Here's How The PWHL Can Avoid Relocating The New York Sirens

The New York metropolitan area sports-loving populus has passionately supported winning teams for decades and decades.

From loud and proud crowds at ballparks and arenas to legendary ticker tape championship parades, being a fan in the tri-state area that includes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut is second to none.

And while losing teams and underachieving superstars can be booed and criticized into oblivion, more often than not if athletes give 100 percent and maintain a hard-working standard they will be rewarded with incredible support. It's the New York way.

That's what makes the plight of the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and their attendance numbers a real head-scratcher. The Sirens are every bit the model of what a New York fan covets. The Prudential Center should be packing them in every game.

Strangely, especially considering the success of the New York Liberty (pro women's basketball) and Gotham City FC (pro women's soccer), that's not the case.

Granted, hockey-crazed Canadian cities -- and a strong hockey state like Minnesota -- with PWHL teams are for the most part going to significantly outdraw their American peers. That's just the nature of those locales.

However, fewer than 2,000 fans on weeknights and only slightly more on weekend afternoons for a very good Sirens' team is simply not what the players should be greeted by when they come out onto the ice.

There are no easy solutions to what needs to but also should be putting thousands of more fans into the seats in Newark, where a Sirens team is outplaying, out-hustling, outperforming, and quite frankly, is more deserving of a major following than most of the other current professional sports teams in this region.

Very unfortunately, the ultimate league solution might be to relocate the team out of the tri-state area and that should be unacceptable and embarrassing to all fans who follow New York sports.

Fortunately, however, it's not too late to right the ship. Not the 'team performance ship'; but the 'fan live support ship.' There are some basic ways to accomplish this.

Better local media coverage

An usher at a recent Sunday home game against Toronto stated that little if any of the allotted sports time on television and radio in the New York area is devoted to the Sirens. While teams like the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils get constant video and features and all kinds of broadcast minutes, he said the Sirens are an afterthought. That must change right away.

Better ticket and parking costs

Walking from the Newark Penn Station stop on New Jersey transit to the arena affectionately nicknamed 'The Rock' on that recent Sunday, a sign fronting a lot on Market Street indicated $30 for parking. To charge fans that amount for a second-year team trying to establish roots in a community is unfair and exorbitant.

Also, the Sirens should adopt an amended ticket policy where children under 12 accompanied by an adult get in free or at a very minimal price point well below the average ticket price. Any money saved by the consumer through less expensive ticket costs to get into the building is likely to be made up in food and merchandise sales.

Be a strong community presence

It's great to stand on top of the Empire State Building and in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and in the suites at other teams' games, but Sirens' players should visit area schools, children's hospitals, youth sports clinics and other social functions where potential fans could see the wonderful heart and soul of this team. It would pay huge dividends at the box office.

Being in front of the camera for a photo op is fine, but making a special guest appearance in a classroom in one of the burroughs or at a child's bedside in a hospital would make a far greater impact.

Players walking around Times Square in their Sirens' jerseys or attending meet-and-greets and autograph signings without cost to fans would also be impactful.

Take a bite out of the Big Apple

Make every possible effort to play some home games at Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center. New Jersey has fantastic sports fans, but this as previously mentioned is a tri-state area and the more central a team is situated the better.

Yes, available dates in those NYC arenas are minimal to say the least. However, the league should go on a full-ice charge to examine every possible avenue to get the Sirens into those buildings, at least on a partial season basis.

It's up to you New York, New York

Frank Sinatra hit the nail on the head. It is up to New York but it's also up to those whose decisions on reporting, pricing, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for families -- and all potential fans -- have a direct effect on the public to help put the Sirens on the same pedestal as all other pro teams here. That will clearly boost attendance.

As PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten rightfully noted when the six team locations were announced back in 2023, no league should be without a team in New York. It's a no-brainer for any pro circuit.

Everyone involved should do the hard work to not only keep the Sirens in the New York metropolitan area but also to help them thrive and prosper. It's not too late; not by a long shot.