Texas Beating Hamilton In Rink Attendance

by Art Middleton on May 23, 2010 3:00 PM CDT in Analysis Comment 17 comments

So last night didn't turn out so well for the Texas Stars on the ice as they dropped a tough 3-0 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs and fell behind in their Western Conference series three games to two.

But in the stands, Texas Stars fans are putting their counterparts in Hamilton to shame.

Though eight home playoff games each, Stars fans have filled the Cedar Park Center with an average attendance of 4,873 people per game - that number of course really helped by this past weekend's attendance at all three games: 4,535 for game three on Wednesday and then 6,215 for Friday night's game four and 5,020 for last night's game five.

Compare that to the city of Hamilton - or as Jim Basille calls it: "Southern Ontario" - where in eight playoff games the Bulldogs have only averaged 3,142 fans. Games one and two at Copps Coliseum drew 2,977 and 2,897 fans respectively.

And we won't even get into the fact that Copps can seat up to 17,383 for a hockey game while CPC only seats 6,863 hockey fans.

Those numbers are kinda surprising right? I mean, one city is where hockey was born and is a religion, the other city is better known to Canadians for being that place where "Austin City Limits" is filmed. Hamilton is the hockey hotbed that would have no problems supporting an NHL franchise and just this past week Hamilton's daily newspaper was all too happy to point out that football is king in Austin and that hockey is a minor footnote.

So how would the Hamilton Spectator explain these playoff numbers I wonder?

And lest anyone think that this is just a recent trend, it isn't. This past regular season, the Texas Stars outdrew the Bulldogs by almost a thousand fans nightly with an average attendance of 5,355 over 40 Stars home games compared to the Bulldogs 4,374.

Oh and Houston and San Antonio also outdrew the Bulldogs this season. And last season for that matter. It's all right there in black and white on the AHL's official web site.

Look, I know about the stigma attached to minor-pro teams in all sports, I've seen it first hand with the Edmonton Road Runners who were a one season replacement for Edmonton fans while the NHL ~~screwed over their fans~~ went on a bit of a hiatus in the 04-05 season. Attendance numbers were good as they averaged 8,845 fans per game, but compare that to the numbers the Oilers bring in where they sell out Rexall almost every game and it's easy to conclude that hockey fans - even the most die hard ones - just will not come out with the same enthusiasm for an AHL game than they will the NHL.

But still, Hamilton is the city that has been trying for literally decades to get an NHL team. It's been a dream of theirs for years and it's so bad they even made a television drama based on the idea that Hamilton had an NHL team (and just like in real life, no one cared to watch as it only lasted two seasons in Canada). Has anyone in Hamilton that has ever bitched and moaned that Gary Bettman and the NHL keeps over looking them as a possible NHL destination ever thought that this whole AHL thing is an audition, a litmus test of sorts? How can the NHL really justify moving a pro team there when they barely support the minor-pro team they have already? At least the folks in Winnipeg with the smaller population base support their AHL franchise better.

I am sure dear reader that you are wondering what is my point in all of this. I do actually have one surprisingly enough and no I'm not about to suggest that Texas should be in line for a second NHL team, nor am I suggesting that Hamilton or "Southern Ontario" should never get an NHL franchise.

Maybe I am posting this as a frustrated Canadian who as you may have figured out already doesn't buy into this "hockey doesn't belong in the southern States" garbage that most of my fellow Canadians are ready to spit out. Maybe I am posting this as a proud Stars fan who is very happy to see AHL hockey do well once again in the state of Texas.

All I know is, after this past week and this past season hockey fans in the city of Austin and area deserve a pat on the back for coming out and supporting the team this year and making it a great first season for the Texas Stars. Hockey fans in Hamilton and that area? I suppose staying at home and dreaming that impossible dream of an NHL team in your backyard is what you'll keep doing since it's clear you won't support the AHL like fans in Texas do.

How's that for a hockey cliche?

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BANG

Right in the kisser.

Blogging about the Texas Stars at HundredDegreeHockey.com

by scm83x on May 23, 2010 3:04 PM CDT reply actions

POW. POW.

Preach, my brother! Couldn’t have said it any better, Art.

DefendingBigD

Twitter: PatIVERSEN

by Pat Iversen on May 23, 2010 3:08 PM CDT reply actions

As a side note

Hamilton Spectator’s article says that UT has 70k students. Good Lord! Some basic fact-checking would be awesome. Real attendance is closer to 50k.

Blogging about the Texas Stars at HundredDegreeHockey.com

by scm83x on May 23, 2010 3:12 PM CDT reply actions

didn't know the CPC was that small

percentage wise that’s not bad at all.

by agvdstars on May 23, 2010 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

I’m not really sure how fair that assessment is. You can’t argue with those numbers – Texas destroyed them in attendance this year. I just don’t think it’s as black and white as those statistics. Yes, Hamilton is a hockey town, and I think that’s the point. Hamilton is 40 minutes outside Toronto, and less than an hour outside of Buffalo. If you’re a hockey fan in Hamilton, you can drive down the road for real NHL games. Plus, there are a large number of OHL teams in the Area (Brampton, Niagara, Kitchener, Guelph, London, etc) and despite it not being as high a level, is a lot more exciting, fast-paced, and less clutch and grab than the AHL. Plus, the Texas Stars are a new attraction in Austin, the Bulldogs have been around for a while.

by Stars43 on May 23, 2010 8:26 PM CDT reply actions

Really?!

While you can’t argue with the fact that Austin has turned in some great attendance numbers, saying this makes Austin a better town for an NHL team is flawed logic. That’s like saying 1+1 = 3.

