1. The Bruins drew poorly due to a poor on ice product (5th worst in the league), anger towards management (Joe Thornton traded away), and borderline hatred towards ownership and a deeply rooted perception that ownership is a penny pinching outfit that cares more about selling beer and popcorn than the on ice product. The Thrashers on the other hand were pretty close to a playoff spot last year.
2. When did hockey start being limited to the NHL? Almost 1/3rd of the AHL is in New England, there are 10 Division I college hockey teams in Massachusetts, over 200 High School teams, and probably more rinks than in all of the South. Ever hear of the Beanpot? Its a tournament of all the D1 college hockey teams in Boston, thats been around for 54 years. Who else has that (or at least didn't copy that from us)?
Your point about attendance being tied to the team's success is probably true, but I don't know why you were picking on Boston. Maybe I misread something.
1. You're basically making my original point here. All of what you have said is true about Boston and it has affected attendance. People are less likely to buy a crappy product; which the Bruins have largely been. Atlanta's been in the NHL cince 1999 now and still have not made the playoffs. Last season was the first time they've even been over .500. And they've got a real Crackerjack box ownership group running the show as well in the ATL. Yet the Thrashers are still drawing pretty well for having been doormats for the vast majority of their existance.
2. New England is a fantastic place for hockey. Every bit as rich a history as in Minnesota, or Michigan or Canada even. I always try to watch a bit of and follow the Beanpot. I was'nt trying to bash on Boston specifically; just trying to make a point about what makes a hockey market. They person I was responding to on this board happened to be a Bruins fan.
I grew up in Toronto, a huge hockey town, and moved to Atlanta which is a growing hockey town. For me it's been very intersting as a hockey nut to look at and assess the differences in the Toronto/Atlanta fans and how the teams are operating from a business perspective.
Just since I moved here, which was about when the Thrashers entered the NHL I've seen considerable growth in interest in hockey at all levels. Floor hockey, roller hockey, more ice rinks and youth/adult ice hockey leagues. It's coming off a modest base, to be sure, but it is soundly trending in the right direction. Will hockey ever be as big as football or baseball is in Atlanta/the south? I'd say most probably not. Personally I like how hockey in general and the NHL specifically has grown in these newer/non traditional markets.
