This season, the two teams play at home on the same date only 10 times. Together, they averaged more than 12,500 fans a game last season. Both teams have to market to their longtime fan base, as well as attempt to lure casual fans who might attend a couple games a year. The two clubs compete for media attention, marketing opportunities and advertising dollars. The Mighty Ducks' average attendance went down 199 fans a game in their second season, then increased 1,031 last season.
Games are a great family value.
The franchise sees its competition not as Xavier, the University of Cincinnati, the International Basketball League's Cincinnati Stuff or the Cyclones, but movie theaters, theme parks, miniature golf courses and any other kind of family entertainment center. Don Helbig, Ducks vice president for communications and fan development, said he checks to see if a Julia Roberts movie is opening the weekend of a home game. Now that's competition. The Cyclones' average attendance went up 576 a game the year the team moved to Firstar Center, but dropped 1,444 after that first year downtown. Last season, average attendance increased by close to 900 and is roughly at the same level it was for the team's final year at the Gardens.