[Source: Phoenix Business Journal]
The first season back for the Arena Football League is in the books and the Arizona Rattlers ranked 4th in attendance out of 15 teams.
The Rattlers averaged 10,800 fans per game this AFL season, according to Arena Fan Inc.
That’s fourth best behind a trio of Florida teams. The Tampa Bay Storm had the best attendance at 15,200 per game.
Scottsdale real estate investment exeutive Brett Bouchy is the managing partner of both the Rattlers and Predators. Both teams made the Arena league playoffs. The Spokane Shock won the Arena league title on Friday.
The Arena league was back this summer after taking a year off because of the down economy. The Rattlers play at US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix, which seats 16,100 for Arena ball.
The attendance for the Rattlers and the Florida teams is respectable considering the AFL was off for a year and the league is rebuilding its fan and sponsorship base. The AFL also did not have a lot of media exposure either in local market or nationally. Games were televised on the NFL Network and Rattlers games locally on KAZT-TV Channel 7.
Rattlers sponsors include the Phoenix New Times, Scottsdale Healthcare, NAPA Auto Parts and First Credit Union. The team is also in the midst of a season ticket sales push for next year.
Arena League attendance leaders:
- Tampa Bay Shock: 15,200
- Orlando Predators: 11,200
- Jacksonville Sharks: 11,100
- Arizona Rattlers: 10,800
Source: Arena Fan Inc.
Phoenix market attendance for current or most recent season:
- Cardinals: 63,100, 99 percent full
- Suns: 17,650, 96 percent full
- Coyotes: 12,000, 69 percent full
- Rattlers: 10,800, 67 percent full
- Diamondbacks: 24,800, 51 percent full
Source: ESPN, Arena Fan Inc.
Downtown Voices Coalition 