IDAHO FALLS (KIFI) – The Idaho Falls Spud Kings completed another record-setting season Wednesday night, not on the ice, but around it.
In both of their inaugural years, the Spud Kings sold more tickets than any other team at that level of play.
“Let’s call it what it is,” general manager Eric Hudson said. “It's an anomaly. It's an outlier, so to speak. I mean, there's no junior market in this country or in the world like we do.”
The team averages 4,100 fans per game, matching the capacity of Mountain America Center. For comparison, MLB's Oakland Athletics averaged 3,600 fans during the 2024 season. The average number of fans for the NHL's Arizona Coyotes is 4,600.
“You know, it was a huge shock that all of our home games were sold out, except for one or two games last year,” Hudson said. “And that momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.”
The Spud Kings have played 57 home games in their two year history. Local News 8 asked Hudson, GM of both the Spud Kings and Mountain America Center, how many of those tickets were sold out.
“Fifty-four,” he declared. “That's really insane.”
Local News 8 asked fans in the concourse how many games they had attended this season.
“Everything,” Dan Bowman said. “I went to all the home games.”
“We're season ticket holders,” James Peterson said. “That's why we're here every game.”
“We went to the Ogden game, too,” added Kenny and Sherry Butters.
The Spud Kings faced the Ogden Mustangs in two playoff games on the road last week. The Mustangs ended their season in Idaho Falls on Wednesday in a heartbreaking overtime game.
“Ogden is doing really well with ticket sales,” Hudson said. “I think it's about 1,200 to 1,800 people per night.”
Local News 8 asked Hudson what the difference in attendance says about Spud Kings fans.
“Oh my god,” he said with a sigh. “I grew up playing junior hockey. I mean, I've been to some of the best markets in the world. I've never seen a market like this in my life.”
The Spud Kings' fan base is even more impressive because of their level of play. The top tier of hockey in America is the NHL. And then there are his two minor leagues: the AHL and the ECHL. Below that is college hockey.
And beneath all of that is the National Collegiate Development Conference, where the Spud Kings play. NCDC is a junior league and is limited to players between the ages of 16 and 20 who have never played in college. That's the lowest level of professional hockey.
“This is junior hockey, so our team is giving back to the community, and we're just as involved,” Hudson asserted.
“It means a lot,” Kenny Butters said. “The community didn't understand what it was going to produce or what was going to happen.”
“I train in the same gym as them,” season ticket holder Mary Hodson said.
“We've got some players in our home,” Bowman boasted. “Just like them, we are going through a roller coaster of emotions with our team.”
“There are a lot of hockey fans here,” Sherry Butters said. “Idaho Falls didn't realize how many hockey fans there were here.”
“Thank you to everyone who brought us this mini NHL experience,” added Joni Blakely. “I finally got to do something in this town. Thank you.”
