The Boston Fleet have the fans, some of the most passionate fans in the sport, but they also have empty seats. As Vani Hanamirian writes, it's all about location, location, location.
The Boston Fleet have the fans, some of the most passionate fans in the sport, but they also have empty seats. As Vani Hanamirian writes, it's all about location, location, location.
When the puck dropped last Tuesday night at the Tsongas Center the arena was loud. Fans cheered on the team, hoping for a big win against Ottawa. Unless anyone had looked around, they wouldn’t be able to tell that the 6,500 person arena only had 2,800 fans present.
One third of Tsongas Center was full for the Boston Fleet versus Ottawa Charge game.
This is the third game at the Tsongas Center this season. Until Sunday's crowd at the Prudential Center, the Fleet held the record for the three least attended games this season.
In just the second year of the league, attendance is crucial to the success and growth of each team. Boston’s inability to fill the stand raises concern for the future of the franchise.
Although the attendance statistics are not great for the team, there is optimism for the future. The fans that did show up to Tuesday’s game were loud, passionate, and energetic.
Chants continued throughout the entire game, either “Let’s go Fleet”, “Fleet, Fleet Fleet”, or “Boston Fleet Boston Fleet”.
The fans counted down the seconds until each player was freed from the penalty box. They did this for all three penalties the Fleet had cheering at separate times as Sydney Bard, Jamie Lee Rattray and Hannah Bilka skated back into the action.
When the goal horn went off, fans jumped up and began cheering on the team pumping their fists in the air.
It was interesting to watch an arena light up with excitement and energy like it was filled to standing room only, except it truly was only one third of the way full.
The reasoning behind this unexpected joy in an undersold arena? The fans.
The Boston Fleet fans pilled into Tsongas Center with posters, signs, and energy. There were too many jerseys in the crowd to count, which for a new league was quite impressive. The fans knew each player on the ice by name and number and were passionately cheering together.
Boston is known as a sports city and the reason for that is not the championships, but rather the excitement and passion fans bring to each game.
Fleet Defender Sydney Bard gave praise to the crowd and said, “I feel like our fans are awesome. It's fun to play here. We're enjoying our time in Lowell and playing at the Tsongas Center.”
Many of her teammates agreed with her. Shay Maloney, who scored her first goal with the team Tuesday night said, “I feel like the fans so far this season have been incredible. I can't really speak to last season, but so far, it's kind of been unmatched and exciting to play at home”.
There were fans at the Tsongas Center on Tuesday in Ottawa Charge jerseys walking around the concourse. While typically this would be a sign that someone was about to get heckled out of the stadium, for the growing PWHL, this was quite impressive. The Ottawa fans had not only bought a jersey but also traveled to support their team.
So why wasn’t the arena filled? The location.
The Fleet play at Tsongas Center, which is an hour and a half commute away from Downtown Boston. Depending on mode of transit, it can take 45 minutes, or up to two and a half hours.
This isn’t a feasible location to get to for people who work in the city and is hurting the team’s reach.
The fans that do show up are clearly passionate and excited about the team. They are ‘die hard’ fans that understand and love the game. The issue lies more in the centrality of the location and accessibility.
They have the passion, they have the fans, they just need to move to a more central location so they can grow their fanbase and fill up the seats.