ECHL Attendance vs Performance: What the 2024–25 Regular Season Tells Us

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Karen Zehner | Last updated May 2, 2025 12:31 PM ET

As the 2024–25 ECHL regular season came to a close and the Kelly Cup Playoffs got underway, one storyline stood out beyond the scoreboard: how well did team performance align with fan turnout? A closer look at the final standings and attendance figures reveals a complex picture. Some teams translated wins into sold-out crowds, while others quietly excelled on the ice but failed to draw big numbers at the gate. Meanwhile, a handful of non-playoff teams packed the house every night, proving that success can be measured in more ways than points. As the playoffs continue, we also took a closer look at where attendance stands so far in the postseason—tracking which markets have maintained their energy and which ones have seen some early-round drop-offs.

This is a by-the-numbers review of ECHL attendance during the 2024–25 regular season and where those numbers are so far in the Kelly Cup playoffs. It does not include market analysis, promotional factors, or qualitative assessments of team operations.

Playoff Teams That Packed the House

Among the 16 playoff-bound teams, attendance numbers ranged from league-leading figures to some of the lowest in the ECHL. Jacksonville stood at the top of both charts. The Icemen finished third in the South Division with 92 points and led the entire league in attendance, drawing an impressive 9,234 fans per game. Fort Wayne and Toledo followed closely—both ranking in the top three for attendance while finishing second and first in the Central Division, respectively. Tulsa, Florida, Orlando, and Cincinnati also made the postseason while finishing in the top eight for average attendance. These teams combined competitive success with strong fan engagement, creating ideal conditions for a playoff run.

Playoff Contenders with Sparse Crowds

Not every playoff team played in front of packed stands. Trois-Rivières won the North Division with 98 points but averaged only 2,567 fans per game—27th in the league. Wheeling, Iowa, and Wichita also made the postseason despite drawing fewer than 4,100 fans per night. Kansas City topped the Mountain Division with 103 points but finished just 19th in attendance. Even Tahoe, a playoff newcomer, came in 23rd with only 3,427 fans per game. These teams proved that victories don’t always translate to ticket sales, especially in markets that may be newer or still building a base.

Teams Absent from the Postseason

While the playoff spotlight shines brightly, it’s important to acknowledge the teams that didn’t qualify and how they performed in the stands during the regular season. Greenville, Adirondack, Kalamazoo, Worcester, Bloomington, Maine, Atlanta, Allen, and Cincinnati all missed the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Allen and Atlanta each averaged just over 4,000 fans, signaling potential for market growth or the need for off-season strategy adjustments. On the other end of that spectrum is Savannah, which missed the playoffs by finishing fifth in the South, but ranked fifth league-wide in attendance with 7,485 fans per game.

Teams Struggling on All Fronts

At the other end of the spectrum, some teams struggled both on the ice and in the stands. Bloomington, Reading, Rapid City, Worcester, and Kalamazoo all missed the postseason and finished near the bottom in league attendance. Bloomington, in its inaugural season, averaged just 2,797 fans per game—a modest starting point as the Bison work to establish their footing. Others, like Rapid City and Reading, may be entering a rebuilding phase. For teams in this category, the combination of low turnout and limited on-ice success will likely prompt serious off-season evaluation.

League-Wide Snapshot

In total, the ECHL drew over 5.2 million fans across 1,044 regular-season games, averaging 4,984 fans per game. The league’s top five attendance performers—Jacksonville, Fort Wayne, Toledo, Tulsa, and Savannah—offered a mix of on-ice contenders and emerging market darlings. The bottom five—Rapid City, Bloomington, Wheeling, Trois-Rivières, and Iowa—illustrated that success at the gate is not guaranteed by standings alone.

Numbers By Division (Best to Worst)*

* Kelly Cup Playoff Contender

How Teams Fared in Their Own Barns vs. On the Road

Across the league, most ECHL teams performed notably better on home ice, reinforcing the value of local fan support and arena familiarity. Teams like Jacksonville, Fort Wayne, and Florida each posted dominant home records, with win percentages nearing or exceeding 70%, while their road performances dipped closer to the 50% mark or lower. This home-ice advantage often mirrored strong attendance numbers, particularly for Jacksonville, which led the league in both wins at home and average crowd size. Even lower-attendance playoff teams like Trois-Rivières and Iowa showed stronger results at home than on the road, suggesting crowd size wasn’t the only factor—comfort and consistency also played key roles.

