I think this has more to do with Canada using NHL arenas and the US wanting to be the same.
2024 (Sweden), 2023 (Canada), 2020 (Czechia), 2016 (Finland), 2014 (Sweden), and 2013 (Russia) all had arenas smaller or about the same as the Ralph except in 2016 and 2017 there was 13,000 seat arenas used. Most Euro arenas are smaller or about the same as the Ralph.
I left off all but the one in Canada since they are at NHL arenas most of the time (since 2006 for how far I went back).