Tournament consolidations have lowered expenses, a necessity because attendance has dropped steadily. The state hockey championship game typically averaged 6,000 fans before 2002, when it attracted a record crowd of 9,191 under a perfect storm of conditions.
It was the arena's first year, so there was curiosity. Secondly, the only way to see the game in real time was in the arena because the Olympics were shown live while the game was tape-delayed. And, the championship matched Grand Forks Central and Grafton, teams with big followings.
Since then, tournament attendance has declined.
"In recent years, the championship game has attracted fewer than 4,000 people," Olson said. "But, all of our tournaments are down. There are fewer and fewer people in rural North Dakota."
http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/fewer-state-hockey-tourneys-coming-grand-forks
Definitely Minot is not big enough. So nevermind.