HUNTSVILLE – For years, the City of Huntsville and the Metro area fit the description perfectly as a landing spot for minor league sports franchises. There was a vibrant economy and an educated population. A market strong on young urban professionals.
That theory held true for a while after the early success of the Double-A Huntsville Stars baseball club of the storied Southern League, which began playing at brand new Joe Davis Stadium in 1985. But nearby at the then-Von Braun Civic Center, the fate of its athletic residents was much different.
The Rocket City sports graveyard is littered with gravestones reading the likes of Channel Cats, Vipers, Blast, Tornado, Fire, Flight, Lasers and Raptors, to name a few. Even the once beloved Stars packed up and moved to Mississippi.
With that considered, the Huntsville Havoc’s story seems to be nothing more than a tall tale. A myth. A legend. But this is real: Friday night, the Havoc will play Macon in front of a 17th straight sellout crowd at the Von Braun Center’s Propst Arena.
Last weekend, the Havoc set the Southern Professional Hockey League single-season attendance record.
“Setting the single-season attendance record again is a remarkable achievement that speaks volumes about the incredible support we receive from our fans,” head coach Stuart Stefan said. “Knowing that they have the backing of an incredible fanbase behind them, our players are motivated to perform their best every time they step on the ice.”
By the numbers
- Havoc set the single-season attendance record for the sixth time last Friday
- Since the 2016-2017 season, with the exception of the pandemic-affected 2020 season, the Havoc have consistently led the league in average attendance figures. The ongoing 2023-24 season has seen an impressive total of 19 sold-out games
- Friday night’s game is already a sellout, the team’s 17th straight.
“The community that we’ve cultivated over the last 20 years in Huntsville never ceases to amaze me,” owner Keith Jefferies said. “This record is a testament to the hard work of our staff, the dedication of our team, and the unwavering support of our loyal fan base.”
Huntsville closes out the regular season Saturday at Macon. The Havoc are in sixth place (in the playoffs) and have a chance to move up to fourth by the end of the weekend.
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