NHL vs NBA Attendance 2010-2011

CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
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Laval, Qc. Canada
These stats are as of 01/31/2011

All stats were from the following source, broken down to make it easier to analyse.
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance
http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

Number of games played
NHL - 743
NBA - 712

Total attendance
NHL - 12,590,958
NBA - 12,181,353

Average capacity per building
NHL - 18,453
NBA - 19,152

Average Attendance
NHL - 16,946
NBA - 17,109

Average Attendance %
NHL - 91.83%
NBA - 89.33%
 
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CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
6
Laval, Qc. Canada
In alphabetical order:

ATLANTA
NBA - Hawks 14,395 76.90%
NHL - Thrashers 13,053 70.40%

It is clear that the Hawks attendance is stronger then the Thrashers however both teams have anything to be proud about.


BOSTON
NBA - Celtics 18,624 100%
NHL - Bruins 17,565 100%

Both Celtics and Bruins have sold-out every game however the Capacity for Basketball in the building is greater then Hockey.


CHICAGO
NBA - Bulls 21,548 103%
NHL - Blackhawks 21,301 108%

Both the Bulls and the Blackhawks have soldout every game, seems the Blackhawks may have more demand however the capacity for NBA is still greater then the NHL


DALLAS
NBA - Mavericks 19,969 104%
NHL - Stars 14,968 80.80%

The Mavericks easily beat out the Stars in attendance.


DENVER/COLORADO
NBA - Nuggets 16,774 87.60%
NHL - Avalanche 14,762 82%

Nuggets are beating out the Avalanche by a fair margin however the Av's attendance is on an upswing and they have a young, exciting and competitive team which may help in the near future.


DETROIT
NBA - Pistons 16,589 75.10%
NHL - Red Wings 19,433 96.80%

Alas we have reached our first market where the NHL is dominant over the NBA. With the way the economy is in Detroit, you can clearly see the allegiance of this city/state is with the NHL.


LOS ANGELES
NBA - Lakers 18,997 99.70%
NBA - Clippers 17,171 90.10%
NHL - Kings 18,061 97.60%

The Lakers control the scene here. At least the Kings are ahead of the lowly Clippers. The Kings have a bright future ahead with a young, talented and exciting team.


MIAMI
NBA - Heat 19,761 100.80%
NHL - Panthers 15,123 78.60%

The heat dominate the market in Miami. With the superstars they have recently signed in the offseason it is no wonder that the attendance at Heat games skyrocketed.


MINNESOTA
NBA - Timberwolves 14,573 75.30%
NHL - Wild 17,717 98.10%

This is traditionally a very strong hockey market and it shows. The Wild haven't been great but their fan support is incredible.


NEW JERSEY
NBA - Nets 12,977 70.10%
NHL - Devils 14,270 81%

And the Devils take the cake on this one. Even if the start of the season was attrocious for them, the fan support is still there compared to the Nets who's attendance is terrible.


NEW YORK
NBA - NY Knicks 19,699 99.70%
NHL - NY Rangers 18,049 99.20%
NHL - NY Islanders 9,856 60.50%

Based on the capacity of the arena for the NBA and NHL in the MSG, the attendance figures are relatively even. The Islanders on the other hand......


PHILADELPHIA
NBA - 76ers 13,977 68.80%
NHL - Flyers 19,640 100.70%

The Flyers take this hands down. Their fan support is there whether the team does good or bad. The 76ers attendance on the other hand is terrible.


PHOENIX
NBA - Suns 17,518 95.10%
NHL - Coyotes 10,796 61.70%

As a hockey fan I wanted to skip this one, unfortunately I can't. The Suns dominate Phoenix. The Coyotes attendance is simply attrocious.


TORONTO
NBA - Raptors 16,197 81.80%
NHL - Maple Leafs 19,316 102.70%

Welcome to Canada where Hockey rules and nothing else matters. Our only Canadian market that has an NBA team, and as bad as the Leafs have bee in the past few seasons (decades from some people's view) the fan support is phenomanal. The Raptors... if they don't succeed they are only an afterthought.


