ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701200092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HOCKEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
There has been some hand wringing in the Express' front office about the decline in attendance this season. The Express is averaging more than 5,100 fans per home game, a decrease of about 500 fans per game from the same point last season.
The drop-off of approximately 8 percent marks the first time in the Express' four-year history that attendance is lower than the previous season.
Express management had hoped to eclipse the 6,000-fans-per-game mark this season, considering the club set a record by selling more than 2,000 season tickets. Privately, some Express officials fear interest in professional hockey may have reached its peak in the Roanoke Valley.
Still, this is the fourth consecutive year of solid, steady attendance for professional hockey games at the Roanoke Civic Center. It's important to remember we are only four years removed from the era of the Roanoke Valley Rampage, when crowds of about 1,000 watched games at the LancerLot in Vinton.
``We realize we can never be complacent,'' said Joe Steffen, an Express vice president. ``This is a competitive market. We have perhaps the best team we've had in our four years of existence, we play exciting hockey and we're averaging almost a full goal more per game than last year.
``We have to make sure our marketing efforts keep up. I don't think we've reached a plateau, yet.''
Steffen believes attendance will increase dramatically during the final two months of the season. The Express has 17 remaining home games, including eight in March when East Coast Hockey League rivals Richmond, Charlotte, Hampton Roads and Raleigh are scheduled to visit the civic center.
``I'm really looking forward to these next two months,'' Steffen said.
ABOVE AVERAGE: While average attendance for some other ECHL teams also has declined, the league cracked the 2 million mark in attendance in record time this season.
Through 419 games, more than 2.1 million fans had passed through the gates, an average of 5,015 per game. The league is on a pace to draw 4 million fans for the first time.
The second-year Louisiana IceGators are averaging 11,289 fans at the 11,700-seat Cajundome in Lafayette, La., the second-highest figure in minor-league hockey. The Charlotte Checkers (7,072), South Carolina Stingrays (7,040), Richmond Renegades (6,663) and Hampton Roads Admirals (6,651) complete the top five.
While some of the league's established clubs are experiencing slight attendance declines from previous seasons, the ECHL certainly has been aided by several new teams that have cracked the top 10 in attendance: Mississippi Sea Wolves (6,418), Pensacola Ice Pilots (5,814) and Baton Rouge Kingfish (5,609).
The fact the poor-drawing Erie Panthers moved to Baton Rouge and the Nashville Knights moved to Pensacola has helped increase the ECHL's average.
RALEIGH CAPPED: When the league's board of governors meets Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C., Raleigh IceCaps officials are expected to ask for permission to move the team's home games to Fayetteville, N.C.
Tthree years ago, Raleigh was one of the league's top markets. However, the condition of Dorton Arena has deteriorated in recent winters and the team has had to postpone two games because of poor ice conditions.
Other league business to be considered will include choosing a site for the 1998 All-Star Game. The leading contenders are Louisiana and Johnstown.
RECOUNT: Roanoke center Ilya Dubkov scored the 90th goal of his Express career Tuesday against Richmond, not his 91st as reported earlier. Heading into Saturday night's game at Raleigh, Dubkov was tied with Jeff Jestadt atop the team's all-time list.
AROUND THE ECHL: In the midst of one of the league's greatest turnarounds, the Louisville RiverFrogs reached the .500 mark eight weeks after an 0-11-1 start, the worst in ECHL history. The biggest reason for the Frogs' turnabout has been the acquisition of former Richmond goalie Sandy Allan, who is 13-4-1 with a 3.18 goals-against average. ...Birmingham rookie netminder Greg Dreveny is 7-0-1 and had backstopped the Bulls to one point off the South Division lead through Thursday.... The ECHL All-Star Game will be shown on Home Team Sports on a tape-delay basis at 11 p.m. Tuesday. NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 linesby CNB