Falcons Help ECHL Increase Attendance in 2007-08
April 24, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
Fresno, Calif. - Welcoming three of the six largest crowds during the 2007-08 ECHL season, the Fresno Falcons helped the league become the only minor league to increase attendance during the recently completed season.
Bolstered by 51 sellouts and with 11 teams increasing their attendance, the ECHL celebrated its 20th season by being the only minor professional hockey league to raise its attendance in 2007-08.
The Falcons welcomed the largest crowd of the ECHL season with 12,590 on Feb. 9 for the second-annual "Pink at the Rink." Falcons players wore special pink jerseys which were auctioned off following the game to benefit the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation. Fresno also had the league's fourth-largest crowd of the season with 11,582 on Mar. 22 against Bakersfield, and the sixth-largest crowd with 10,669 on Jan. 11 against Phoenix.
Fresno attracted 181,271 fans to Save Mart Center this season, and finished the regular season seventh in the ECHL with an average attendance of 5,035.
"This is the first time since the team moved to Save Mart Center in 2003-04 that we have averaged 5,000 fans per game in back-to-back years," Falcons CEO John Tull said. "We would like to thank our fans for the tremendous support over the last two seasons, and for giving us a lot of momentum for our return to Selland Arena in October."
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 Premier 'AA' Hockey League welcomed 3,756,191 fans, marking the fifth straight season and the 11th time in the last 12 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."
The Falcons return downtown to Selland Arena for the 2008-09 season. Season-ticket packages are now available by calling the Falcons at (559) 485-7825.
ECHL Stories from April 24, 2008
- Royals Take Game One of North Division Finals - Reading Royals
- Syroczynski's Two Goals Not Enough In 5-3 Loss - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Lightning Welcomes UC Davis QB Jonathan Grant - Stockton Thunder
- Salmon Kings help ECHL raise attendance - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Steelheads Lead The League In Regular Season Sellouts The Last Five Years With 38 - Idaho Steelheads
- Sea Wolves Attendance Up 9.6% In 2007-08 Comeback Season - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Seven Former ECHL Officials Working NHL Playoffs - ECHL
- Thunder Fans Lead ECHL's Attendance For Third Straight Year - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL only minor league that raised attendance - Bakersfield Condors
- Las Vegas Adds Goalie Manzato - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Gladiators Raised Average Attendance this Season - Atlanta Gladiators
- 2008 Game Worn Jersey Auction Now Underway - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cyclones Have Most Improved Attendance In Hockey - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL only league to raise attendance - Wheeling Nailers
- Checkers have three of ECHL's five largest crowds - Charlotte Checkers
- Falcons Help ECHL Increase Attendance in 2007-08 - Fresno Falcons
- RoadRunners, ECHL Make Attendance Gains In 2007-08 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- 14 Jackals sellouts highlight banner year for ECHL attendance - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Is Only Minor League That Raised Attendance - ECHL
- Royals and Express Get On The Same Track - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Rays Blank Gladiators, Move on to Round Three - South Carolina Stingrays
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