WASHINGTON
NBA - Wizards 15,872 78.70%
NHL - Capitals 18,397 100%

What a story this has been. Since the arrival of Ovechkin and other young exciting players like Backstrom, Semin and Green, this team has started developping a completely new a bigger rabid fanbase. Even their TV Ratings are going up double digits Year-over-year for the past 4-5 years.



In Conclusion...

Number of Markets dominated by the:
NBA - 6
NHL - 6
Even - 3
 

MayDay

Registered User
Oct 21, 2005
12,661
1,146
Pleasantville, NY
BOSTON
NBA - Celtics 18,624 100%
NHL - Bruins 17,565 100%

LOS ANGELES
NBA - Lakers 18,997 99.70%
NHL - Kings 18,061 97.60%

NEW YORK
NBA - NY Knicks 19,699 99.70%
NHL - NY Rangers 18,049 99.20%

So Boston has the Celtics leading the Bruins by 1,059 per game, and New York has the Knicks leading the Rangers by 1,650 per game, and you consider these both to be ties.

But in LA, the Lakers are leading the Kings by only 936 per game, and you consider this a clear win for the NBA?

Be a little consistent.
 

AllByDesign

Who's this ABD guy??
Mar 17, 2010
2,317
0
Location, Location!
So Boston has the Celtics leading the Bruins by 1,059 per game, and New York has the Knicks leading the Rangers by 1,650 per game, and you consider these both to be ties.

But in LA, the Lakers are leading the Kings by only 936 per game, and you consider this a clear win for the NBA?

Be a little consistent.


Pssst ... Dude check the % of capacities. :)
 
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CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
6
Laval, Qc. Canada
So Boston has the Celtics leading the Bruins by 1,059 per game, and New York has the Knicks leading the Rangers by 1,650 per game, and you consider these both to be ties.

But in LA, the Lakers are leading the Kings by only 936 per game, and you consider this a clear win for the NBA?

Be a little consistent.


Please refer to the capacity % of arenas.
NHL arenas usually have less capacity seeing the playing surface is larger then the NBA's.

In the Boston Market, as you may notice, both Celtics and Bruins are playing to 100% full capacity. You can't fit anyone else in the TD Garden. It is relatively the same exact thing then you compare the Rangers and the Knicks in New York.

However if you notice the Lakers and the Kings, the Kings are NOT playing to full capacity as close as they are, they are 2.1% less then the Lakers.
 

1 Timer

Registered User
Aug 23, 2009
1,320
173
Howell, NJ
In alphabetical order:


NEW YORK
NBA - NY Knicks 19,699 99.70%
NHL - NY Rangers 18,049 99.20%

NHL - NY Islanders 9,856 60.50%

Based on the capacity of the arena for the NBA and NHL in the MSG, the attendance figures are relatively even. The Islanders on the other hand......


[/B]

Watch those rag #'s most of it cooperate tixs already sold I been to games this year were it has been a little light, and yes games that are packed. The Isles fans are just fed up the team wins they will come back. But all in all good news for hockey.
 

CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
6
Laval, Qc. Canada
Watch those rag #'s most of it cooperate tixs already sold I been to games this year were it has been a little light, and yes games that are packed. The Isles fans are just fed up the team wins they will come back. But all in all good news for hockey.


I agree with you. I honestly feel really bad for Islanders fans. With the way that team has been run to the ground in the last 20 years, it is remarkable that there are still people who go watch their games. I really hope you guys find a better owner/GM who will be there to rejuvenate this team and the fanbase. Kind of like Chicago's, dormant until the team becomes succesful again.
 

Bixby Snyder

IBTFAD
May 11, 2005
3,495
1,629
Albuquerque
www.comc.com
In alphabetical order:




MIAMI
NBA - Heat 19,761 100.80%
NHL - Panthers 15,123 78.60%

The heat dominate the market in Miami. With the superstars they have recently signed in the offseason it is no wonder that the attendance at Heat games skyrocketed.

The Panthers haven't played in Miami for more than a decade. Sunrise is a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
 
Sep 19, 2008
372,093
23,948
In alphabetical order:

ATLANTA
NBA - Hawks 14,395 76.90%
NHL - Thrashers 13,053 70.40%

It is clear that the Hawks attendance is stronger then the Thrashers however both teams have anything to be proud about.


