Though inundated by a sea of green, empty seats at the Delta Center during the first few months this season, the Utah Grizzlies needn't panic just yet.
The Grizz - through 15 home games - have already eclipsed the century mark in attendance (106,405) with an average of 7,094 fans a contest.While that amount of spectators looks meager compared to Jazz crowds, it dwarfs the size of congregations that attended the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in their final years.
Before flocking to Michigan, the Golden Eagles averaged just 5,112 fans during the 1993-94 season. That mark dropped more than a thousand from 91-92 when they had posted a 6,192 mark.
The Grizz are also holding their own against the rest of the IHL. Utah is currently 10th among the 19 teams in attendance, but is drawing more than the league average of 6,924.
The Detroit Vipers, formerly the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, are leading the IHL for the second straight year with 12,023 fans a contest.
FANTASY FLIGHT: United Airlines is teaming up with the Grizz to help get some terminally ill children into the holiday spirit.
United will provide an aircraft this Saturday with 100 seats for the children to experience a simulated trip to the North Pole. The jet will taxi from one gate at the Salt Lake Airport to a second gate that will be decorated like the North Pole.
The Utah Grizzlies will provide a total of 500 tickets to the kids and their parents. Santa's biggest elf, Grizzbee, will be the tour guide.
IMPRESSIVE TRYOUT: Starting center Egor Bashkatov - on a 25-game tryout with Utah - has scored six goals, dished out six assists and has a plus/minus rating of +12 in just eight games.
"I look like a pretty good GM, don't I?" mused general manager/coach Butch Goring about acquiring the Russian native.