[Trashed]

There's been a drop in attendance in the NHL this year from last year. Granted it's only about 150 people less per game but this is a disturbing trend here in america. Successful franchises like the Blackhawks, Blues and Avalanche are experiencing attendance drops and teams like Atlanta who is doing very well in the standings are doing poorly in the actual stands. What's the deal here? Is the NHL to suffer pro soccer's fate? Are we backing a losing project here? Some thoughts please?

[EmpireWF]

I don't think it's as drastic as you're thinking. It's year two after the lockout and people aren't as interested right off the bat as they were a year ago from today. The season just started and I can see attendance increasing some as the season advances onward.

But the NHL does have a probelm in marketing itself, there's no question about that.

[soriano33]

In Buffalo we sold out pretty much every game I cant tickets for any game unless I go to StubHub, I even went to a preseason game and every seat in the house was taken. In other cities the lockout still shows its destructive nature, those citiies not grounded in hockey tradition have little fan allegiance. I agree with you Empire, if the NHL could learn a thing or two about marketing themselves they could try to heal some of the wounds still remaining.

[blueandwhite]

I always thought attendance was a problem in the States, except for a few gems like Philly, the Rangers, the Red Wings. We're so hyped for hockey up here in canada, it's not the same problem.

[Trashed]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

I don't think it's as drastic as you're thinking. It's year two after the lockout and people aren't as interested right off the bat as they were a year ago from today. The season just started and I can see attendance increasing some as the season advances onward.

But the NHL does have a probelm in marketing itself, there's no question about that.

I was actually basing this thread on an article I read from The Hockey News. It stated the attendance problems for the teams I mentioned and painted a grim picture for the NHL. Frankly it scared me. Being a Rangers fan I have nothing to worry about in Madison Square Garden but if too many Nashvilles and Atlantas have problems I wonder what is gonna be the result?

[blueandwhite]

There is something to be said for the demise of the weak ones, making the ones leftover stronger. I think there are too many teams in the NHL.

[soriano33]

Basically the latest expansion teams are the greatest problems....there are too many teams in the NHL I agree....hockey in Florida? it doesnt make sense to me....there aren't problems in Buffalo, Boston, New York, Montreal, Detroit, Toronto....keep hockey where the strong fan bases are to keep the league alive!

[Trashed]

Originally Posted by soriano33

Basically the latest expansion teams are the greatest problems....there are too many teams in the NHL I agree....hockey in Florida? it doesnt make sense to me....there aren't problems in Buffalo, Boston, New York, Montreal, Detroit, Toronto....keep hockey where the strong fan bases are to keep the league alive!

Yeah I agree with the last 2 posts but do you think that's a likely possibilty? Contraction?

[soriano33]

This is the answer for the NHL however we all know that this is an unlikely course of action...the expansion teams of the past 10 years or so have all been pretty much forced on the league by eager businessman....the league's stability hurts because of their small fan base

[EmpireWF]

Here's a story from GlobeandMail.com which acknowledges some attendance problems but also gives some sound reasons for them and they all seam plausible. I doubt any teams are in real danger (well, wasn't Pittsburgh...whatever happened to that story?). I can't see contraction happening anytime soon. If it didn't go down during the lockout, it would take something drastic to knock off a franchise.

[blueandwhite]

Interesting article. I've alway thought, if you play better, more people will want to see you ie St Louis and their woes now. If the Blues got better, then the fans would come out.
In Toronto, as i am sure it is in montreal, new York, Detroit, it doesn't matter how bad they get, the huge fan base will always be there. And it is expensive to see a game.
I remember buffalo going through such a nasty time, and look at them now-but Buffalo is such a town dripping with hockey fans. They aren't the example for a place like Nashville,or even pittsburgh. Nashville not being able to make it is one of those stanger situations - good team, good marketing, can't get the people in - but it seems you can't sell it everywhere.

[EmpireWF]

With Nashville (trying to be as least stereotypical as possible), I'd assume they would have their sports dollars wrapped around Tennessee college football, the Titans and throw in the Grizzlies even. Oh yeah, Nascar too.

[ThePundit]

Win and people will come. Here are the prices of Islander tickets. $120, $95, $85, $70, $55, $30, $25....(30 and 25 are pretty much the last couple of rows in the place...So who in their right mind is going to pay this kind of money to a losing team?

[Trashed]

Are the Pens moving from Pittsburgh? The arena is sold every nite! That's a moneymaker right there!!! Surely they would build a new arena for what I believe is the NHL's next dynasty.