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The University of Maine men’s hockey team has skated its way into the top 10 of the national rankings, and fans are understandably excited.
As BDN sports reporter Larry Mahoney outlined recently, the results on the ice have helped make UMaine men’s hockey tickets a hot commodity. The atmosphere surrounding the team, and its success so far this season, conjures memories of past hockey greatness in Orono just as it has people energized for the future.
As of the Jan. 22 USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine Men’s College hockey poll, the Black Bears have reached as high as sixth in the country. An earlier ranking at 13th in November was already believed to be the team’s highest in a decade.
Unsurprisingly, the success so far this season has been met with plenty of enthusiasm in the stands. As Mahoney (who’s having another great season of his own, recently winning his sixth title as Maine Sportswriter of the Year) explained, the team has 4,849.5 fans per game — over 96 percent of the 5,043 Alfond Arena capacity. That is up from 74.9 percent last year. The number of sold-out games has also shot up from last year, with at least five so far this season and only two last year.
“It’s something we haven’t experienced at the school in 10 or 15 years, at least,” Caleb Whittemore, the ticket office manager, told Mahoney. UMaine Athletic Director Jude Killy said that the increase in related revenues could mean roughly an additional half a million dollars compared to last year, so it’s not just the excitement that has increased.
Of course the team, its balanced scoring and the coaching staff led by head coach Ben Barr get the credit for this excitement. But we’d also like to give an assist to the ticket office for an approach aiming to broaden fan access beyond season ticket holders. Mahoney explained how during the Black Bears’ previous on-ice success, which included two national championships and 11 Frozen Four appearances, 100 percent of the available seats (after considerations like the student section and luxury suites) went to season ticket holders and there were long wait lists for those season tickets.
“We don’t want to do that. That’s not the way to build a fan base. For people who can’t afford season tickets, it would make it really challenging for them to come and see a game. That’s why we settle on an 80 percent figure,” Whittemore said. Now only 80 percent of those available tickets go to season ticket holders, providing more of an opportunity for people to attend single games.
Whether people are showing up for one game or the whole season, they’re contributing to an exciting atmosphere. There’s still a lot of hockey left to play, but thanks to the Black Bears’ performance, that excitement level is as strong as it has been in a long time.
This is good for the team, good for the fans, and good for the university. That seems like a solid hat trick to us.