February 3rd, 2012

For the most part,  NHL arenas are homes to  very affluent fan bases. Additionally, the largest NHL markets are found primarily in Canada and the northern United States. What does all of this mean. It means the demographics of NHL fans are extremely different than the fans of the other three leagues. Listed below is the attendance numbers per NHL arena for the 2010-2011 season.

1. United Center - (878,356)

2. Bell Centre - (872,193)

3. Wells Fargo Center - (808,328)

4. Joe Louis Arena - (806,892)

5. Air Canada Centre - (793,522)

6. Scotiabank Saddledome - (771,560)

7. Scottrade Center - (785,150)

8. Rogers Arena - (773,260)

9. First Niagra Center- (756,568)

10. Verizon Center - (754,309)

11. Scotiabank Place - (753,525)

12. Consol Energy Center - (729,628)

13. Madison Square Garden - (742,432)

14. Staples Center - (741,404)

15. Xcel Energy Center - (720,508)

16. TD Garden - (702,600)

17. HP Pavilion - (702,480)

18. St. Petersburg Times Forum - (708,022)

19. Rexall Place - (690,399)

20. RBC Center - (656,611)

21. Bridgestone Arena - (661,861)

22. Bank Atlantic Center - (643,116)

23. American Airlines Center - (617,997)

24. Pepsi Center - (607,650)

25. Prudential Center - (605,803)

26. Honda Center - (604,283)

27. Nationwide Arena - (546,350)

28. Philips Arena (home of the former Atlanta Thrashers) - (552,230)

29. Jobing.com Arena - (487,543)

30. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - (453,456)

Not only was the United Center the number one NBA arena as far as attendance, it is also the number one NHL arena. Nearly one million fans attended a Blackhawks game last season. As expected, nearly all of the Canadian teams are in the top ten (the Winnipeg Jets will also be in the top ten for 2011-2012). There were six NHL arenas last season that averaged crowds at more than capacity. The United Center averaged a whopping 108%.

The Montreal Canadiens' Bell Centre is the number two NHL arena in attendance after being number one for the 2009-2010 season. Like the other leagues, the ticket prices continue to rise and the attendances overall have stayed very steady. The New York Islanders, who finished dead last in attendance have discussed the possibility of sharing the new Barclays Center with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets next season. Nassau Veterans Coliseum is often voted the worst NHL arena by NHL fans and is believed to be the number factor in hampering the Islander's attendance.

Additionally, Jobing.Com Arena will likely be a vacant NHL arena next season with the possibility of the Coyotes moving to Quebec City. Although the NHL tried to expand the game into smaller southern markets the new strategy seems to be to move expansions into hockey-crazed Canada.

Primary Source for Article: ESPN