Troops record fourth-best attendance
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Brampton Battalion attendance for the 2007-08 season totaled 85,323, the fourth-best number in the Ontario Hockey League club’s 10-year history.
A crowd of 2,277 for the final game of the regular season, a 5-3 victory Sunday over the Kingston Frontenacs, put average attendance for 34 home dates at 2,510.
The Battalion’s season attendance record was set in 2005-06 with a total of 92,962, or 2,734 per game. The last four seasons have produced the top four attendance totals, with the number this year 2,306, or 2.6 percent, below last season’s 87,629, or 2,577 a game, the third-best total.
Two attendance figures cracked the Troops’ top 10 all-time. A crowd of 4,220 to see the Guelph Storm on March 2 ranks eighth on the regular-season list, while the 4,096 for the Ottawa 67’s on Feb. 24 is 10th.
Group sales accounted for 23,526 tickets, or 27.6 percent of the total. Group tickets were the second-highest ever, behind the 25,093 recorded in 2005-06, and were up 4.5 percent over the total of 22,515 last year.
“We’re pleased that our season ticket base and group ticket numbers were improved compared with 2006-07,” said club president Mike Griffin. “At the same time, we’re disappointed by poor single-game ticket sales figures.
“While there were three games when adverse weather conditions significantly affected walkup sales, we expected much better overall results considering the outstanding season our team had on the ice, with a Central Division title and club record for home victories.”
The Battalion opens a best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Barrie Colts at home at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Troops host the third game at 6 p.m. next Sunday and, if necessary, the fifth game at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27, and the seventh game at 7 p.m. Monday, March 31.
Tickets are available at the team’s office at 7575 Kennedy Road South from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to game time Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets may be purchased at the QuarterMaster Retail Store at the same address from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and from 3 p.m. next Sunday to game time.
Tickets also can be purchased online.
Further information can be obtained from Battalion Headquarters at (905) 874-2393.
