The swaths of empty rows this season have been a strange sight inside Honda Center, where attendance through five Ducks home games is down significantly. At this point a year ago, the Ducks were averaging 16,995 at home; that figure is now down to 15,253. The building supports 17,174.
Two home games into the 2008-09 season, the club’s home sellout streak ended at 78 games, a span of three seasons. This season has only seen one sellout, on opening night against the San Jose Sharks.
So how are fans getting their Ducks fix? On TV, apparently. The NHL issued a press release today listing the Ducks among three teams (New Jersey and Florida are the others) with triple-digit percentage increases in local TV ratings through the first two weeks.
Perhaps in a down economy, even hockey becomes a TV-friendly sport.
