Firebirds earn highest playoff attendance by one team in AHL history
Talk about setting the ice on fire! In their inaugural American Hockey League season, the Coachella Valley Firebirds are blazing a trail like no other. Their playoff attendance has soared to heights never seen before in the league's history.
One of the people behind the electrifying fan experience is the director of game presentation Kristin Thompson. She runs everything entertainment-wise, from the scoreboards and music to the cameras and your favorite bird Fuego.
"Our fans came in double time. I think it's been huge, and the crowd's been amazing," said Thompson. "Everybody's kind of a well-oiled machine working together to make it what it is out there that the fans see day in and day out."
The team blazed their way to 117,879 fans across 13 home games. That makes it the highest playoff turnout in the American Hockey League's 80-plus-year history. The Firebirds have achieved four sellouts at the 10,087-seat Acrisure Arena, including the first two games of the Calder Cup Finals against Hershey.
"I think it's the fans buying into what we brought to the desert, bringing this arena here, bringing a hockey team here, bringing a concert show venue here," said Thompson.
Already in the inaugural season, the Firebirds fans are making their mark in the hall of flame.
"I think the fans are kind of our secret here-- coming and embracing the team and embracing this valley and what we're bringing to it," said Thompson.
The AHL has set a new postseason attendance record this spring, as nearly 500,000 fans have already flocked to games during the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs.
After 80 games, the playoff participants have collectively attracted 498,828 fans, marking the first time in league history that the half-million milestone will be surpassed in a single postseason. This year's average attendance of 6,235 per game ranks third-highest in the past 60 years, following the 2016 playoffs with 6,513 over 67 games and the 1964 playoffs with 6,794 over 17 games.
Several other teams have also reached notable attendance milestones. The Rochester Americans saw their largest crowd since 2005 when 10,746 fans packed the Blue Cross Arena on May 27. The Laval Rocket set a franchise record with 10,275 fans at Place Bell on April 19. Meanwhile, the Colorado Eagles sold out all 40 of their home games at the Budweiser Events Center this season, including their four playoff matches.
In the current Calder Cup Finals, the Coachella Valley Firebirds hold a one-game lead over Hershey. In the 2022-23 season, the AHL is on track to surpass 7 million fans in total attendance, combining regular season and playoff games, marking the third time in league history.
