The Oilers currently lead the NHL in average attendance, but it sure helps when you host an outdoors game at a stadium which can hold nearly 60,000 fans.
Edmonton Oilers supporters are among the most passionate and loyal fan bases in the NHL. This much was reaffirmed, when the team still averaged more than 16,800 per game at Rexall Place, during the 10 seasons without any playoff hockey between 2006-07 and 2015-16. (Rexall Place’s capacity was a shade over 17,000.)
However, if we were to tell you the Oilers currently lead the NHL in average attendance so far in 2023-24, this might come as a surprise to some. It’s only when we add that the average attendance is 21,780, that the penny will begin to drop.
Rogers Place ‘only’ has a capacity of 18,347 for hockey games. It’s not as if they are able to cram in an extra 3,000+ fans just for the fun of it, so what gives?
Pure and simple, the Oilers hold the (current) advantage of having already hosted an outdoors game this season. More specifically the Heritage Classic, which took place at the end of October at Commonwealth Stadium.
The game saw a sellout crowd of 55,411 take their seats at Commonwealth Stadium, in a game which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the inaugural Heritage Classic. The majority of fans also went home happy, as the Oilers beat the Flames 5-2 in the latest instalment of the ‘Battle of Alberta’.
Healthy even without the outdoors game
Even if you remove the attendance for the Heritage Classic, the Oilers still have a healthy attendance at home this season. They have so far averaged 18,042 in nine games at Rogers Place.
Admittedly this would move the Oilers down to just 15th in the NHL in average attendance. However, consider that they are only effectively 300 fans short of full capacity each time.
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In addition, if every NHL sold out to full capacity, the highest the Oilers could get is 18th among all teams. All things considered, the team is doing just fine in terms of support.
Let’s also not forget that the fans kept flocking to the games, even as the Oilers had one of their worst ever starts to a season in franchise history. In fact they began 0-4-1 at Rogers Place, before turning it around and winning their last four on home ice.
What about the other Canadian NHL teams?
Outside of the Oilers, those north of the border should be proud in general, with Canadian teams having four of the top six average attendances in the NHL. As per Hockey Reference, this includes the Canadiens in second place, the Leafs in fourth spot and the rejuvenated Canucks in sixth.
The other three Canadian teams are unfortunately faring less well, with the Flames 22nd, the Senators 24th and the Jets all the way down in second-last place. In fairness to the Jets, as per Sam Thompson of Global News, they did have 10 consecutive seasons of sellouts, but have struggled most of all Canadian teams to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Returning to the Oilers specifically, they should be proud (and thankful) they continue to enjoy strong support from their fans. And they’ll need it more than ever beginning Wednesday night, as they start what could be a season-defining six-game homestand.