You said yourself minor league attendance doesn't mean much but somehow it's not helping Milwaukee's case? It means nothing. What is unimpressive? They've never been lower than 14th since new ownership took over (when snow pounded the area and kept fans away.) They haven't been setting records like they did in the IHL but it's been fine. Certainly nothing that would make anyone say they wouldn't even consider an NHL team. And are you being serious right now with Badger hockey? 2008-09 - 13,785 - 1st in NCAA - No NCAA Tournament 2009-10 - 15,048 - 1st in NCAA - Lost in Championship Game 2010-11 - 13,226 - 1st in NCAA - No NCAA Tournament 2011-12 - 11,773 - 1st in NCAA - No NCAA Tournament 2012-13 - 9,521 - 3rd in NCAA (two games were played at Alliant Energy Center) - Blown out in 1st round of NCAA Tournament 2013-14 - 10,478 - 3rd in NCAA - Lost in 1st round of NCAA Tournament 2014-15 - 10,931 - 2nd in NCAA - No NCAA Tournament (Finished with 4-26-5 record) 2015-16 - 8,849 - 3rd in NCAA - No NCAA Tournament (Finished with 8-19-8 record) 2016-17 - 10,158 - 2nd in NCAA - No NCAA Tournament 2017-18 - 9,902 - 2nd in NCAA - Likely No NCAA Tournament This team hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2010, hasn't played in one in likely the past four years and has only played in three the past 10 years. The fact that they've been around 10,000 despite all of this speaks to how strong the fan base is.