Stephen Nealley missed, maybe, five Colorado Avalanche home games over the last two-plus decades as a season-ticket holder. The 66-year-old Denver resident and his wife, Cindy, are now reminded of hockey’s golden age in Denver.
“They’re getting close,” Nealley said.
Colorado solidified itself among the sport’s most passionate fan bases with an NHL record for consecutive sellouts (487) between 1995 and 2006 with a pair of Stanley Cups in between. It’s been a steep drop-off since. Last season, home attendance slipped to an average of 14,835, No. 25 out of 30 teams, mirroring a 22-win team that marked a franchise low for points (48).