If Spokane's a bandwagon sports town, the bandwagon must be stuck on the pass
The Spokane Chiefs hockey team, which has been playing unbelievably well all season, is in the second round of the playoffs matched up against a tough squad out of Vancouver. Analysts say it's one of the best second-round playoff match-ups in WHL history. And yet Spokane, which has been a hockey town for decades, has apparently turned its back on hockey, the Chiefs and the playoffs.
The Chiefs, who finished the regular season ranked the 2nd best team in the country with 50 wins (tied for most all time in franchise history) and 107 points (the most all-time in franchise history), hit the ice for their series on Friday night to find a half-empty Spokane Arena. A crowd of just 5,748 saw the Chiefs drop the opener. Keep in mind, the Chiefs averaged 6,500 during the regular season.
On Sunday night for Game 2, it just got worse as only 4,705 fans turned up. Some entire sections of the Arena were empty.
Two numbers, two nights, two embarrassments if you are a sports fan in Spokane.
On Saturday night, the Spokane Shock arena football team opened the season and were welcomed with open arms to a sold-out Spokane Arena crowd of more than 10,500.
More people turned out for the regular-season Shock game, than BOTH Spokane Chiefs playoff games combined.
It used to be this city supported a winner. Gonzaga sells out every game. The Chiefs always did well, especially on Saturday nights and in the playoffs, and the Shock have always drawn well since they started in 2006.
While the Chiefs have had their troubles in the past, the past two years they have produced some great hockey.
But this town apparently doesn't think so. It doesn’t matter if you are a huge hockey fan, the Spokane Chiefs deserve a LOT more support than they are getting. It is unacceptable in an area as large as Spokane, to only see 4,500 fans turn out for its hockey team's run through the playoffs.
The Chiefs were here before the Shock. They were good before Gonzaga even thought about being good. They deserve a city with fans that offer better support than what Spokane is giving them now. Shame on Spokane sports fans.
Sunday night, the Chiefs tied up their series with Vancouver 1-1. The next three games are in Vancouver, and if the Chiefs win one of those games, they'll be back home Monday, April 14th and Tuesday, April 15th for games six and possibly seven. Let’s hope this bandwagon town decides to jump on board and support the team, before the ice melts at the Spokane Arena.
What do you think?
Comments
I agree with you, Chris. But as long as the local media hype the tribal ceremonies of big-money college sports, low budget professionals like the Chiefs, the Indians, the Riverhawks and the now-defunct soccer team will suffer. If Spokane wants an improvement to business it needs to support it. The Bulldogs and the Cougs get more pages and broadcast hours in a week that the Chiefs get all year.
Posted by: Jack Poole | April 7, 2008 05:14 PM