ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Set New Club Attendance Record

Published on March 13, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


READING, PA – The Reading Royals, ECHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, have announced they have broken their single-game attendance record set in their inaugural season. Reading welcomed 7,235 fans to "the Jungle" last night in a 4-3 loss to the Johnstown Chiefs. Director of ticket sales, Tim McGee, said the large crowd was due in large part to local Churches.

"This was the first time we have designated a "Church Night" at one of the hockey games," McGee stated. "I think we exposed a lot of new fans to Royals hockey and the Sovereign Center."

In addition to the new single game attendance mark, the Royals also set a new mark for group tickets sold in a game. The Royals ticket department sold 2,372 group tickets largely to Church groups in the Reading and surrounding areas. The new group ticket mark shattered the old record by over 500 tickets. The fans were treated to a pivotal Northern Division match-up between the Royals and Johnstown Chiefs and a post-game concert featuring Sanctus Real, a Christian rock band. Following the game, Sanctus Real performed a live post-game concert, which the fans enjoyed with their purchase of a Royals ticket. V&M Towing, Auto Spa, Chik-Fil-A, JOY Bookstore, Glad Tidings Church and WJTL radio sponsored the event.

The Royals prior attendance mark was set in the 2001-02 inaugural season. Reading welcomed 7,221 fans during multiple sell-out dates in their first season. In that season, Reading posted 13 sell-outs. In 2002-03, the Royals posted four sell-out crowds. The Sovereign Center seats 7,215 for Royals hockey games. Standing room only seats were sold for this special event.

Reading finished their inaugural season with an average of 6,045 fans per game. They finished the season third behind Florida (1) and Greenville (2) in average attendance. Last season, the Royals moved up to second in average attendance per game, again behind Florida with 5,789. With the new single-game attendance record set today, Reading lifted their average attendance to 5,411 fans per game. Overall in three seasons to date, the Royals have welcomed 592,092 into the Sovereign Center for Royals hockey.

Saturday, the Royals host the defending Kelly Cup Champion, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. The first 2,000 fans 21-and-up receive Coors Light Beer Yards. Be sure to bring a flashlight to the game for the pre-game luminaria ceremony to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Alex's Lemonade Stand and Daffodils will be sold on the concourse to benefit the American Cancer Society. After the game, meet the Royals at the Outside In Restaurant, just a block up from the Sovereign Center, for a post-game party with the team.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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