I think the attendance has to do with all the transplants that have moved to Texas in the last 10-15 years or more. In fact the first hockey game I ever saw in person was at a local ice rink and 12:30 am about 17 yrs ago and I only went b/c my firends knew these 2 guys from canada. It was awesome fun probably helped that we were loaded when we got there. really cool  I have never even put on a pair of ice skates before and might not ever getting old enough to be worried about falling on my butt and feeling it