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ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Have Most Improved Attendance In Hockey

April 24, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio - In a record setting season by the Cincinnati Cyclones, the club received yet another honor this afternoon-improving its regular season attendance by the greatest percentage of any professional minor league hockey team in North America, at 36.8 percent over 2006-07. The Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.

The ECHL announced that bolstered by 51 sellouts and with eleven teams increasing their attendance, the league celebrated its 20th season by being the only minor professional hockey league to raise its attendance in 2007-08. The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game. It is the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The Cyclones averaged 2524 per game during the regular season, up 36.8 percent from 1844 per game in 2006-07.

"We were delighted that fans have made us a choice for winter entertainment," U.S. Bank Arena Vice President Kristin Ropp said. "The challenge was issued in December with discounted tickets and it was obvious that this is what fans wanted and they showed their approval through the turnstiles."

The Premier 'AA' Hockey League welcomed 3,756,191 fans, marking the fifth straight season and the eleventh time in the last twelve years that it has exceeded 3.75 million fans. The 51 sold out crowds are the most in the last five seasons and mark the fourth time in the last five years that the ECHL has had at least 40 sellouts.

"While we had hoped that the increase would be more significant, the fact that there was an increase is a credit to the efforts of management and the teams across the league," said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. "We look forward to continuing these efforts to increase in growth in attendance and revenues for the 2008-09 season."

Cincinnati and Victoria led all of professional hockey in attendance increase with 36.8 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively, while Augusta was third in the ECHL and ninth overall with 10.9 percent. Cincinnati had a club record crowd of 9,615 for its last home game on Mar. 28 eclipsing the mark of 7,584 on Nov. 29, 2002. Victoria had its second sellout crowd in history with 7,006 for its final regular season game and the Salmon Kings set team records with 175,354 fans and an average of 4,871 per game.

The Cyclones continue their Kelly Cup playoff quest tonight, with a 7pm showdown at Reading in the first game of the North Division Finals. Cincinnati will host games three and four on Monday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 30, both at U.S. Bank Arena at 7:30pm. Tickets for those games can be purchased through TicketMaster at 513-562-4949 or by purchasing them at the gate on the day of the game.

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