Fans throughout the NHL often wonder where their team sits in attendance. Fans flock to rinks across the United States and Canada and get caught up in the festivity that is a hockey game. As the fans look to their left and right and hear the roar of their fellow fans they wonder if their fans are the loudest, most loyal, and atop the NHL ladder of attendance. When it comes to this ladder who is on top? Who is on the bottom? Why are they where they reside? and most importantly where do the Winnipeg Jets sit atop this NHL ladder of attendance.
Many people are probably wondering exactly which team has the highest attendance rate in the NHL and if it is their team that stands atop. As one would expect to find the three teams who stand atop the NHL attendance are original six clubs. In third on the NHL attendance chart are the Detroit Red Wings with an attendance average of 20,027. In second on the NHL attendance chart are the Montreal Canadians with an attendance average of 21,286. In first on the NHL attendance chart we have the team you probably guessed, the Chicago Blackhawks with an average attendance of 21,769.
The top three on the NHL attendance charts stand as no surprise, as they are original six clubs who stand in major cities that hold a perfect environment for hockey. So the question everyone is probably wondering is where do the Winnipeg Jets reside on this list? Give it a guess, no cheating now. The Winnipeg Jets stand at the bottom of the NHL attendance charts (despite their playoff run the past season) at 27th on the charts with an average attendance rate of 15,037. The Winnipeg Jets are the lowest ranking Canadian club on the NHL attendance charts, but don’t worry the Arizona Coyotes are still below us at 28 with an average attendance of 13,345 (in case you were worrying).
Winnipeg Jets
So why are the Winnipeg Jets so low on this list? Winnipeg is a more then hospitable hockey environment in a major city in Manitoba as compared the Arizona Coyotes (one spot below us) who play in a hot desert climate in a major city that is not exactly hockey crazy. My theory on why the Jets sit so low? Brand recognition.
Before the Jets returned to Winnipeg they were in Atlanta (Thrashers) a place that was nothing close to being a hockey city. The Thrashers saw very low attendance rates too, in fact in their final season they were 28th on the attendance charts with 13,469 (don’t worry still ahead of Arizona). The Thrashers carried a very small fan base to Winnipeg where they picked up many of the loyal Jets fans who were in dismay when they lost their team to Arizona. But that was it, loyal Jets fans and some Thrasher fans were all the Jets’ fan base picked up and with no real stand out players that make you jump when you hear their name the Jets failed to really attract new fans young and old.
Because of this lack of “brand recognition” the Jets have failed to attract bandwagon fans and young fans alike from throughout the United States and Canada. So when will these attendance rates go up? Playoff runs will help, but most importantly it will be spectacular performances from Jets players that glimmer with stardom attracting fans both young and old from throughout Europe and North America.
One quick side note. I don’t believe a team playing in a hockey friendly environment is really a factor is raising attendance, for example look at the Tampa Bay Lightning. One would probably guess they would be at the bottom of the attendance chart, but they are in fact 9th with a rate of 18,823 (ahead of Pittsburgh). If your team can put on a show and entertain fans with their stars on a constant basis no matter where you play you will rise on the attendance chart, because believe it or not bandwagon fans go a long way.
What do you guys think? Is this a legitimate theory behind the rather low Jets attendance rate? Comment below and join in on the discussion.
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