Winning Streaks and Attendance Peaks
by Bob Wage on Mar 24, 2009 10:09 PM EDT
17 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes currently have an eight game winning streak at home, but that is not the only reason for the wide smiles and happy faces at Edwards Mill Road. The franchise has also seen ticket sales spike during the last two months. Most experts will tell you that a winning team will draw more fans than a losing one, but in the Hurricanes case what came first, the chicken or the egg?
After two sell outs in October, the club's attendance in November and December was nothing to write home about. During a span of 18 home dates including the traditional New Year's Eve contest, (which drew 18,137), the Hurricanes had an average of 14,741 warm bodies show up to watch hockey at the RBC.
Since the first of the year though, there has been a remarkable turnaround. The average attendance for the 16 home dates so far in 2009 is 17,818. Bad economy? Apparently not for the hockey die hards in North Carolina.
Now comes the interesting part. The Hurricanes did not have a sellout from October until the very first home game in February, which happened to be on a Thursday night when they hosted the Florida Panthers. At the time, both teams were fighting for the coveted eighth spot in the Conference standings and this was billed as an extremely important game. But the Canes came up flat and lost 5-0.
Did the fans walk away? Quite the contrary. They sold out the next game as well on Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Saturday nights are good nights to draw fans, but against Columbus? Regardless, the Canes stunk once again in front of a capacity crowd and lost 5-1.
The next home date was against Boston on a Tuesday night. Once again, it was a sell out, and once again it was a blow out. The Canes lost 5-1.
One might think that after three huge disappointments in a row, the fans might get discouraged and might stop showing up in such large numbers. Especially the supposed "fair weather" fans residing in a non traditional southern market.
Think again.
Almost 18,000 showed up for the very next game against Tampa Bay. And the Hurricanes have not lost at the RBC since.
So what happened here, did the team's winning ways help to draw the fans, or did the loyal support from fans help to turn around the team's fortunes? If you ask any of the Hurricanes, they will be quick to answer. After every single game recently, at least one of them will compliment the fans and say that a loud, vocal crowd is vital to the success of the team.
Coach Paul Maurice usually mentions in his post game press conferences about how the fans helped to get the players going. He specifically said after the Islanders game that after playing such a horrid second period, many northern markets would have booed their teams off the ice. But people were standing and cheering here and the crowd provided a much needed spark which helped the team get juiced up and rally to victory.
Did the fans help jump start the team, or the other way around? Either way, it's a happy marriage in Carolina right now and the large crowds are probably not going anywhere, anytime soon.
_________
- 10/10/08 18,680
- 10/13/08 18,680
- 11/1/08 15,016
- 11/2/08 15,635
- 11/7/08 15,206
- 11/9/08 12.398
- 11/12/08 14,261
- 11/16/08 13,781
- 11/18/08 12,164
- 11/21/08 14,848
- 11/23/08 13,042
- 11/26/08 15,057
- 11/30/08 14,191
- 12/4/08 14,559
- 12/6/08 14,061
- 12/7/08 15,308
- 12/16/08 16,434
- 12/18/08 14,533
- 12/27/08 16,705
- 12/31/08 18,137
- 1/2/09 17,092
- 1/6/09 15,399
- 1/15/09 18,037
- 1/29/09 16,405
- 1/31/09 16,215
- 2/12/09 18,680
- 2/14/09 18,680
- 2/17/09 18,680
- 2/20/09 17,711
- 2/22/09 18,680
- 2/26/09 18,219
- 3/6/09 18,108
- 3/9/09 17,826
- 3/18/09 18,544
- 3/20/09 18,137
- 3/21/09 18,680
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In Hartford..
Not only would the fans have not showed up they would have picked on those that did. I know because it happened to me.
This is part of another issue. There are those here in CT whose still have the delusion that Hartford was a hockey town. I guess when you don’t show up that makes you a hockey town. The funny thing is all this blather started AFTER the team announced its departure. Most normal places get antsy when it actually matters.
Now I don’t know if Raleigh is what one would call a hockey town. I have never visited. But I will say you folks have topped us many times over. Proof of this is the lack of snide comments about you that have been made in recent years.
Later folks.
