Yes, I know I promised this info last week. I will deduct 10% from my pay.
I compiled the spreadsheet using collegehockeystats.net as my primary point of reference. I started with the 2005-2006 season because that is when Quinnipiac joined the league. Another point of emphasis is that I only used ECAC league games (not all home games).
I published the spreadsheet to Google spreadsheets. It should be open to everyone. (Please tell me if it is not.)
Here is the link.
Since Google spreadsheets is dumb and won't let me show the charts, I took screenshots and posted them to a flickr account. (League champions (or 1 seeds, if there were co-champions) are denoted with a star.)
Average attendance:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49233894@N03/4515302585/" title="ECAC Attendance 1 by burgie12, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/4515302585_6ce22f489d.jpg" width="500" height="361" alt="ECAC Attendance 1" /></a>
"% Capacity":
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49233894@N03/4515302681/" title="ECAC Attendance 2 by burgie12, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4515302681_33eefbd7c7.jpg" width="500" height="364" alt="ECAC Attendance 2" /></a>
% Capacity vs Points
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49233894@N03/4515939102/" title="ECAC Attendance 3 by burgie12, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4515939102_80100202a0.jpg" width="500" height="358" alt="ECAC Attendance 3" /></a>
(% Capacity is in quotes because the capacity of the arenas change each season, and multiple games in any given season would be listed as sell-outs. If multiple games were listed as sell-outs, I used the highest attendance. If no game was listed as a sell-out, then I used the USCHO-listed capacity (which we all know isn't actually accurate).)
How does this apply to RPI?
RPI's attendance peaked in 2006-2007 and has been in decline. Our attendance rank was lowest in 2008-2009 (4th), but we haven't been more than 3rd-highest in the past five seasons. On the capacity list, RPI has been anywhere from 8th to 10th, so I think the empty buildings that the Engineers have been playing in front of, combined with the lack of a true student section has lessened the fear of the HFH and made it a less intimidating place to play.
Other comments:
Either Ivies sit on their hands, or they inflate more than just their grades. Yale and Princeton have exceptionally high percent capacities but I've never heard of Ingalls or Bright as intimidating places to play.
Quinnipiac's attendance is difficult to judge because of their ever-changing venue when they began their ECAC play. They were selling out the Northford Ice Pavillion and I expect TD Banknorth to fill up if the team continues to improve.
Colgate's attendance dropped 600 between 2007-08 and 2008-09 and I can't figure out a reason for it.
With 4-5 teams (nearly every year) averaging below 70% capacity, it's fairly obvious that ECAC teams are struggling to bring in fans / revenue.
All kidding aside, we are about 2 defensemen and one scoring forward and one power forward away from that level. We are just missing a few pieces, the rest is already here. Then we need coach SA to show that he can mold a group like that into a cohesive, consistent winner. This is starting to feel a litle bit like the early 80's.
