The Kölner Haie have set a new attendance record and are at the top of the European rankings for the first time since 2002.
An average of 16,993 spectators flocked to the Kölner Haie’s home games in the current season of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). The eight-time German champions not only took the lead in Europe for the first time since 2002, but also set a record.
The Haie beat the traditional Swiss club SC Bern’s record of 16,399 visitors from the 2016/17 season by almost 600. Over 423,000 fans have already attended Cologne’s home games this season – and they will come again at the sold-out final of the main round on Friday (7.30 p.m.) against Adler Mannheim 18,600 visitors added.
In the playoffs starting on Sunday, the Sharks could break the half million mark. With their average attendance, the Cologne team is ahead of six NHL clubs: Columbus, Buffalo, Anaheim, San Jose, Winnipeg and Arizona.
