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 In early November, the SportsBusiness Daily reported NHL attendance was down 1.1 percent. As of Dec. 20, the NHL has almost doubled that number averaging 4.7 percent less fans per game than in the 2008-’09 season. A few teams’ losses jump out: Phoenix Coyotes, despite having the sixth most points in the Western Conference are drawing one-third less fans than last season. The Chicago Blackhawks are drawing 105 percent capacity, but overall average attendance numbers are down due to upgrades in the United Center. Last season the Blackhawks drew 111 percent capacity. Year to date, the Blackhawks are running at 105 percent of capacity.
Twenty of the NHL’s 30 teams have seen a decline in paid attendance, three have no change and not a single team has more than a one percent increase in attendance. Six franchises have seen more than 10 percent less fans this season from last.
One explanation could be that many fans are opting to watch games on television. Versus Network, which has the only major TV contract with the NHL, has seen several record high TV ratings this season. Yahoo! Sports and the NHL also have teamed up to provide live full-length games online for free.
Here are the NHL’s attendance numbers, thus far:
|
Team
|
‘08‘09
|
’09-‘10
(to date)
|
% of Capacity
|
% (+/-)
|
|
Blackhawks
|
22247
|
20668
|
105.1
|
-7.10%
|
|
Canadiens
|
21273
|
21273
|
100
|
0.00%
|
|
Red Wings
|
19865
|
19128
|
95.3
|
-3.71%
|
|
Flyers
|
19545
|
19413
|
99.6
|
-0.68%
|
|
Maple Leafs
|
19312
|
19224
|
102.3
|
-0.46%
|
|
Flames
|
19289
|
19289
|
100
|
0.00%
|
|
Senators
|
18949
|
17790
|
96.2
|
-6.12%
|
|
Canucks
|
18630
|
18810
|
102.1
|
0.97%
|
|
Wild
|
18568
|
18197
|
100.7
|
-2.00%
|
|
Blues
|
18554
|
18712
|
97.7
|
0.85%
|
|
Sabres
|
18531
|
18360
|
98.2
|
-0.92%
|
|
Rangers
|
18172
|
18200
|
100
|
0.15%
|
|
Capitals
|
18097
|
18277
|
100
|
0.99%
|
|
Stars
|
17680
|
16978
|
91.6
|
-3.97%
|
|
Sharks
|
17488
|
17553
|
100.3
|
0.37%
|
|
Bruins
|
17039
|
17193
|
97.9
|
0.90%
|
|
Ducks
|
16990
|
14848
|
86.5
|
-12.61%
|
|
Penguins
|
16975
|
17051
|
100.6
|
0.45%
|
|
Oilers
|
16839
|
16839
|
100
|
0.00%
|
|
Hurricanes
|
16572
|
14286
|
76.3
|
-13.79%
|
|
Lightning
|
16497
|
14403
|
72.9
|
-12.69%
|
|
Kings
|
16488
|
16325
|
88.2
|
-0.99%
|
|
Devils
|
15790
|
14854
|
84.3
|
-5.93%
|
|
Panthers
|
15621
|
14352
|
74.6
|
-8.12%
|
|
Blue Jackets
|
15543
|
14641
|
80.7
|
-5.80%
|
|
Avalanche
|
15429
|
13707
|
76.1
|
-11.16%
|
|
Predators
|
15010
|
13731
|
80.2
|
-8.52%
|
|
Coyotes
|
14875
|
9825
|
56.1
|
-33.95%
|
|
Thrashers
|
14626
|
13667
|
73.7
|
-6.56%
|
|
Islanders
|
13773
|
12303
|
75.5
|
-10.67%
|
|
524267
|
499897
|
2712.7
|
-4.65%
|
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Matthew Coller is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
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