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We realized during the last two rounds of the 2019-20 regular season, more than ever, just how important the fans are and how they are “part of the game” in every way. Let us not beat round the bush, ice hockey is not the same ice hockey without fans.
That said, let’s talk about attendances of the 2019-20 regular season. Let’s start by saying that there has been an overall decrease of 47’380 compared to the previous season. That, however, it’s only because the last two rounds of the regular season were played behind closed doors.
Let’s start by having a look at the overall figures of the last 10 National League seasons. Always bearing in mind, however, that the number of fans who attend the games is not “real” as the clubs tend to count the number of seasonal tickets holders plus sold tickets to count attendances.
NATIONAL LEAGUE – Last 10 seasons trend
As you can see, attendances are constantly increasing. This season, despite the last two rounds played behind closed doors, was the fifth with the highest number of spectators of the last ten seasons. And it’s likely that, without the virus emergency (and psychosis…), we’d be talking about one of the seasons with the highest number of spectators overall.
Now, let’s have a look at the teams’ averages concerning the 2019-20 season.
NATIONAL LEAGUE – 2019-20 average attendance
Bern is the master as usual when it comes to number of fans who attend the games. And, always as usual, the ZSC Lions follow second placed. Third places instead, we find Lausanne with the new Vaudoise Arena.
The teams with the lowest attendances, instead, are Ambrì-Piotta, Davos and Rapperswil. Davos and Rapperswil, moreover, are the only two that, regardless of the virus emergency, had an average attendance lower than 5’000 per game.
NATIONAL LEAGUE – Differences 2018-19 / 2019-20
Six teams increased the attendances compared to last season. We’re talking about Lausanne, Davos, Rapperswil, Fribourg Gottéron, Langnau and Genève Servette. Noteworthy the data of the Lions Vaudois (due to the new arena), Ibexes, Lakers and Dragons.
Among the teams that lost few supporters per game, we find Bern, Bienne, Zug, Zug, Ambrì-Piotta, ZSC Lions and Lugano.
The data of Zug (surprisingly), Ambrì-Piotta (surprisingly), ZSC Lions (surpsisingly) and Lugano are quite negative. In fact, the Bianconeri are the ones who had the biggest negative difference.
NATIONAL LEAGUE – Capacity filled in percentage 2019-20
Langnau, Bern, Fribourg Gottéron and Zug are the four teams that had their arena over 90% full this season.
Instead, Lugano, Ambrì-Piotta, Rapperswil and Davos are the four teams that on average had their arenas less than 80% full.
Let’s have a look now at the difference compared to last season. Considering the emergency, we took only the first 24 home games into consideration. In other words, we excluded the last regular season games played behind closed doors.
Finally, now, let’s have a look at the attendance details of the teams, with the seasonal trend. Namely, the largest attendance and the lowest one. Obviously, when it comes to the lowest attendance, we didn’t take the last game played behind closed door into consideration.
Teams are listed by average attendance. For your information, and as a fun fact, the teams that recorded the highest number of “sold out” are Fribourg Gottéron and Langau. Both teams played 9 home games with their arena full of fans!
SC Bern
Highest attendance
17’031
02.01.2020 – vs EHC Biel-Bienne
05.01.2020 – vs HC Lugano
Lowest attendance
15’135
13.09.2020 – vs SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
ZSC Lions
Highest attendance
11’200
05.01.2020 – vs EV Zug
25.01.2020 – vs HC Davos
Lowest attendance
7’970
01.10.2019 – vs EHC Biel-Bienne
Lausanne HC
Highest attendance
9’600
24.09.2019, 23.11.2019, 20.12.2019 – vs Genève Servette HC
25.01.2020, 18.02.2020 – vs HC Fribourg Gottéron
Lowest attendance
6’456
02.10.2019 – vs SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
EV Zug
Highest attendance
7’200
28.09.2019, 23.12.2019 – vs SC Bern
15.11.2019, 20.12.2019 – vs HC Davos
01.11.2019 – vs HC Fribourg Gottéron
03.01.2020 – vs Genève Servette HC
Lowest attendance
5’959
01.10.2019 – vs Genève Servette HC
HC Fribourg Gottéron
Highest attendance
6’500
01.10.2019, 23.11.2019, 18.01.2020 – vs SC Bern
30.11.2019, 11.01.2020 – vs Lausanne HC
02.01.2020 – vs EV Zug
05.01.2020 – vs SCL Tigers
01.02.2020 – vs Genève Servette HC
21.02.2020 – vs HC Lugano
Lowest attendance
5’538
15.10.2019 – vs HC Davos
Genève Servette HC
Highest attendance
7’135
18.01.2020 – vs SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
30.01.2020 – vs Lausanne HC
Lowest attendance
4’606
17.09.2019 – vs ZSC Lions
EHC Biel-Bienne
Highest attendance
6’521
25.10.2019, 15.02.2020 – vs SC Bern
Lowest attendance
4’977
17.09.2020 – vs SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
HC Lugano
Highest attendance
7’200
29.10.2019 – vs HC Ambrì-Piotta
Lowest attendance
5’396
24.09.2019 – vs SC Bern
SCL Tigers
Highest attendance
6’000
15.11.2019, 20.12.2019 – vs SC Bern
02.11.2019 – vs SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
23.11.2019 – vs EV Zug
30.11.2019 – vs HC Ambrì-Piotta
03.01.2020 – vs HC Davos
31.01.2020 – vs EHC Biel-Bienne
15.02.2020 – vs ZSC Lions
22.02.2020 – vs HC Fribourg Gottéron
Lowest attendance
5’335
17.09.2019 – vs HC Fribourg Gottéron
HC Ambrì-Piotta
Highest attendance
6’500
23.11.2019 – vs HC Lugano
23.12.2019 – vs HC Davos
Lowest attendance
4’239
24.09.2019 – vs SCL Tigers
HC Davos
Highest attendance
5’663
26.01.2020 – vs SC Bern
Lowest attendance
3’307
03.12.2019 – vs SCL Tigers
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Highest attendance
6’021
01.11.2019 – vs HC Davos
Lowest attendance
3’341
22.10.2019 – vs EHC Biel-Bienne
