CHL Increases Number of Sellouts in 2012-13
Published on June 4, 2013 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
GLENDALE, AZ - The Central Hockey League (CHL) posted another strong season at the gate in 2012-13 finishing the year with close to 1.4 million fans attending CHL games during the year's regular and post-season.
"The CHL is blessed with passionate, enthusiastic fans and we want to thank them for their support and for creating unmatched atmospheres in our venues," said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. "We had arguably our most exciting season to date with a fantastic finish to the regular season and an unforgettable post-season and the fans were truly the beneficiaries of this excitement."
The CHL welcomed an increase in the number of sellouts during this past season (31) with 9.4% of the league's regular season games played in front of sold out crowds compared to 8.2% during the 2011-12 campaign. The Missouri Mavericks led the way with 17 sellouts in their 33 home games.
2012-12 CHL Average Attendance
2012-13 CHL Average Attendance (post-season)
The CHL's Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals ended with a classic Game 7 overtime victory for the Allen Americans over the Wichita Thunder and 37,982 fans were treated to one of the best Finals series in league history. The Finals saw an average of 5,426 fans in those seven games with a sold out crowd of 6,125 watching Game 7 in Allen and a series high of 6,184 watching Game 3 in Wichita.
Nearly a quarter of the season's total number came through the turnstiles in the three weeks of regular season games during the month of March (254,054, an average of 4,098). On March 24, the Wichita Thunder welcomed the largest crowd of the season in the CHL (10,264) and on two other occasions drew more than 7,100 fans for games in March.
The Thunder finished with a huge final weekend in the regular season with 17,476 fans turning out for their final two home games which pushed them past the Missouri Mavericks for the league lead in average attendance with 5,599 (Missouri finished with an average of 5,522).
CHL Team's Largest Crowds (2012-13 Regular Season)
Allen- 5,623 (December 31, 2012)
Arizona- 4,256 (March 23, 2013)
Bloomington- 3,578 (February 9, 2013)
Denver- 5,974 (December 1, 2012)
Fort Worth- 2,980 (December 1, 2012 @ the Fort Worth Convention Center)
Missouri- 5,800 (sellout done 17 times)
Quad City- 9,347 (January 19, 2013)
Rapid City- 5,119 (sellout done 10 times)
Tulsa- 6,346 (March 23, 2013)
Wichita- 10,264 (March 24, 2013)
Central Hockey League Stories from June 4, 2013
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