The New York Rangers are one of the most popular and successful teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). They have a large and passionate fan base that fills Madison Square Garden for home games. However, the Rangers do not technically sell out every single home game.
Rangers Home Attendance
The Rangers play at Madison Square Garden in New York City, which has a maximum hockey capacity of 18,006 for NHL games. This is one of the largest arenas in the NHL. Here is a look at the Rangers’ recent home attendance figures:
| Season | Total Home Attendance | Average Attendance Per Game | Sellout Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 791,445 | 18,006 | 100% |
| 2019-20 | 617,697 | 17,463 | 97% |
| 2020-21 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| 2021-22 | 725,472 | 17,006 | 94% |
As the table shows, the Rangers have come close to selling out every single home game in recent years before the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2018-19 season, they sold out every single game. In 2019-20, the sellout percentage dipped slightly to 97%, meaning there were a handful of games that did not reach absolute capacity.
The 2020-21 season was played with no fans present due to COVID-19 restrictions. In 2021-22, the first season back with fans, the Rangers sold out 94% of home games.
Reasons for Near-Constant Sellouts
There are several key reasons why the Rangers are able to sell out nearly every home game each season:
- Strong fan support – The Rangers have a dedicated fan base that has supported the team for generations. There are many loyal and passionate Rangers fans in the New York area and beyond.
- Large market – New York City is the largest media market in the United States. The metropolitan area has over 20 million people, allowing the Rangers to draw fans from a massive population center.
- Original Six franchise – The Rangers are one of the NHL’s Original Six teams, giving them a historic legacy and reputation that many fans appreciate.
- On-ice success – The Rangers have won the Stanley Cup four times and made the playoffs in 12 of the last 15 seasons. Fans support a competitive team.
- Madison Square Garden – This famous arena helps attract fans for its reputation and atmosphere. MSG is known as “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
The strength of the Rangers brand and the sheer size of the New York market ensure that they can sell out games on a regular basis. The team has cultivated a loyal, multigenerational fanbase willing to pay high ticket prices.
Ticket Prices
Tickets to Rangers home games are among the most expensive in the NHL. For the 2022-23 season, the average ticket price on the secondary market for Rangers games is $175. That is the highest in the league – for comparison, the average NHL ticket price is $105.
Here are some examples of Rangers ticket prices:
- Lower bowl sideline seats – $200 to $500
- Lower bowl corners – $130 to $250
- Upper bowl corners – $80 to $150
- Standing room only – $60 to $100
Playoff tickets are even pricier. The high cost limits accessibility for some fans, but there is still huge demand at current prices.
Non-Sellouts
While sellouts are the norm, there are certain Rangers home games each season that do not sell out each seat. Reasons for this include:
- Weeknight games – Weeknight (Monday to Thursday) games sometimes have lower attendance.
- Less popular opponents – Games against less prominent teams can sometimes not sell out.
- Weather issues – Bad weather like snowstorms can deter some ticket holders from attending.
- Early season – Attendance is sometimes lower early in the NHL season before picking up.
Additionally, the Rangers sometimes limit ticket sales to games for production reasons. But in general, non-sellouts are rare and attributable to specific circumstances.
Sellout Streaks
While not selling out literally every game, the Rangers have achieved some very long sellout streaks at Madison Square Garden:
- 1994 to 2007 – 200 straight sellouts
- 2011 to 2017 – 243 straight sellouts
These streaks were snapped due to factors like rising ticket prices, poor team performance, and the impact of COVID-19. But they demonstrate how the Rangers have consistently sold out MSG over long time periods.
Financial Implications
The Rangers’ ability to sell out nearly every home game has major financial implications. In terms of revenue:
- Ticket sales – Consistently high attendance means strong ticket revenue. Ticket sales make up around 30-35% of total NHL revenue.
- Concessions/merchandise – More fans in attendance leads to higher concession and merchandising revenue.
- Suite revenue – More sellouts means increased demand for luxury suites, a major revenue stream.
- Sponsorships – High attendance makes Rangers sponsorships more valuable.
Beyond direct revenue, sellouts also indirectly benefit the Rangers financially. Full arenas create more atmosphere and excitement, driving TV ratings and merchandise sales. The energy helps make the Rangers a premier NHL brand.
Impact on Opposing Teams
The Rangers’ strong home attendance also impacts visiting teams. Playing at Madison Square Garden in front of a full, loud crowd provides a difficult road atmosphere. Some impacts include:
- Intimidating environment – Opponents can feel intimidated playing in front of a hostile, energetic MSG crowd.
- Communication difficulties – Crowd noise can make it hard for visiting teams to communicate on the ice.
- Fatigue – The energy in the building can be mentally and physically draining on opponents.
- Fewer visiting fans – With limited ticket availability, there are typically fewer fans rooting for the visiting team.
The Rangers have a clear home ice advantage when playing in front of packed houses at Madison Square Garden. This gives them an edge in home games.
Recent Crowd Energy
In the current 2022-23 NHL season, the strong home crowd energy has been on full display at Rangers games. The team got off to a strong start this season, further energizing MSG crowds.
Some examples of the crowd impact this season:
- Opening night vs. Tampa Bay – The Rangers won 3-1 in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd on banner raising night.
- Comeback vs. Edmonton – Down 4-1, the crowd’s energy helped spur a Rangers comeback victory.
- Playoff-like win vs. Colorado – The Rangers beat the defending Cup champs 5-3 with a buzzing, intense MSG atmosphere.
The home fans have helped the Rangers get out to a strong start at MSG. The crowd impact is palpable during big moments and comeback wins so far this season.
Conclusion
While not literally selling out every single ticket for all 41 regular season home games, the New York Rangers come very close to selling out every game each season. Factors like the size of the New York market, the loyalty of Rangers fans, the prestige of Madison Square Garden, and the team’s on-ice success contribute to high ticket demand.
The Rangers have led the NHL in average home attendance for several seasons and consistently rank near the top. Games at MSG provide an electric atmosphere that gives the Rangers an edge. This home ice advantage has financial advantages and helps attract star players to the Original Six franchise.
