14
|
216,089
|
15,435
|
85.1%
|
13,412
|
15.1%
|
12
|
| Senators |
14
|
216,005
|
15,429
|
88.8%
|
15,238
|
1.3%
|
16
|
| Jets* |
13
|
199,173
|
15,321
|
100.2%
|
15,294
|
0.2%
|
13
|
| Devils |
12
|
177,981
|
14,832
|
89.8%
|
14,536
|
2.0%
|
9
|
| Avalanche |
13
|
189,428
|
14,571
|
81.8%
|
15,013
|
-2.9%
|
13
|
| Coyotes |
12
|
161,158
|
13,430
|
78.4%
|
12,921
|
3.9%
|
11
|
| Panthers |
13
|
164,962
|
12,689
|
65.9%
|
14,044
|
-9.6%
|
11
|
| Hurricanes |
13
|
154,229
|
11,864
|
63.5%
|
10,969
|
8.2%
|
10
|
| Islanders |
11
|
128,541
|
11,686
|
74.0%
|
12,424
|
-5.9%
|
15
|
| TOTALS |
415
|
7,156,354
|
17,244
|
94.4%
|
17,267
|
-0.1%
|
377
|
NOTES: ^ = The Red Wings are playing their first season at the new Little Caesars Arena, having moved from Joe Louis Arena after the '16-17 season. * = Winnipeg hosted the Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic vs. the Oilers (33,240) last season at Investors Group Field.