You should come visit sometime…… We always treat folks from the old-school Hartford faithful the same as if they were one of us…. Because they are one of us…. they just wear green ;-)
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 25, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I think a part of the Canes success in this market can be attributed to the mass college sports following in the Triangle. The mentality of the college sports fan is more loyal than the professional sports fan and less likely to turn his back on his team. You could also compare it to many European soccer fans. It’s also more focused on noise and the crowd factor. The result here has been a fan base that is fairly loyal (although we certainly have our share of bandwagon fans) and very positive vocally.
I agree also….
The proof was in game 7 of the finals of 2006. There was not a person at the RBC Center who used their seat for sitting…. This is something that nobody around the league had seen before or since it happened….
We are truly a unique fan base…… I’m proud to be a part of it….
In his retirement speach, Ron Francis mentioned the impact it had on the players to see fans of UNC, DUKE, and NCSU all pulling together for the same team….. But with the same passion we all have for the college teams we grew up loving….
And it rubs off on the people who have relocated here too…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 25, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Cost is down and attendance is up...
Really? Seriously. Bubba you forget why the arena was packed?
The Panthers and Blue Jackets games were on “Hockey Weekend Across America” at the RBC Center with multiple games at the RBC Center all weekend. The Bruins game was on Glen Wesley night. How could they not sell it out?
Two recent games that were packed – Military Appreciation and Public Service (Cops & Firefighters) and it was great to see with one problem. The folks sitting next to me and behind me were paying a fraction of the cost that season ticket holders pay – $25/ticket for lower bowl? What about the frequent BOGO Free games?
The Canes are having to give away tickets to get people in the stands. I am sorry but that sucks for the STH.
Hey Stormdog,
I didn’t put too much analysis into this, I basically just threw out the numbers. Good points about the promotions, but the Hurricanes were running the “buy one get one free” promotions for every Sunday game and most games through the holidays, with very little affect. (attendance of 14K?) But there always seems to be some type of promotion going on.
I will agree with you, the Military Appreciation days and some others are usually sold out. Also, the ticket exchange dates are pretty full.
But regardless of the price, I think fans are coming because they enjoy it. Some other franchises are doing more than the Canes regarding discounted tickets, with very little success.
GM of CanesCountry.com
As far as Nov/Dec attendance goes, keep in mind that someone thought it woudl bve a great idea to schedule 5 Sunday afternoon games in a row in the middle of NFL season (Nov 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec 7). It didn’t help that the Panther’s (NFL, not NHL) were doing well at the time. I’m betting that a few of the other low attendance games align with UNC, NC State, or Duke football or basketball games.
I agree with this point also….
but with that said…. it seems crazy to me that anyone would rather watch a dull football game over hockey….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 25, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
No doubt the Sunday games were horrendous, especially to have 5 in a row.
But the interesting thing in February and March, the Canes have outdrawn the Wolfpack basketball team. Who would have ever thought that would happen in a million years? Hockey outdrawing basketball? Even with the tournament going on in Greensboro and on TV, the Canes nearly got two sell outs last weekend. Good stuff.
GM of CanesCountry.com
as a Wolfpack fan and student I can assure you that the reason the Canes are outselling the NCSU Mens BB team is due to the complete incompetence of the Athletic Department and the sucktitude of everything Wolfpack BB. Their are no fans more passionate then NCState fans. Even Caniacs… (I can say that… because I am one)
by packpigskinfan25 on Mar 25, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
and its been tough the past few years for me being the fan of both…
THANK GOD the Canes are giving me something to be excited about!
(my above post was no jab at Canes fans at all… I just get really frustrated when I think about NCState basketball right now)
by packpigskinfan25 on Mar 25, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the point is that “Caniacs” ARE NC-State fans… And UNC fans… and Duke fans and even ECU fans….
heck… there are probably even some Meredith college and Peace College folks who claim the “Caniac Nation” on their voter registration….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 25, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Even in the Herb years when NC State was making the tourny every season, the Hurricanes were right there with them or ahead of them. And I say that as a huge NC State fan.
2000
NC State 16,535
Hurricanes 13,355
2001
NC State 14,072
Hurricanes 15,508
2002
NC State 13,468
Hurricanes 15,682
2003
NC State 13,563
Hurricanes 12,330
2005
NC State 14,464
Hurricanes 15,596
2006
NC State 14,472
Hurricanes 17,386
2007
NC State 13,952
Hurricanes 16,633
2008
NC State 15,043
Hurricanes 16,327
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