Tigers#1
10-06-2005, 06:51 PM
NHL returns with packed arenas, single-date attendance record
More Than A Quarter-Million Fans Attend Games On League's Busiest Night Ever
NEW YORK (October 5, 2005) -- National Hockey League fans ushered in the 2005-06 regular season tonight by packing arenas to more than 98% capacity and establishing a single-date record for total attendance. Eleven of the 15 games were sellouts.
A total of 275,447 fans attended the 15 opening-night games, an average of 18,363 per game and 98.1% of capacity. The total eclipsed the previous high of 259,873, set Feb. 15, 2003 in 14 games.
Tonight's record attendance is reflective of the strong ticket sales throughout the League this season:
* The League-wide average season ticket renewal percentage of 87.7% is an increase of 3% over 2003-04.
* Twenty-four clubs have sold at least 1,000 new season tickets/equivalents to date and at least 11 of those clubs have sold more than 2,000.
* Sales of single-game tickets hit record numbers in September with more than a half-million tickets sold, including 124,000 on Sept. 17 alone.
"We are thrilled by and grateful for the tremendous response we have received from our fans, whose loyalty and passion are unrivaled," said Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Wednesday's biggest crowd was in Tampa Bay, where 22,120 fans filled the St. Pete Times Forum as the Lightning raised their 2004 Stanley Cup banner prior to the home-opener against the Carolina Hurricanes. With season ticket packages reducing available seats for opening night to fewer than 2,500 amid phenomenal ticket demand for the upcoming season, the Lightning had to institute a lottery to equitably distribute remaining tickets for this game.
The Minnesota Wild, who have sold out all 188 home games in club history (pre-season, regular season and playoffs), drew a franchise-record crowd of 19,398 to Xcel Energy Center for their season-opener against the Calgary Flames.
With all 30 clubs in action, Wednesday marked the busiest playing date in the League's 88-year history. NHL teams had combined to play as many as 14 games on nine occasions, the most recent of which was Nov. 1, 2003. It also marked the first time that all NHL clubs were in action on the
schedule's opening night since 1928-29, when 10 clubs were featured. The last time all clubs in a major pro sports league played on the opening date of the schedule was in 1969, when the National Football League kicked off with all 16 NFL clubs and 10 AFL clubs participating.
More Than A Quarter-Million Fans Attend Games On League's Busiest Night Ever
NEW YORK (October 5, 2005) -- National Hockey League fans ushered in the 2005-06 regular season tonight by packing arenas to more than 98% capacity and establishing a single-date record for total attendance. Eleven of the 15 games were sellouts.
A total of 275,447 fans attended the 15 opening-night games, an average of 18,363 per game and 98.1% of capacity. The total eclipsed the previous high of 259,873, set Feb. 15, 2003 in 14 games.
Tonight's record attendance is reflective of the strong ticket sales throughout the League this season:
* The League-wide average season ticket renewal percentage of 87.7% is an increase of 3% over 2003-04.
* Twenty-four clubs have sold at least 1,000 new season tickets/equivalents to date and at least 11 of those clubs have sold more than 2,000.
* Sales of single-game tickets hit record numbers in September with more than a half-million tickets sold, including 124,000 on Sept. 17 alone.
"We are thrilled by and grateful for the tremendous response we have received from our fans, whose loyalty and passion are unrivaled," said Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Wednesday's biggest crowd was in Tampa Bay, where 22,120 fans filled the St. Pete Times Forum as the Lightning raised their 2004 Stanley Cup banner prior to the home-opener against the Carolina Hurricanes. With season ticket packages reducing available seats for opening night to fewer than 2,500 amid phenomenal ticket demand for the upcoming season, the Lightning had to institute a lottery to equitably distribute remaining tickets for this game.
The Minnesota Wild, who have sold out all 188 home games in club history (pre-season, regular season and playoffs), drew a franchise-record crowd of 19,398 to Xcel Energy Center for their season-opener against the Calgary Flames.
With all 30 clubs in action, Wednesday marked the busiest playing date in the League's 88-year history. NHL teams had combined to play as many as 14 games on nine occasions, the most recent of which was Nov. 1, 2003. It also marked the first time that all NHL clubs were in action on the
schedule's opening night since 1928-29, when 10 clubs were featured. The last time all clubs in a major pro sports league played on the opening date of the schedule was in 1969, when the National Football League kicked off with all 16 NFL clubs and 10 AFL clubs participating.