Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
Again, the Phoenix Roadrunners’ attendance record was fairly steady for the six years (1991–97) for which hockeydb.com has data. And it was better than Las Vegas has now: an average of about 6,000 per game. Sure enough, the Coyotes managed to attract double those numbers after they came to town – but that was not enough fans, nor at high enough ticket prices, to save the team from a financial bloodbath.
I don’t get why hockey in Phoenix is doomed because it can’t work in the desert, but hockey in Las Vegas is a sure-fire success.
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Phoenix had a good attendance when they still played at America West Arena due to its actual location in Phoenix. Despite having terrible sight lines for a hockey game, the proximity of its downtown location drew a minimum of 88% capacity for its first 5 years. Moving them 90 minutes away, on the outskirts of Glendale, is what really hurt the attendance and thus their finances. Given that the new Vegas arena is in a central location and not say, in Henderson, they should be able to fill the seats.