Caniacforever said:
Take a look at Boston, NYI, and New Jersey. Those traditional markets even have trouble drawing to the arena when they have a bad team.
New Jersey a traditional market?
Their attendance has always stunk regardless of whether their staus as a perennial cup contender. NJ isn't anything close to a "traditional" market, they have no long history in hockey nor any huge built up fanbase over the decades, no incredibly well supported teams in lesser leagues. No historical significance. Hockey is not now nor has it ever been a major player in New Jersey.... were it not for their success they'd be up with Nashville as the team most popularly cited to move elsewhere.
In their best years they have difficulty approaching even the mid mark of the NHL in terms of attendance, and that was pre-trap high scoring cup winning Devils.
Not exactly a huge surprise that NJ would have difficulty filling the stadium when they've struggled to make the playoffs.
Boston sure, definitely a traditional hockey town, albeit one the ownership seems to take for granted given their treatment of the fanbase over the years. The Islanders also host a major market, however hockey's typically played second fiddle there and the Rangers are the real meal ticket in NY.
I can honestly say I've never heard anyone refer to New Jersey as a traditional hockey market however. 20 odd years of struggling to stay in existence despite frequent success isn't exactly the hallmarks of a hockey mad city.
