The image was striking, and frankly, embarrassing for the Gophers men's hockey program and the Big Ten.
The Gophers were host to a 2019 Big Ten tournament quarterfinal series against Michigan, and most sections of 3M Arena at Mariucci were roughly 10% full when the puck dropped, while others had fewer than 10 spectators in seats. The announced attendance was 1,835.
That gathering represented the low point attendance-wise in recent Gophers history, and that 2018-19 season saw the program draw an average of only 5,325 tickets scanned per game during Bob Motzko's first year as Gophers coach.
Fast forward four years, and from those ashes has risen a skate-wearing phoenix. Gophers hockey is back to being a big on-ice success and a strong box office draw.
Through 16 home games entering this weekend's final regular-season series against Ohio State, the Gophers have announced seven sellouts at 10,000-seat Mariucci, and Saturday's game against the Buckeyes will make it eight. Friday's game also is nearing a sellout.
Average announced attendance is 8,980, the program's most since six seasons ago when it was 9,595. Scanned attendance — the number of people who use their tickets — is 6,768, the most since 7,073 six years ago and a 36.5% increase from last season.
"Gophers fans have never gone anywhere; they've always been here,'' Motzko said. "We had to give them a reason to come back.''
Motzko and his team certainly have done that.