BOSTON
NBA - Celtics 18,624 100%
NHL - Bruins 17,565 100%

Both Celtics and Bruins have sold-out every game however the Capacity for Basketball in the building is greater then Hockey.


CHICAGO
NBA - Bulls 21,548 103%
NHL - Blackhawks 21,301 108%

Both the Bulls and the Blackhawks have soldout every game, seems the Blackhawks may have more demand however the capacity for NBA is still greater then the NHL


DALLAS
NBA - Mavericks 19,969 104%
NHL - Stars 14,968 80.80%

The Mavericks easily beat out the Stars in attendance.


DENVER/COLORADO
NBA - Nuggets 16,774 87.60%
NHL - Avalanche 14,762 82%

Nuggets are beating out the Avalanche by a fair margin however the Av's attendance is on an upswing and they have a young, exciting and competitive team which may help in the near future.


DETROIT
NBA - Pistons 16,589 75.10%
NHL - Red Wings 19,433 96.80%

Alas we have reached our first market where the NHL is dominant over the NBA. With the way the economy is in Detroit, you can clearly see the allegiance of this city/state is with the NHL.


LOS ANGELES
NBA - Lakers 18,997 99.70%
NBA - Clippers 17,171 90.10%
NHL - Kings 18,061 97.60%

The Lakers control the scene here. At least the Kings are ahead of the lowly Clippers. The Kings have a bright future ahead with a young, talented and exciting team.


MIAMI
NBA - Heat 19,761 100.80%
NHL - Panthers 15,123 78.60%

The heat dominate the market in Miami. With the superstars they have recently signed in the offseason it is no wonder that the attendance at Heat games skyrocketed.


MINNESOTA
NBA - Timberwolves 14,573 75.30%
NHL - Wild 17,717 98.10%

This is traditionally a very strong hockey market and it shows. The Wild haven't been great but their fan support is incredible.


NEW JERSEY
NBA - Nets 12,977 70.10%
NHL - Devils 14,270 81%

And the Devils take the cake on this one. Even if the start of the season was attrocious for them, the fan support is still there compared to the Nets who's attendance is terrible.


NEW YORK
NBA - NY Knicks 19,699 99.70%
NHL - NY Rangers 18,049 99.20%
NHL - NY Islanders 9,856 60.50%

Based on the capacity of the arena for the NBA and NHL in the MSG, the attendance figures are relatively even. The Islanders on the other hand......


PHILADELPHIA
NBA - 76ers 13,977 68.80%
NHL - Flyers 19,640 100.70%

The Flyers take this hands down. Their fan support is there whether the team does good or bad. The 76ers attendance on the other hand is terrible.


PHOENIX
NBA - Suns 17,518 95.10%
NHL - Coyotes 10,796 61.70%

As a hockey fan I wanted to skip this one, unfortunately I can't. The Suns dominate Phoenix. The Coyotes attendance is simply attrocious.


TORONTO
NBA - Raptors 16,197 81.80%
NHL - Maple Leafs 19,316 102.70%

Welcome to Canada where Hockey rules and nothing else matters. Our only Canadian market that has an NBA team, and as bad as the Leafs have bee in the past few seasons (decades from some people's view) the fan support is phenomanal. The Raptors... if they don't succeed they are only an afterthought.


WASHINGTON
NBA - Wizards 15,872 78.70%
NHL - Capitals 18,397 100%

What a story this has been. Since the arrival of Ovechkin and other young exciting players like Backstrom, Semin and Green, this team has started developping a completely new a bigger rabid fanbase. Even their TV Ratings are going up double digits Year-over-year for the past 4-5 years.



In Conclusion...

Number of Markets dominated by the:
NBA - 6
NHL - 6
Even - 3

Interesting, thank you for the analysis of markets

Seems to be pretty even between the NHL and NBA, no sport has a clear-cut advantage
 

MayDay

Registered User
Oct 21, 2005
12,661
1,146
Pleasantville, NY
Please refer to the capacity % of arenas.
NHL arenas usually have less capacity seeing the playing surface is larger then the NBA's.

