Thunderbirds Set Attendance Mark at Half-Way Mark of Home Season
Winston-Salem, NC – Thunderbirds Set Attendance Mark at Half-Way Mark of Home Season.
What’s New
Despite a 1-2 record over the weekend against the Danville Dashers, the Thunderbirds would see over 6,000 people through the doors of the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Now, with an average of 2,214 per game and a total attendance of 33,218 through 15 home games, the Thunderbirds have broken last season’s total attendance mark. The highest attendance last season was set by the Danville Dashers, who through 28 home games had 31,169. In addition, during the 2015-2016 regular season the highest attendance total was 31,387, again set by Danville.
The overall record for league attendance was set during the 2012-2013 season by the Danbury Whalers with 51,484 over a 27-game stretch. For the Thunderbirds to break that record the team will need to average 1,522 tickets sold per game for the next 12 home games, a number that is 3 tickets shy of half-capacity for hockey at the Fairgrounds Annex.
Most notable from the weekend’s action was Saturday night’s game. 25 minutes prior to puck drop on January 20th, the organization announced a sell-out game. After conferring with the ticketing staff of the arena, the Thunderbirds would sell an additional 300 standing-room-only seats.
This is the 2nd time this season that the Thunderbirds have sold out the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex.
What’s Coming Up
The Carolina Thunderbirds Coaches Show continues Tuesday the 23rd from 6-7 pm and you can hear the coaches show on WTOB, “The Big 980” on 980 am and 96.3 fm in Winston-Salem, the flagship station of the Thunderbirds Radio network. Join President and General Manager of the Thunderbirds Scott Brand, Head Coach Andre Niec, Vice President of Media Relations and Communications Al Kessler, alongside special guest, defenseman Stanislav Vlasov.
This upcoming weekend Carolina will travel to Port Huron Michigan to take on the Prowlers. Port Huron has a 13-game winning streak and is currently first in the Federal Hockey League Standings. The teams will skate Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 26th, 27th, and 28th. Friday and Saturday’s games will be at 7:30 pm EST, with the pregame show starting on the Thunderbirds Radio Network at 7:05 pm. Sunday’s match-up will start at 1:00 pm EST, with a 12:35 pm broadcast start. You can hear all the Thunderbirds action from the road on WTOB, 980 am and 96.3 fm in Winston-Salem, on WAME in Statesville, 550 am and 92.9 fm, and online at www.wtob980.com or www.wameradio.com
The Thunderbirds will be back at home on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 9th, 10th, and 11th, against the Cornwall Nationals. Friday’s game starts at 7:35 pm, with the doors opening at 6:35. Saturday’s game will begin at 6:05 pm, with the doors opening at 5:05 pm. Sunday will begin at 4:05 pm est, and all three games will be held at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex. For tickets and more information please visit www.carolinathunderbirds.com or call 336-774-GOAL(4625).