AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

PENGUINS SET NEW AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE RECORD FOR SELLOUTS IN A SEASON

March 17, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


AHL Franchise Owned by Pittsburgh Penguins Owner and NHL Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux sets sellout record in just third season in the league

WILKES-BARRE, PA. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins set a new American Hockey League record for sellouts in a season with their 37th sellout of the year tonight against the Syracuse Crunch before a crowd of 8,373 at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza.

The Penguins broke the 11-year old league record that was held by the now-defunct Cape Breton Oilers. The Oilers recorded 36 sellouts during the 1990-91 season in the 4,700-seat Center 200. The official seating capacity for hockey at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza is 8,143.

"This record belongs to the fans of Northeastern Pennsylvania," said team president Jeff Barrett. "Our fans have supported this team from day one and have proven without a doubt to be the best fans in the entire American Hockey League."

The Penguins lead the AHL in both overall attendance and average attendance. The Penguins have a total attendance of 316,788 in 38 home games this season, an average of 8,336 with a league-high, 37 sellouts.

The Penguins are in their third season in the American Hockey League. The American Hockey League, in its 66th season of operation, serves as the top development League for the National Hockey League. Approximately 70% of all players to compete in the NHL last season spent time developing their skills in the AHL.

The Penguins are the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. The W-B/S Penguins are owned by Pittsburgh Penguins owner and NHL Hall-of-Famer Mario Lemieux.

The Penguins have sold out every game this season played in Wilkes-Barre at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza. For the second straight season, the Penguins played one "home" game in Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena. The Penguins have attracted 308,183 fans (102.0% capacity) in 37 home games at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza and attracted a crowd of 8,605 in one "home" game at Mellon Arena. Seating capacity at Mellon Arena is 16,958 for hockey.

The Penguins have led the American Hockey in sellouts the past two seasons. Last season, the Penguins finished third in the American Hockey League in average attendance. The Penguins' total attendance for the 2000-2001 regular season was 330,135 fans in 40 home games, an average of 8,255 with a league-high, 33 sellouts. The Penguins attracted 321,024 fans (101.0% capacity) in 39 homes games at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza and attracted a crowd of 9,111 (53.7% capacity) in one home game at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.

During last year's Calder Cup Playoffs, the Penguins sold out 10 of 11 home games at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza. The Penguins led in the AHL in both total and average attendance during the playoffs. The Penguins' total attendance for the 2000-2001 playoffs was 89,613 fans, an average of 8,146 (100.0%).

Last season, the Penguins ranked second among all minor league hockey clubs in percent of capacity (trailing only the WPHL's Corpus Christi Ice Rays) and were fifth overall in average attendance behind Oklahoma City (CHL - 9,096), Philadelphia (AHL - 8,571), Rochester (AHL - 8,529) and Chicago (IHL - 8,329).

During the off-season, the Penguins stopped selling season tickets 51 days before the puck was dropped for the start of the 2001-02 season. Full, 22 and 12-game plan holders occupied all of the 8,143 seats in the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza for this season. The Penguins have approximately 7,366 season ticket holders.

However, a limited number of tickets were available for sale to the general public. After all the partial plan holders selected their games, the Penguins had an average of 600-700 tickets per game available for individual game sale.

The Penguins have started a waiting list for season tickets. Fans interested in being placed on the waiting list can call the team at (570) 208-PENS.

The Penguins' total attendance for the 1999-2000 season was 305,569 fans in 40 games, an average of 7,639. The Penguins led the League with 26 sellouts and played at 93.2% capacity at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza during their inaugural season.

The Penguins have two home games left in the regular season. The Penguins host the Crunch on Saturday, March 30 (7:05 p.m. start) and close out the home portion of their 2001-02 schedule against the Philadelphia Phantoms on Friday, April 5 (7:05 p.m. start).

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2002


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