Hitmen and Giants attendance

[Resolute 14]

Well, they figured the Hitmen and Giants would see attendance increases due to the lockout, and they were right.

Updated through February 05

Calgary Hitmen after 26 home games:

2003 Avg: 7030 ; 2004 Avg: 9197 ; +30.83%
High: 16,073 (7626 last year) ; Low: 6431 (4997 last year)
Rank: 1st in WHL; 1st in CHL

Vancouver Giants after 26 home games:

2003 Avg: 4755 ; 2004 Avg: 7851 ; +65.12%
High: 12,231 (7939 last year) ; Low: 5589 (2928 last year)
Rank: 2nd in WHL

And, because I can:

Edmonton Roadrunners after 30 home games:

Avg: 8626 ; High: 16,839 ; Low: 6011

[Oxygen-Supply]

Very cool,

I thought it would be more.

[Flickered Flame]

It is great to see attendance up but when you have the largest or 2nd largest arena for seating capacity (Portland might be 1st) you should rank #1 or #2 in the league. I thought they would be closer to 9-10 thousand a game.

[Resolute 14]

The first few games are typically the lowest attended games for the Hitmen. The numbers should continue to climb. I'm looking forward to the Teddy Bear Toss game. 14,000 last year, I wonder if we can sell out the dome this year.

And Calgary's overall capacity is the highest in the league. Portland actually plays out of two arenas. Most of their games are in their Memorial Coliseum, which seats around 12,000 (but the Winterhawks average about 3500 out of there) while big games are played out of the Rose Garden (often drawing 9000+)

The Giants play out of the PNE, but the capacity is listed as 8000 or so. I'm not sure I get that one.

[Oxygen-Supply]

BC

Pacific Coliseum 16 553 odd

World Stadiums

They are missing some for Alberta

If you know what some of the capacity are you should send them in.

World Stadiums

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, my impression is that the Giants dont open the upper bowl.

[Fobulous]

Thats good to see.

I know a lot of people that just saw there first hitmen games this year due to the lockout.

[Flickered Flame]

I came across this article today. The lockout is helping the CHL's attendance.

particularly in the Western Hockey League where numbers were up almost 50,000, or 10 per cent, over the first 127 games of the season.

The Vancouver Giants and Calgary Hitmen, who play in two of the larger buildings in the WHL, are the driving the attendance boost. Vancouver's average per game was up 2,255 over last season and Calgary increased 2,530 per game.

Full article:


http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/Junior/20.../648682-cp.html

[Resolute 14]

Of that 50,000 extra fans through the turnstiles, a full 30,000 alone are from Calgary and Vancouver. The Hitmen have pulled in 11,179 more fans, and the Giants 19,431 more.

Not sure where they got their numbers though. By my count, Vancouver is up 2429 per game, while Calgary is up 1597.

[Oxygen-Supply]

Originally posted by fotze+Oct 28 2004, 06:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (fotze @ Oct 28 2004, 06:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Snakeeye@Oct 24 2004, 08:07 PM
Well, they figured the Hitmen and Giants would see attendance increases due to the lockout, and they were right.

Calgary Hitmen after 7 home games:

2003 Avg: 6068 ; 2004 Avg: 7665 ; +26.32%
High: 8553 (6941 last year) ; Low: 6431 (4997 last year)
Rank: 1st in WHL

Vancouver Giants after 8 home games:

2003 Avg: 4337 ; 2004 Avg: 6766 ; +56.01%
High: 8864 (5584 last year) ; Low: 5589 (3488 last year)
Rank: 2nd in WHL

And, because I can:

Edmonton Roadrunners after 4 home games:

Avg: 9002 ; High: 16,001# ; Low: 6011

By those numbers shouldn't Edmonton be first? [/b][/quote]

You would Think so, BUT

AHL is not the WHL, one is pro players the other is kids!!!!!!!

[Sylvanfan]

I believe that the upper deck is closed off for Giants games, so the capacity of the lower bowl is 8000. Who knows since the Canucks left that dump no one's probably been in the upper deck of that relic

Portland only draws big crowds on select weekend games. During the weeknights their attendance is pretty average.

As the season goes on you'll see attendance go up in Calgary.

[Julio]

Originally posted by Sylvanfan@Oct 28 2004, 04:42 PM
I believe that the upper deck is closed off for Giants games, so the capacity of the lower bowl is 8000. Who knows since the Canucks left that dump no one's probably been in the upper deck of that relic

Actually, the PNE gets a fair amount of concerts and such, more activity there than, say the Stampede has at the Corral.
As for the attendance, the numbers are really great, but I think that there is a LOT of people posing as empty seats at the midweek games. I was at a Wednesday game where they announced 7000 or so, and then a Friday game where they announced 8000. The 800 was pretty close, wheras on the Wednesday there couldn't have been more than 4000. The Hit's must be counting paid attendance, which would include all the suites and the club seats, which were at least 1/2 empty on the week night game and about 3/4 full on the Friday.

[Resolute 14]

The Hitmen do count paid attendance, but the empty club seats dont count for anything. The Hitmen dont sell season tickets to the AYC.

The nice thing about Hitmen season tickets is that you dont have to be at every game. I've missed four of 11 home games thus far (all weekend games, oddly enough) but have been able to bring friends to others on the cheap because of it.

[Julio]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Nov 5 2004, 10:17 PM
The Hitmen do count paid attendance, but the empty club seats dont count for anything. The Hitmen dont sell season tickets to the AYC.

Well they may not...as I recall part of the deal with Flames season ticket holders there is that they get it as part of the package...but I have a feeling those tickets are counted. I have gone in the AYC for a couple of Hitmen games courtesy of a friend's company, and they were the nice 'seaon tickets, not Ticketmaster stock, so I'm sure all those club seats and suites are counted empty or full.

[Resolute 14]

If they were counted, the Hitmen would be averaging around 9,000.

The Hitmen sell gameday tickets into the AYC. If they were counted as sold via Flames season ticket holders, they could not do that.

[Resolute 14]

Updated through tonight. The Hitmen crossed the 100,000 mark in attendance, the only other team within 50,000 of that is Vancouver, at 70,000, though in two fewer games.

League high was set by Saskatoon a couple nights ago, as they drew 10,512. Amazing what a massive turnaround can do after a 7 win season.

[Oxygen-Supply]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Nov 11 2004, 05:31 AM
Updated through tonight. The Hitmen crossed the 100,000 mark in attendance, the only other team within 50,000 of that is Vancouver, at 70,000, though in two fewer games.

League high was set by Saskatoon a couple nights ago, as they drew 10,512. Amazing what a massive turnaround can do after a 7 win season.

wait for the teddy night

[Resolute 14]

Didnt have to wait. 10,768 tonight, a league high.

[Oxygen-Supply]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Nov 14 2004, 05:35 AM
Didnt have to wait. 10,768 tonight, a league high.

How about the rest of the CHL?

[Resolute 14]

As of November 13:

1. 8022 Calgary
2. 7100 Vancouver
3. 6047 Red Deer
4. 6021 Spokane
5. 6002 Kelowna
6. 5514 Everett
7. 5406 Saskatoon
8. 5058 Kamloops
9. 4651 Portland
10. 4039 Regina
11. 4006 Medicine Hat
12. 3658 Seattle
13. 3542 Brandon
14. 3271 Tri-Cities
15. 3256 Prince George
16. 3223 Lethbridge
17. 3110 Kootenay
18. 2283 Prince Albert
19. 2003 Moose Jaw
20. 1847 Swift Current

League Average: 4446