Photo of the national anthem being sung at an NHL game.

For the most part, the National Hockey League is home to very affluent fan bases according to studies. Attendance at NHL games during the most recent recession was just as strong as the years prior. NHL fans are a very dedicated fan base that gladly spends money on the game that they love. Additionally, it's obvious that the largest NHL markets are found primarily in Canada and the northern United States. Here are the attendance numbers for all 30 NHL teams for the 2010-2011 NHL 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. Amalie Arena - (708,022)

19. Rexall Place - (690,399)

20. RBC Center - (656,611)

21. Bridgestone Arena - (661,861)

22. BankAtlantic 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 (Former 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 arena in NBA attendance (Chicago Bulls), it was also the number one arena in NHL attendance (Chicago Blackhawks). Nearly one million fans attended a Chicago Blackhawks game at the United Center last season. As expected, almost all of the Canadian teams are in the top ten in overall NHL attendance (the Winnipeg Jets will also be in the top ten for the 2011-2012 NHL season). There were six NHL arenas last season that averaged crowds larger than it's capacity. The United Center averaged attendance of a whopping 108% of it's capacity.

The Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens, is the number two arena in NHL attendance after being number one for the 2009-2010 NHL season. Like the other professional sports leagues, NHL ticket prices continue to rise and the overall attendances have stayed very steady. The New York Islanders, who finished dead last in NHL attendance and 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 hockey fans and is believed to be the largest factor in the New York Islanders' poor attendance numbers.

Additionally, Jobing.Com Arena will likely be a vacant arena in coming seasons with the possibility of the Phoenix Coyotes relocating 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 or more northern cities like Seattle.

 

Reference:

ESPN

 

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