Mighty Duck Fans Aren't Flocking to Pond Anymore

Mighty Duck forward Mike Leclerc might have made the sweetest pass in his career. Too bad so few were there to see it.

Leclerc slid the puck across the crease to Teemu Selanne, who scored the Ducks' first goal against the Boston Bruins Wednesday. All they thrilled in person were a measly 7,500, according to media estimates.

The Ducks' announced crowd of 11,167 was another warning sign of the team's free fall from popularity. Three days earlier, in a Sunday afternoon game against St. Louis, the Ducks announced a crowd of 11,134, the lowest in their eight-year history. Estimates for that game were only 8,500 in the 17,174-seat Arrowhead Pond.

That's a grim reality for a franchise that sold out 90 of 93 games from 1993 to 1996. This season, the Ducks, who have won only one of their first three games, did not sell out their home opener for the first time.

Fans reel off a handful of reasons why attendance has plummeted. They grumble about a stealth marketing campaign, the cost of tickets and the team's past sins.

President and General Manager Pierre Gauthier said this could be fixed by one thing.

"We're at the stage with this franchise where people want a winning club," said Gauthier, who added he was done answering questions about the Ducks' sagging attendance. "We aren't an expansion team anymore and fans expect more from the team. That's fair."

Sure, a couple Stanley Cups and the Ducks will pack the Pond. Until then, fans have a few concerns.

"The games cost too much," said Anaheim's Bob Coie, who has been a fan since the team's first season in 1993-94. "A family of four can't go there. I may go to two or three games this season. I used to go to more."

Last season, the average cost of a ticket at the Pond was $46.18.

For the first time, the Ducks did not raise season-ticket prices during the past off-season. In fact, they lowered some prices on club-level seats. Yet that didn't translate into increased sales.

In past seasons, the team cut off season ticket sales at 12,500. A hockey official familiar with the organization said the team is down 15% in season-ticket sales from last season. Gauthier also conceded that season tickets "have dwindled down in the last three seasons."

Gauthier said the team has always had a tough time drawing fans in October. Yet, attendance figures only support that the last two seasons.