In the Boston Market, as you may notice, both Celtics and Bruins are playing to 100% full capacity. You can't fit anyone else in the TD Garden. It is relatively the same exact thing then you compare the Rangers and the Knicks in New York.

However if you notice the Lakers and the Kings, the Kings are NOT playing to full capacity as close as they are, they are 2.1% less then the Lakers.

I still don't think you can say that the Lakers are "dominating" the Kings when the difference is less than 1000 per game.

2% difference in capacity or whatever, it's really not that big of a difference.
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
84,985
137,359
Bojangles Parking Lot
Nice analysis. I'm surprised to see how even things have been between these leagues. It's remarkable when you take into account the popularity of the sport of basketball vs the sport of hockey.
 

CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
6
Laval, Qc. Canada
I still don't think you can say that the Lakers are "dominating" the Kings when the difference is less than 1000 per game.

2% difference in capacity or whatever, it's really not that big of a difference.

See the little analysis I did right bellow I specifically wrote "control" which was the nicest way I could find of saying that the Lakers are ahead but not by much. In some other cases I used other terms and gave a much more bleak description, all depending on the markets and the discrepency between attendance. I get what your saying though as my final conclusion I wrote "Dominate. Maybe I should of used a different word there however take it for what it is, I will remember it for the future.
 

Telfo

THRASHERS(and Golden Knights too)
Oct 31, 2008
4,889
4
Atlanta, GA
Nice analysis. I'm surprised to see how even things have been between these leagues. It's remarkable when you take into account the popularity of the sport of basketball vs the sport of hockey.

attendance is similar in most cities, yet people will use totally different arguments for the two sports like "hockey doesnt work in the south". with the NBA team its just "everyone hates the owners" or "the team has been terrible for a long time"
 

Marv4Life

Registered User
Mar 5, 2006
3,418
157
Minnesota
That list has a major flaw: it fails to take into account how good/bad the teams. If the Pistons were as good as they were a couple of years ago, they'd be outdrawing the Red Wings. Same with the Nets vs Devils.
 

CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
6
Laval, Qc. Canada
The Panthers haven't played in Miami for more than a decade. Sunrise is a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.

Similar situation in Phoenix and with the Islanders (Islanders are actually two counties over from MSG)


Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here.
I doublechecked everything before I compared the teams with each other. The Panthers are always compared with the Heat. Can it be because they play in the same 'TV Market'? If that's the case then the comparisson between both teams remain failry accurate even if they don't play in the same building.


Regarding Phoenis the comparisson is accurate. They play in the same TV Market. They are also playing within range of each other and competing in the same areas for fans.
The Islanders, I just included them there as they share the same 'TV Market'. My main comparison there was the Rangers/Knicks hence the reason I did not mark down that the NBA is dominating.
 

AllByDesign

Who's this ABD guy??
Mar 17, 2010
2,317
0
Location, Location!
That list has a major flaw: it fails to take into account how good/bad the teams. If the Pistons were as good as they were a couple of years ago, they'd be outdrawing the Red Wings. Same with the Nets vs Devils.

The numbers speak for themselves. One has the right to cross check the data with the win/loss record or the weather or whatever extra piece of data one wishes. I for one like the OP.
 

Gardner McKay

RIP, Jimmy.
Jun 27, 2007
25,418
13,805
SoutheastOfDisorder
So Boston has the Celtics leading the Bruins by 1,059 per game, and New York has the Knicks leading the Rangers by 1,650 per game, and you consider these both to be ties.

But in LA, the Lakers are leading the Kings by only 936 per game, and you consider this a clear win for the NBA?

Be a little consistent.

Check %'s. His statements make perfect sense.
 

CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
6
Laval, Qc. Canada
That list has a major flaw: it fails to take into account how good/bad the teams. If the Pistons were as good as they were a couple of years ago, they'd be outdrawing the Red Wings. Same with the Nets vs Devils.


For Detroit you have a case with historical Data, however the list is not based on historical Data but only in the present year. The Red Wings have been at 94%+ Capacity for every year in the last 10 years including 100% sellouts from 2002 to 2006. Please go check previous threads as I made one for last year as well and it has a much better analysis team by team. I changed the title on this one to specifically state 2010-2011.

