The Abbotsford Canucks experienced a slight dip in attendance for the 2023-24 American Hockey League regular season and finished with an average of 4,816.
That number is down from 4,898 in 2022-23 and represents a drop of 1.67 per cent.
The Canucks are one of only six teams in the AHL to see a lowered attendance from last season. Abbotsford finished 22nd in league attendance this season, a decline from placing 20th overall in 2022-23.
The Cleveland Monsters led the AHL with an average attendance of 10,347 in 2023-24, with the Hershey Bears second (9,439) and the Laval Rocket third (9,256).
The Canucks were third amongst all Canadian-based AHL franchises, placing behind the Rocket and Toronto Marlies (5,889). The club finished above the Calgary Wranglers (4,101), the Manitoba Moose (3,898) and the Belleville Senators (2,738).
They finished sixth in the Pacific Division behind the Coachella Valley Firebirds (8,844), Ontario Reign (7,469), San Diego Gulls (7,249), Colorado Eagles (5,089) and Bakersfield Condors (4,823). The Canucks averaged higher than division rivals in Henderson (4,144), Tucson (4,123) and Calgary (4,101).
The Abbotsford Canucks failed to generate a sold-out building this season, with the largest crowd being an audience of 6,758 against San Diego on Jan. 20. That game was promoted as Country Night and also featured a concert at the conclusion of the game.
The second-largest crowd was 6,465 when Calgary came to town on Feb. 17. That game was promoted as Flaunt Your Flannel Night, with fans encouraged to dress in their best flannel garb. Family Day on Feb.19 against Calgary also drew a crowd of 6,384.
The Canucks managed to crack the 6,000-mark one other time against the Laval Rocket on Dec. 2. Last season the Canucks had one sell-out and broke the 6,000-mark five times.
The low point of the season occurred on March 12 when the Bakersfield Condors game drew 3,466. Mid-week games often struggled to surpass 4,000 fans. The 3,466 amount is the lowest attendance for an Abbotsford Canucks game since pandemic restrictions were lifted.
RELATED: Abbotsford Canucks average 4,898 per game for 2022-23 regular season
The 4,816 number also likely means that the City of Abbotsford will not be receiving any revenue sharing from the Canucks. According to the 2021 contract between the City and the Canucks, revenue sharing will occur if the team averages 5,000 tickets sold per game.
The News did reach out to the City, who stated that they will receive a final report from the team in July. City officials have stated in the past that they did not anticipate revenue sharing early in the partnership, but this is now the third year of a five-year deal.
RELATED: City of Abbotsford, Canucks decline to reveal revenue-sharing formula
Despite the Canucks’ dip in attendance, the AHL reported that league attendance went up five per cent from last season and it saw a record number of 6,822,875 fans in 1,152 games in 2023-24. Average attendance per game for the league was 5,922, the third-highest mark in league history.
The previous record for total fans was 6,693,526. That number was established in 2015-16.
The Canucks open the AHL playoffs in Colorado against the Eagles on Wednesday (April 24).