Quote:
Originally Posted by rage2
Edmonton sells out every game.
Our market strength was disguised by O&G spending during the good times, and now we're seeing a clearer picture of how big our actual hockey market really is here.
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Fair enough, and that's very true. Was just commenting on the general correlation between teams being crap and attendance gradually waning. It's true there are some weird outliers in the NHL, like the Oilers and Leafs, who sell out no matter how terrible their teams were. The Canucks' NHL-record sellout streak came to an end when that team eventually went down the tubes, and some locations barely sell out even if their team is amazing, like Anaheim. But again, I think an outlier. I also remember our attendance dropping sharply post 1995, after the renovation of the 'Dome. I remember in 97-98 they closed what are now the fan zones, so they could reduce the capacity and get closer to sellout numbers. 17400, I believe? Then, in 2003-04, in time for the playoffs (and that clinching game against Phoenix) they opened it up so it would be 19289 again. Then those good years following absolutely did prop that number up. Just saying that the attendance, for the Flames, imho, is very much pegged to on-ice success, and vice-versa.