NHL breaks attendance record

[Bill Brasky]

NHL Announces Attendance Record
WGR Newsroom - Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 3:15 PM


The National Hockey League posted the best December attendance in its 88-year history, attracting 3,382,628 fans to 200 total games and setting an attendance record for the third consecutive month. The December average of 16,913 per game was 91.7% of capacity and two percent above the previous December high of 16,578, set in 2001.

Twenty-four of the 30 NHL clubs are even with or ahead of their 2003-04 performance. The top gainers are the Pittsburgh Penguins (+36%), Tampa Bay Lightning (+24%), Calgary Flames (+21%), Boston Bruins (+21%), Carolina Hurricanes (+19%), Nashville Predators (+14%), Ottawa Senators (+13%), San Jose Sharks (+10%) and Florida Panthers (+9%).



NHL DECEMBER ATTENDANCE SINCE 1987


Year GP Avg. % Increase *

2005 200 16,913 ----
2003 209 16,312 +3.7%
2002 207 16,101 +5.0%
2001 211 16,578 +2.0%
2000 203 16,456 +2.8%
1999 184 16,254 +4.1%
1998 175 16,212 +4.3%
1997 177 15,954 +6.0%
1996 172 16,401 +3.1%
1995 180 15,511 +9.0%
1993 173 15,212 +11.2%
1992 163 14,737 +14.8%
1991 143 14,911 +13.4%
1990 149 15,294 +10.6%
1989 143 15,725 +7.6%
1988 145 15,280 +10.7%
1987 146 15,138 +11.7%

* Percentage increase of the December, 2005 attendance figure over prior December figures.

[Myers57]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

WHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1






im done

[PUCKER]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

SWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

[lordofgun]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

THANK YOU FANS!

[Wolffman]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

I can notice it a lot with the Sabres. Every game is either above 18,000 or a sellout.

[pyrrhonist]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

This is good news.

Now, if only the so-called "national" TV exposure can be taken care of, all would be well. Not that if bothers me, personally, but not everyone can afford or wants to pay for Centre Ice.

[Dozerdog]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

ESPN has to be regretting it's decision not to carry it

[Bill Brasky]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

I can notice it a lot with the Sabres. Every game is either above 18,000 or a sellout.

Maybe for road games... home games are barely averaging 15,000 fans.

BUFFALO

HOME:
Games: 19
Att: 291,488
Avg: 15,341
PCT: 83.3
Rank: 20th

AWAY:
Games: 20
Att: 348,016
Avg: 17,400
PCT: 92.9
Rank: 6th

OVERALL:
Games: 39
Att: 639,504
Avg: 16,397
PCT: 88.2
Rank: 18th

...need to get that home attendance up!

[BlackMetalNinja]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

Don't worry, we will. Between us playing so well and no more Bills to dwell on, attendance will start to go up. How nice would it be to get behind a good team and actually be able to cheer them on in the playoffs? I remember going to see them play the Penguins in the playoffs 4 or 5 years ago, the atmosphere was awesome. The place went bonkers when Stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Barnes fired a shot in to win in OT.

[JD]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

Local News Stations have to start showing more support for the team..I mean come on, I want to see them wearing a Jersey once in a while lol. Maybe they can say like, get out there and go support the team... or have contests to win tickets or something??

[buffalofan19]

Re: NHL breaks attendance record

Maybe for road games... home games are barely averaging 15,000 fans.

BUFFALO

HOME:
Games: 19
Att: 291,488
Avg: 15,341
PCT: 83.3
Rank: 20th

AWAY:
Games: 20
Att: 348,016
Avg: 17,400
PCT: 92.9
Rank: 6th

OVERALL:
Games: 39
Att: 639,504
Avg: 16,397
PCT: 88.2
Rank: 18th

...need to get that home attendance up!

Alot of that has to do with earlier in the year when attendance was hurting. They have had 18,000+ fans at every game since the Pittsburgh game on 12/19 (7 games, 6 of which were sellouts).