"Eric J. Lentz" writes:
 
> the events it had hosted etc, etc.,  when they stated that Wisconsin had
> led the nation in attendence for the previous 24 years (since the building
> opened) and I assume did so likewise that year.  But last year, I assume,
> was not the 26th year since the new Mariucci arena at Minn. opened last
> year with about 9300 seats several hundred larger than the 8600 to 8700 the
> Coliseum seats.
 
From my 1994 Golden Gopher Hockey Awards Banquet propaganda packet:
 
                       GP       Total*     Avg    High    Cap    92-93 Avg#
Minnesota              21       198644    9077    9360    9130     7351
Wisconsin              21       196350    8508    8644    8644     8588
 
WCHA                  202      1114993    5520   17690             5284
 
* Wisconsin's total includes 34707 for 2 Badger Show-down games in Milwaukee,
and Minnesota's total includes 17109 for 1 game at Target Center in Mpls.
Neither are included in their average attendance, however.
The WCHA's total includes 61367 at the Phinal Phive in Milwaukee.
# From an old Let's Play Hockey item from my hockey file.
 
St. Cloud and North Dakota are the only two schools in the WCHA averaging under
70% of capacity.  Colorado College at 86% of capacity this year is the only
other school under 90%.
 
I'm not quite clear on what that 9130 capacity is.  Does that include standees
or not?
 
> (I've also heard that Minn. added two rows of standing
> room in the back of the rink to insure its dominance).  Please confirm what
> i've heard.
 
The rows of standing room weren't just added, they're actually tiered rows like
the others.  They just cheaped out and didn't put any seats in.  Those were the
tickets most of the new season ticket holders got.  Rumor was that they were
going to put seats in one of those rows this year, but I don't recall noticing
anything different when we were there for summer hockey.  (Two more rumors:  1)
they are going to fix the sound system this summer  2) they are waiting to fix
the sound system because they want to get the sound system from Met Center when
it's torn down...  Take your pick.)
 
Pam Sweeney                            Go Gophers!!!
[log in to unmask]      1993 & 1994 WCHA Playoff Champions!!!
                                  1994 NC$$ PHinal PHour!!!
                                        Ski-U-Mah!!!