The LAKE ERIE MONSTERS are a member of the American Hockey League and the top affiliate of the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche. They played the 2007-08 season, their first in Cleveland, at the QUICKEN LOANS ARENA Despite their sub-500 record during their first season, the team drew a respectable number of fans for their home matches.
When the CLEVELAND BARONS left the city for Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2006, the CLEVELAND CAVALIERS' principle owner Dan Gilbert led a group of investors in purchasing the dormant Utah Grizzlies franchise. The Monsters share a partnership with the Cavaliers to share personnel on the business end of the teams, as well as television broadcasting on Fox Sports Net Ohio. The team pays the Avalanche an undisclosed affiliation fee, while the Avalanche handle all hockey-related decisions.
The Lake Erie Monsters drew about 15,000 fans to their opening game in Cleveland, and drew 238,965 over the course of their 40 home matches. Their final home game of the season drew 15,408 which was the largest attendance total among the 29 teams of the AHL for the season. Throughout their first season the Monsters averaged 5,974 fans per game, which ranked eleventh in the AHL. They drew bigger crowds on the weekends, where they averaged 7,302 fans. For the 2008-09 season, 31 of the team's 40 home matches will be played on the weekend.
Under first year coach Joe Sacco the Monsters finished sixth out of seven teams in the North Division of the Western Conference with a 26 and 41 record.
Last Modified: 06 Oct 2008 11:25:08 PM- Related Article(s)