The Nets and Devils I will disagree with you as the highest attendance the Nets have had in the last 10 years of attendance tracking is 16,925 in 2006-2007 just below 85% of capacity. Even if this is higher then the Devils the Nets are not and have not been selling out in the last 10 years.
 

Gardner McKay

RIP, Jimmy.
Jun 27, 2007
25,418
13,805
SoutheastOfDisorder
Watch those rag #'s most of it cooperate tixs already sold I been to games this year were it has been a little light, and yes games that are packed. The Isles fans are just fed up the team wins they will come back. But all in all good news for hockey.

This is the same lame ass argument from the Islanders fans. Every team gives out CORPORATE (not cooperate) ticket don't be so naive. The Rangers have such a large and die hard fanbase that even if the small % "suits" didnt have these tickets a good portion would still be sold.

Hell I have had probably 10 sets for the Thrashers over the past two seasons. But there is a reason the Rangers operate at a 99% capacity and the Thrash a 70% or whatever it is. (Im not trying to dog the thrashers I am a huge fan)
 

Marv4Life

Registered User
Mar 5, 2006
3,418
157
Minnesota
Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here.
I doublechecked everything before I compared the teams with each other. The Panthers are always compared with the Heat. Can it be because they play in the same 'TV Market'? If that's the case then the comparisson between both teams remain failry accurate even if they don't play in the same building.

If that's the case than why not compare the Sharks and Warriors. Both are in the same "TV market" as the Panthers/Heat right?

The Nets and Devils I will disagree with you as the highest attendance the Nets have had in the last 10 years of attendance tracking is 16,925 in 2006-2007 just below 85% of capacity. Even if this is higher then the Devils the Nets are not and have not been selling out in the last 10 years.

Who said anything about selling out? My point was they'd be outdrawing the Devils right now if they was as good as before. 2007 they made the playoffs and had Vince Carter and Jason Kidd. If they still had those 2 guys and were fighting for a playoff spot like 2007, they'd have much better attendance and would outdraw their anchor tenant.
 
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CanadaIsHockey

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
1,569
6
Laval, Qc. Canada
If that's the case than why not compare the Sharks and Warriors. Both are in the same "TV market" as the Panthers/Heat right?



Who said anything about selling out? My point was they'd be outdrawing the Devils right now if they was as good as before. 2007 they made the playoffs and had Vince Carter and Jason Kidd. If they still had those 2 guys and were fighting for a playoff spot like 2007, they'd have much better attendance and would outdraw their anchor tenant.



It's not only the TV Market that matters but that's 1 thing I'm using. Another aspect is the distance, the urban agglomeration that we need to take into affect.


And I don't get your point on the Devils and Nets. You are stating a lot of 'IFs' however that's not the case now and the Devils attendance is higher then the Nets. We are talking about the NOW and not the past.
 

Fidel Astro

Registered User
Aug 26, 2010
1,362
53
Winnipeg, MB
www.witchpolice.com
Watch those rag #'s most of it cooperate tixs already sold I been to games this year were it has been a little light, and yes games that are packed. The Isles fans are just fed up the team wins they will come back. But all in all good news for hockey.

Anyone have any clue what the hell this means?

"Rag" numbers? "Cooperate tixs"?
 

kdb209

Registered User
Jan 26, 2005
14,870
6
It's not only the TV Market that matters but that's 1 thing I'm using. Another aspect is the distance, the urban agglomeration that we need to take into affect.

By any reasonable measure, the Sharks and Warriors are the same market and should be compared - it's only 35 miles from The Tank to the Oracle Arena and the Sharks & Warriors do compete for attendance, ratings, and corporate support in as much as any shared NHL/NBA market.

BAY AREA
NBA - Warriors 18,555 94.7%
NHL - Sharks 17,562 100.4%

It's amazing that after the debacle of the Chris Cohan years (one playoff appearance in 16 years as an owner) the Warriors still draw as well as they do. Currently slight edge Sharks, but if Lacob/Guber put any decent competitive team on teh court I expect it will quickly become a toss-up.
 

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