This is a first-year team…that’s doing VERY well. And the Stars get more people out on a Wednesday night game 3 with $1 hot dogs and $2 beer than they do on a Saturday night game 5, with a series tied 2-2. Just saying that $1 hot dog promotion aren’t going to (and shouldn’t need to) support an NHL franchise.

More to come on this…blog post currently being formulated.

by txstarsgirl on May 24, 2010 9:57 AM CDT reply actions

Can you point out where I said "Austin is a better town for an NHL team"

Because I don’t recall writing it… And I still can’t see it.

Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
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by Art Middleton on May 24, 2010 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Did we read the same article?

You missed the part where he said…"I’m not about to suggest that Texas should be in line for a second NHL team, nor am I suggesting that Hamilton or “Southern Ontario” should never get an NHL franchise."

I think the point he is making is that if Hamilton tries to come off as an NHL starved town you would think more than 3000+ people would show up per game for the AHL. Sure less people go to minor hockey than the big league pros but at the same time it’s a lot cheaper. So it is a huge leap of faith for the NHL to think that they could go from 3k to 15k per night if they get a pro team, while at the same time tickets probably triple in price. That’s a bad gamble if you ask me.

One thing he might have added is that the layout of the CPC is part of it’s draw. Not a bad seat in the house, a beautiful new building and it feels so much better to pack a 6k seat stadium versus seeing a more than half empty 17k seater. I was at the Fri night game with 6k and you just can’t beat a mostly sold out arena.

For those that think that they’re only doing well because it’s their first year so it’s ‘new’ and people are curious, I think you’re also forgetting that a lot of people are still just waking up to what AHL hockey in this town means. I talk to a lot of people who say ‘Yeah I hear it’s pretty nice’ but they haven’t gone yet. The more they hear about it the more people will start to think of hockey as a viable entertainment alternative. It’s a great time for a family and it’s not too expensive and it’s over quick! No TV timeouts, quick in and out with the parking, great deals on seats and food every so often.

by hockeyherb on May 24, 2010 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

The Stars had more fans for Saturday night’s game with the series tied 2-2 than they did Wednesday… Something I also mention in the post

by Art Middleton on May 24, 2010 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions

So....

If Hamilton is just a short 40 minute drive from places who’s NHL team is not doing anything more strenuous than golfing at the moment, then why aren’t those fans going to a hockey game?

I saw several Dallas Stars Season ticket holders in Cedar Park Saturday night. Our drive down is significantly longer than 40 minutes. ;-)

**Proof SOME rules are meant to be broken**

by PNLTBX on May 24, 2010 10:49 AM CDT reply actions

Because they’re not Montreal or AHL fans. I drove 2.0 hours to see Texas when they were in Hamilton, twice, because I’m a Stars fan, I wanted to see Jamie and the other kids, and – like all of us – I miss Stars hockey a little too much. If I was a Leafs fan though, or a Sabers fan, why would I go to see the minor league affiliate of a team I don’t like, follow, or care about?

Good point about the cheap seats, and good deals. It cost $23 for the game wherever you sat, which isn’t bad at all, but certainly not $2 hot dogs, and there was a $10 parking fee as well.

by Stars43 on May 24, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd have to agree...

We seem to be overlooking the fact that Hamilton is close to Toronto, not Montreal. Why would the people of Ontario want to see junior Habs? You aren’t comparing apples to apples here.

by banstyk on May 26, 2010 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions

My apologies..and a clarification.

I’m only saying it because it was re-tweeted that way a couple of times…fair to say you didn’t directly say it in your article (which I did read the whole thing by the way). I should have clarified my comments were probably directed more to the people who read your article and thought it meant Austin needs an NHL team, as that is some of the chatter I’ve heard.

And I totally looked at my notes incorrectly re: attendance for Wednesday, I stand corrected on that..but being at all 3 home games it FELT empty on Saturday. Fans were just not in it after the fight in the first in my opinion. I understand it is harder to be excited when your team is down, but we were even or down for most of Game 4 and the excitement level was still there.

I stand by my assertion that Austin is not ready for an NHL team, but def want to say that I didn’t mean to attack your post.

by txstarsgirl on May 24, 2010 10:56 AM CDT reply actions

Those that would assume my post is a ringing endorsement for Austin to have an NHL team over Hamilton would also be wrong of course… That would be very silly to say something like that.

HockeyHerb pretty much has it figured out.. Personally I can think of three other locations in Canada that would be better picks to put an NHL franchise in with Winnipeg, Quebec City and Halifax. (I’m ready to take your “are you f’n crazy with picking Halifax?!?” comments now people..)

The general battle cry from most Canadians – and a lot of fans in the northern states as well – is that hockey doesn’t belong in the deep south because it’s not a hockey culture or there is no history… Yet here we are with AHL teams in Texas outdrawing their counterparts in Ontario. And sure you can make excuses for them and I’d even buy some of them. But to say hockey doesn’t belong in the south when numbers clearly show it has every right to be in the south as it does up north is a huge mistake that I felt needed to be called out.

by Art Middleton on May 24, 2010 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow...

Some folks need to brush up on their critical reading skills.

Blogging about the Texas Stars at HundredDegreeHockey.com

by scm83x on May 24, 2010 11:56 AM CDT reply actions

Texas Stars making an impression in first year

By the regular season, playoff run, and overall attendance. it has been a great first year by the Stars AHL club in Cedar Park and Austin area. Seems to me that the farm club is drawing quite well and better than most of their counter parts, even in Canada. Hershey and Manitoba look to be the beasts of the league. For a new franchise, 3rd in playoff attendance is great news for TX hockey fans and the local hockey market! Good on ya Texas Stars fans… showing big time support for the team!

by KStars on May 24, 2010 7:19 PM CDT reply actions