Columbus Blue Jackets on pace to set highest home attendance totals in 20 years
Blue Jackets fans have not had much to cheer for this season.
As the 2023-24 season comes to a close with a home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, the Blue Jackets sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 26 wins in 81 games. The Blue Jackets have 64 points, the fourth-lowest in the NHL ahead of only the San Jose Sharks, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks.
The Blue Jackets have the 27th best attendance totals in the NHL at 680,378 heading into the final home game, Tuesday according to Hockey Reference. Nationwide Arena is averaging 17,009 fans per home game with 93.7% of seats filled.
With a capacity of 18,144 at Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets will remain behind teams such as the Calgary Flames (699,615) and the Los Angeles Kings (699,926) as of Monday.
But for the Blue Jackets, it is their highest-attended season in years.
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2023-24 CBJ attendance: Blue Jackets bring in most fans since 2003-04
If the Blue Jackets reach their average of just over 17,000 fans on Tuesday, they will secure their most-attended season since 2003-04, the Blue Jackets' most recent campaign where more than 700,000 people attended a game.
The Blue Jackets have already exceeded the attendance for each of the past four seasons. They are also averaging more than 17,000 fans per home game for the first time since 2003-04.
The Blue Jackets have eclipsed an average of 18,000 fans per game once − 2001-02 campaign, when the team finished with 22 wins in 82 games and finished 15th in the Western Conference.
In 2023-24, the Blue Jackets have had 14 sellouts, the team's most since 2018-19, and one of seven seasons in the team's history with at least 10.
The Blue Jackets have posted a record of 16-19-5 at Nationwide Arena in 2023-24.
Columbus Blue Jackets attendance numbers
Here's a look at the Blue Jackets' attendance numbers since the team's start in 2000-01.
Columbus Blue Jackets season | Total attendance | Average attendance |
2000-01 | 715,513 | 17,452 |
2001-02 | 743,578 | 18,136 |
2002-03 | 727,522 | 17,744 |
2003-04 | 712,145 | 17,369 |
2005-06 | 688,655 | 16,796 |
2006-07 | 672,443 | 16,401 |
2007-08 | 607,757 | 14,823 |
2008-09 | 637,284 | 15,544 |
2009-10 | 632,086 | 15,417 |
2010-11 | 546,350 | 13,659 |
2011-12 | 601,061 | 14,660 |
2012-13 | 349,558 | 14,564 |
2013-14 | 602,619 | 14,698 |
2014-15 | 635,973 | 15,512 |
2015-16 | 601,293 | 14,666 |
2016-17 | 650,157 | 15,857 |
2017-18 | 683,004 | 16,659 |
2018-19 | 682,984 | 16,658 |
2019-20 | 608,454 | 16,902 |
2020-21 — COVID-19 | 63,477 | 3,967 |
2021-22 | 665,722 | 16,237 |
2022-23 | 678,346 | 16,959 |
2023-24 (through 40 games) | 680,378 | 17,009 |
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What are Columbus Blue Jackets attendance totals for Nationwide Arena?
