The speculation: Jim Hughson claimed during tonight's Habs-Canes broadcast that the game wasn't sold out and listed the following as the reasons why:
1) Carolina lost the first game of the series;
2) It was Monday.
The NHL website's official stats lists the attendance at 18,730. The only capacity stat I could find for the RBC Center was on Wikipedia, and lists the building's capacity as 18,731. I don't fully trust the NHL's figures, simply from the experience of seeing the SBP partially empty on occasion, but listed later as a near-sellout.
From my vantage point, the RBC Center seemed full, but Hughson must've have a reason for making the comment, and would have a different view from the press box. If this is true (big IF), it's a horrible revelation. Both home games of this series should've been sold out well in advance, and the day of the game should never be an issue.
As for the truth: Carolina fans are frightfully loud and enthusiastic. And I'm disgusted there are hockey fans in a southern U.S. state that remain more passionate than Ottawa fans.
P.S. According to the RBC Center website, the Hurricanes are the "2006 East Conference Champs." This is news to me, although right about now, I'm sure they'd love to be playing Tampa instead of Montreal.
Posts
After watching the first two Carolina games, two things amaze me.
First, like you, I noticed how loud the arena is. That's some fantastic fan support Carolina is enjoying. And unlike other expansion locations I remember, they even boo and cheer at the right times (a non-call they don't like, offsides, a good PK or save, etc.). They seem like enthusiastic, intelligent fans.
And it isn't just Ottawa these guys blow away either, it's Montreal and Toronto as well (not that out-cheering Toronto's stuff-suits is too hard).
How come these crackers have us beat in the fan support department? It's not like Ottawa doesn't have a good team to root for. It IS disgusting. They aren't supposed to like hockey as much as we do!
The second thing that I wonder about is why their arena is called the RBC arena. I'm surprised at the American presence of our banks.
-A
Wardo
7:09 p.m.