Lead All North American Hockey Teams In Average Attendance

[Mileflames]

CALGARY HITMEN LEAD ALL NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY TEAMS IN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

For Immediate Release Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Calgary, AB – Through the Calgary Hitmen’s first 23 home games the team leads all Canadian Hockey League teams as well as the American Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, the United Hockey League and the Central Hockey League in average attendance.

This season the Hitmen are averaging 9,080 patrons through the turnstiles at the Pengrowth Saddledome with 13 home games remaining. Rounding out the leaders in the other respective Canadian Hockey Leagues are the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (9,025) and the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (7,629). The leader of the American Hockey is the Manchester Monarchs (8,876), with the Gwinnett Gladiators leading the East Coast Hockey League (6,289), the Fort Wayne Komets leading the United Hockey League (7,184) and the Oklahoma City Blazers leading the Central Hockey League (7,607).

The Hitmen are looking to build on their average attendance tonight as they play host to their Central Division Rivals the Red Deer Rebels in the second game of the back-to-back series. The Hitmen and Rebels are currently tied for third place in the division with 56 points.

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For information contact:

Derek Boessenkool
Public Relations Coordinator
CALGARY HITMEN HOCKEY CLUB
dboessenkool@hitmenhockey.com
Phone (403) 571-2201
Fax (403) 571-2211

http://www.hitmenhockey.com/mediareleases/MEDIA_REL/comments.cgi?discussion_no=1&subject_no=231

[Mileflames]

Big night tonight, the team is now at 9095 AVG for this year

[The_Vulk]

Almost 10,500 seeing the Hitmen hosting the Cougars friday.

Hearing all them fans reacting to those missed open net shots in the dying minute of the game was sure something. A nice lively crowd it was!

[Billy Blade]

That's awesome, it's great to see the support for junior hockey really picking up! Even though the NHL lock out has a lot to do with it, I think the interest will stick even down the road. The better exposure is showing what a great brand of hockey it is and how much fun it is to follow the future stars of the game. Great job Hitmen fans!

[RunTheGoalie]

The interesting thing about the Hitmen's attendance spike is that it actually began last season. The Hitmen had crowds of 10k+ five times, and averaged 9607 over their last eight home games last year.

I think a lot of credit for this goes to the Flames organization. Not only for doing an excellent job of promoting the Hitmen, but also for reigniting the passion for hockey in this city.

While support for hockey has always been high in the city (awful Flames teams still averaging 16,000; Hitmen leading the league in attendance at least the last two seasons), once the Flames took off last year, they brought the Hitmen with them, and despite the lockout, it has carried over into this year for the Hitmen.

While people were still buying Flames season tickets the day the lockout was announced, the Hitmen still set a franchise high for season tickets before the NHL shut down. The increased interest in the WHL club was evident long before the lockout began.

[The_Vulk]

Strangely, when asked about the relation between the lockout and increased attendence, we where told that during the last NHL lockout ten years ago, intendence increased by about the same as we are seeing now.

Hopefully, when the NHL gets going again, those that have been enjoying WHL hockey will stay (become season ticket holders, etc).

The Flames do have a season ticket package that includes season tickets for the Hitmen. (if I recall correctly.)

[RunTheGoalie]

Yup. A Flames season ticket holder can get Hitmen season tickets anywhere in the Dome for $275. I'm sure a lot of people took advantage of that deal. I sure did.

Oh, 10,348 in the Dome this afternoon for the game against Brandon. And Sunday afternoons are usually crowd killers.

NA leading average is now up to 9197.