I have gained a thimble full of comfort from your conclusion. Thanks for that.
What's your thoughts on the matter, then? Longing for no-longer-attainable levels of hockey has been part of the downfall of markets like Manchester, NH among others.
Glenn Falls lost the AHL twice and realized it wouldn't return. Their ECHL attendance has risen each year and is now nearing their AHL Flames/Phantoms levels. The fans know the difference in level of play, but they're likely still supporting that lower level of hockey because they know it's either that or having no hockey at all.
Worcester also lost their AHL team and realized it wouldn't return. Their attendance for their non-contending to mediocre ECHL team matches the later numbers attained by the AHL Sharks. Much like Glenn Falls, the fans know the difference in level of play, but they're likely still supporting that lower level of hockey because they know it's either that or having no hockey at all.
Pensacola lost their ECHL team and realized it wouldn't return. Instead of being too high and mighty to support their new SPHL team, they've showed up in numbers that rival the ECHL Flyers' later attendance numbers. Much like Glenn Falls and Worcester, the fans know the difference in level of play, but they're likely still supporting that lower level of hockey because they know it's either that or having no hockey at all.
Copy and paste the same logic applying to Winston-Salem, Columbus, Port Huron, and Elmira in here for the Fed. They are all markets that couldn't make it in other leagues for one reason or another. There have been many markets that have taken to lower levels of hockey.