The Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn., sold more than 18,000 tickets for the championship game. LPH Photo by Jackson BolineNumber of spectators nationwide will increase from 2022-23 season
Written by Jason Hajdu, College Hockey Inc.
NCAA Division I men's hockey attendance increased 8 percent nationally in 2023-24, with 36 of 62 men's programs (58 percent) competing in both 2023-24 and 2022-23. Last season's attendance increased.
Wisconsin saw the biggest increase in attendance, going from an average of 8,000 fans per game in 2022-23 to 10,059 in 2023-24. Wisconsin's average attendance was 10,059, ranking second in the nation behind North Dakota (11,568). Holy Cross had the largest game-to-game increase in terms of percentage, with a 105 percent year-over-year increase.
Maximum attendance increase (fans/match)
- Wisconsin (+2,059)
- Boston College (+1,853)
- Maine (+1,358)
- UMass (+1,042)
- Boston University (+957)
Maximum attendance increase (percentage/game)
- Holy Cross (+105%)
- Mercyhurst (+73%)
- Sacred Heart (+40%)
- Air Force (+37%)
Boston College (+37%)
Maine (+37%)
Additionally, reports indicate that attendance nationwide will reach 77 percent capacity in 2023-24. sporticoThat percentage in college hockey was the highest since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four different NHL venues also hosted regular-season college hockey games in 2023-2024, and those seven games drew an average of nearly 17,000 fans.
date match venue attendance Note
October 13th St. Thomas vs. Minnesota Xcel Energy Center 11,376
November 25 Boston University vs. Cornell Madison Square Garden 15,289 Red Hot Hockey
February 5th Harvard University vs. Northeastern TD Garden 17,850 Beanpot
February 5th Boston College vs. Boston University TD Garden 17,850 Beanpot
February 10th Michigan vs. Michigan State Little Caesars Arena 18,410 Duel in the D
February 12 Boston College vs. Harvard TD Garden 17,850 Beanpot
February 12 Boston College vs. Northeastern TD Garden 17,850 Beanpot
The season ended in style at the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, where Denver defeated Boston College in front of a crowd of 18,694 at Xcel Energy Center.
