Dunks team is right on the front of the WHL website...

[MFAWG]

http://www.whl.ca/more-th...d-social-impact---p138280

 

In the presented assessment it is verified that the Saskatoon Blades have a big economic and social impact on Saskatoon.

Saskatoon Sports Tourism commissioned the research and utilized the Sports Tourism Economic Assessment Model (STEAM) to evaluate the impact. This report determined the total economic impact of the Saskatoon Blades (during the 2008-2009 season) was $11,129,145.00 to Saskatoon and the social impact was equally substantial, as the Saskatoon Blades contributed 710 community hours at ten community programs, 350 player appearances at 50 schools and hockey programs.

That is ALOT of Kokanee! 

[Dunk]

Wow!  I had no idea! 

A lot of that economic impact is because we have no pro hockey here.  The closest NHL teams are the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers and they're both about 6 hours away by car.  The NY Islanders held part of the training camp here and hosted two exhibition games, one each against the Flames and Oilers, and the attendance at both games was over 12,000.  For exhibition hockey.

One of the potention buyers of the Phoenix Coyotes, Ice Edge Inc, promised that if they got the team they'd hold five home games a year in Saskatoon.

We're also hosting the World Junior Hockey Championships this year.  We're a hockey-mad market, but at around 250,000 in the area, we just don't have the population base to support an NHL team.  Our stadium seats up to 12,000, but will expanded to 15,000 for the World Juniors.  I believe it could be expanded to 18,000 but of that I'm not sure.

Anyway, as a result of our love for hockey and no real competition, the Blades are the beneficiaries.

[MFAWG]

12,000? That IS alot of Kokanee!

We seat 6500 at Showare and I think 8,000 at Comcast (Everett). Sellouts are relatively rare, but we do get decent crowds.

[Dunk]

We're not anywhere near a sellout during the season.  Hell we're probably in the neighbourhood of around 4,000, but that does go up as the season winds down.

[MFAWG]

I'm going to guess our AVERAGE is somewhere around there. I've heard (from no reliable source whatsoever, just gossip) that the break even for a WHL team is around 2500 to 3,000.

Everett does a little better (based solely on personal observation of games attended that were NOT against the 'Birds) but the rivalry games really make the US Division go.
 
Portland travels extremely well, as does TriCities, Spokane a little less so.

I've heard an expansion team may be on tap for Wenatchee or Yakima, which would help balance the schedule.