Flames attendance at the dome...

[GullFoss]

I thought this was interesting - could be a downward trend or could be noise. I'll continue to update this through the season! Worth keeping an eye on (IMO)...

Yearly attendance
2005-06 19,289
2006-07 19,289
2007-08 19,289
2008-09 19,289
2009-10 19,289
2010-11 19,289
2011-12 19,289
2012-13 19,289
2013-14 19,289
2014-15 19,097
2015-16 19,146
2016-17 18,727
2017-18 18,649 (YTD)

Game attendance 2017-18
Game 1 - Winnipeg - Saturday - 19,289
Game 2 - Ottawa - Friday - 19,289
Game 3 - Carolina - Thursday - 18,119
Game 4 - Minnesota - Saturday - 18,436
Game 5 - Dallas - Friday - 18,873
Game 6 - Washington - Sunday - 18,327
Game 7 - Pittsburgh - Thursday - 18,827
Game 8 - Devils - Sunday - 17,839
Game 9 - Vancouver - Tuesday - 18,160
Game 10 - Detroit - Thursday - 18,788
Game 11 - Blues - Monday - 18,519
Game 12 - Toronto - Tuesday - 19,289
Game 13 - Arizona - Thursday - 18,093
Game 14 - Oilers - Saturday - 19,289
Game 15 - Flyers - Monday - 18,590
Game 16 - Canucks - Saturday - 18,552

[powderjunkie]

Probably just the economy...but, could also be page 117 of the new arena extortion playbook. Threat to move sounds less hollow when every game isn't sold out. Also helps sell the reduction of seats in a new arena.

FWIW, there were almost certainly unsold tix in that 9 year run, though probably not as many as now.

[Freeway]

The team changed how it reported/announced attendance two seasons ago, FWIW.

[Corral]

There are lots of empty seats at NHL games - good economy or bad - even surprising games like the caps-edm tonight. You would think McDavid v Ovechkin would be a great draw for hockey fans in Washington.

I just don't think there are as many hockey fans willing to buy tickets as the NHL would like us to believe.

Like others have said on CP many times - HDTV and 60 inch screens very often make the couch preferable to the live experience. Not all the time, but enough to say I will just pick and choose which games I attend in person.

[FireGilbert]

96% capacity is still pretty good although it is a bit surprising the Caps and Pens games didn't sell out.

I'm guessing it's mostly the economy but the schedule hasn't helped much either. The Devils on a Sunday or the Nucks on a Tuesday aren't exactly prime games. The average attendance will most likely go up by the end of December with the Leafs and Habs coming to town, the Oilers and Nucks on Saturday night, and the New Years Eve game.

[N-E-B]

Honestly it's just too expensive. I'd love to go to all 41 games but that's just not realistic when they charge you $9 for nachos.

[calgaryblood]

Just way too pricey. For decent seats and some food/drinks/parking, you are looking at close to $300.

I think people would just rather watch at home.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Freeway

The team changed how it reported/announced attendance two seasons ago, FWIW.

They went from tickets sold to actual people attended?

[Snuffleupagus]

It has nothing to do with economy or the 63,000 layoffs in Calgary, It's crystal clear, we need a new arena to bring back those 600 or so fans

[Backlunds_socks]

I have not bought tickets in a while however I get a time of freebies at work.

The beer is way toooo expensive

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

It has nothing to do with economy or the 63,000 layoffs in Calgary, It's crystal clear, we need a new arena to bring back those 600 or so fans

It's a good thing the new arena will also have more corporate and box seats to help keep costs somewhat palatable for us regular folks

[DJones]

Too expensive.

Even without tickets it adds up.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Going to a hockey game is becoming like going to a movie theatre. It almost feels like a chore and you'd rather just watch most games/movies at home.

I wouldn't read into this as Flames specific, just the reality of our lives in 2017 and the many other things/costs people have in their lives.

[DeluxeMoustache]

The last two years you have been able to buy tix online at STH prices.

That is a very telling sign about the market.

[calgarywinning]

It's not that the beer is to expensive. It's that hey have raised the price to give no tips to the beer vendors. They work at an increased minimum wage and receive nothing. Feel bad for those guys now.

[Britflamesfan]

Way to expensive across the board and a product that has lost many of the exciting bits. Virtually no hitting, no fighting and a consequent lack of passion. Whilst I understand the need to keep injuries down players don’t have to play hockey, they do so because it makes them millionaires. Life can be dangerous but in most cases you know what you are signing up for. The NHL is not far away from non contact hockey and having watched that in Europe believe me it’s about as exciting as watching paint dry.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Freeway

The team changed how it reported/announced attendance two seasons ago, FWIW.

Out of curiosity, do you know any specifics of how it changed?

[GGG]

They quit lying about it being a sell out

[kukkudo]

When you can get tickets for around $10 there are problems. The capitals game I got tickets in the nosebleeds for just over $10. Same tickets in Edmonton vs the caps over $100.

[Erick Estrada]

Still 8th in attendance and 3rd best Canadian market after Toronto and Montreal which IMO is pretty impressive given the current economy. Even Edmonton isn't selling out their new arena. According to NHL stats places like LA, Boston, and Washington are playing to 100% capacity but if you watch the games or highlights you see plenty of empty seats. NHL is a gate driven league but it's pretty clear that ticket prices have reached the threshold where a lot of people either can't afford it or feel that watching at home is simply more economical. The league has likely hit its saturation point. I don't see much more growth in the business as they are never going to get a big US TV deal and they can't charge much more for tickets.