A few teams like Kansas City and Wichita displayed more balanced home-and-road splits, indicating depth and resilience in different environments. For non-playoff teams, Savannah, Greenville, and Atlanta also followed the pattern of slightly better home records despite missing the postseason. In all, the data reaffirmed that while talent and systems certainly matter, home-ice energy—and the ability to capitalize on it—remained a defining edge in the ECHL this season.

2023-24 vs 2024-25 Analysis

Compared to last season, ECHL attendance held strong in 2024–25, with the league averaging 4,984 fans per game—virtually identical to 4,981 from 2023–24. But the real story is in how some markets surged. Indy led the way, boosting its crowd size by over 16%, while Norfolk, Trois-Rivières, Greenville, and Wheeling all saw noticeable jumps in fan turnout. These aren’t just numbers—they show momentum in places where the energy is clearly building.

Some of the league’s longtime staples—like Jacksonville, Fort Wayne, and Toledo—stayed right near the top, continuing to draw large, loyal crowds. Even with slight shifts, these teams remained among the league’s best-supported. Meanwhile, attendance stayed consistent in Orlando, Cincinnati, and Savannah, proving those markets remain solid.

Newer teams like Bloomington and Tahoe debuted this season and will serve as fresh benchmarks going forward. All told, the ECHL remains steady at the gate—with a few rising markets showing real signs of growth and long-standing teams continuing to deliver.

Source: ECHL LeagueStat Daily Report – April 15, 2024

Early Playoff Picture: Momentum and Matchups

The 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs are underway, and early matchups have already delivered a mix of upsets, tight battles, and standout performances. Toledo has lived up to its regular season dominance, leading the league in playoff attendance so far with an average of 7,790 fans per game and backing it up with a strong start on the ice. Orlando, one of the league’s most consistently supported markets, has seen its home crowds grow in the postseason—averaging 7,214 fans per night, up 9% from their regular season numbers. Florida and Fort Wayne are right behind them in terms of both performance and fan presence, each holding strong home-ice atmospheres, despite minor attendance dips.

But not all top seeds have carried their crowds with them into the playoffs. Jacksonville, despite leading the league in regular season attendance, has seen a sharp drop-off in postseason turnout, averaging just 5,788 fans—down 37%. That said, their early-round games remain competitive, and the energy inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena still pulses when the team heats up. Meanwhile, South Carolina stayed remarkably steady, with playoff attendance nearly matching regular season levels—an encouraging sign for a market that continues to show loyalty regardless of round or opponent.

League-Wide Overview

Playoff Total Attendance as of 04.30.25: 177,853
Games Played: 41
League-Wide Playoff Average: 4,337
Regular Season League Average: 4,984

That’s a 13% drop from the regular season average.

Why Attendance Shifts in the Playoffs:
Playoff attendance often fluctuates compared to the regular season due to a variety of factors—short turnaround times between games, weekday scheduling, variable ticket pricing, and uncertainty around how long a series will last. Some markets see surges in fan turnout driven by rivalry matchups or postseason hype, while others experience dips as some attendees may want to wait to see if their team advances to the next round.

Top Performing Teams (Playoff Average vs. Regular Season)*

Team	Playoff Avg	Regular Season Avg	Change
Toledo	7,790	8,037	-3%
Orlando	7,214	6,621	+9%
Fort Wayne	6,510	8,185	-20%
Florida	6,104	6,758	-10%
Jacksonville	5,788	9,234	-37%
South Carolina	5,075	5,165	-2%

Source:
*Playoff attendance data sourced from the ECHL LeagueStat Daily Report, accessed April 29, 2025.

Biggest boost:

Orlando — up 9%
Biggest drop:

Jacksonville — down 37%

What Fans Should Take Away

The numbers tell a bigger story than just how many seats were filled—they reflect the pulse of each hockey market. Some fanbases are growing fast (like Indy, Norfolk, and Trois-Rivières), while others like Jacksonville, Toledo, and Fort Wayne continue to lead the way in turnout. The ECHL as a whole stayed solid year-over-year, proving the league’s foundation is strong—and getting stronger in key cities.

Playoff attendance has shown us which crowds stay loud when it matters most. Teams like Orlando and Toledo saw playoff crowds nearly match (or exceed) their regular season numbers, while others experienced the expected early-round dips. But whether you’re part of a sellout or one of a few thousand, the impact is real: the energy fans bring can shift momentum—and you can be certain that the players feel it.

Bottom line? If you’re showing up, you’re part of it. Whether your team is winning or rebuilding, these numbers prove that fans matter. So keep showing up, keep getting loud, and know that the league is paying attention—because what happens in the stands is just as important as what happens on the ice.