The city often referred to has "Hockeytown" is having trouble filling seats for Detroit Red Wings games, the Free Press reports today.
The newspaper reports the Red Wings are drawing 18,044 fans per game through 15 home dates, representing 90 percent of capacity at Joe Louis Arena. That may not seem like a big problem, except that the Red Wings had sold out 396 consecutive home games before this season's opener. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets are on pace for a more dramatic drop in attendance this year.
Out of the NHL's 30 teams, five are averaging the same attendance as all of last season, 15 have experienced a decline and 10 have seen an increase.
The Blues, Islanders and Devils have been big gainers this year, while the Red Wings, Panthers, Blue Jackets, Avalanche and Capitals are among the biggest attendance losers.
The Capitals have drawn an average of 13,203 fans per game this season, down from an average of 13,477 through the same number of games in 2006 and 13,929 for all 41 home games last season.
-- Tim Lemke
Comments (2)
To me its location, location, location. I can't stand commuting or metro'ing downtown, especially since I now live north of Baltimore. Just too expensive also. I get the impression that most Caps fans live in the 'burbs and not in the city. the city slickers don't care about hockey. If the arena was built in NoVa or PG, I bet there would be higher attendance. No way to prove that of course.
Posted by Joe | December 12, 2007 3:40 PM
moving to dc is the best thing that ever happened to this franchise, and its fans. unfortunately, thousands of tickets are 'reserved' for white collar corporate 'fans'...and hockey is and always will be blue collar. cigar bars are for jaded nba fans...just give us cheaper seats, no frills and the best sport in the land.
Posted by dan | December 13, 2007 7:42 PM