NHL attendance up

[Chadd 916]

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/01/250782.html

The National Hockey League posted the best December attendance in its 88-year history, attracting 3,382,628 fans to 200 total games and setting an attendance record for the third consecutive month. The December average of 16,913 per game was 91.7% of capacity and two percent above the previous December high of 16,578, set in 2001.

Something doesn't add up for me though.

The top gainers are the Pittsburgh Penguins (+36%), .....

According to this page the pens attendance was at 70% at home for the season. Maybe people started showing up to watch the team tank at the end of the year.