(Crain's) — The Chicago Blackhawks' fan base had the largest percentage growth among all teams in the four major sports leagues over the past five years, according to a recent report.

A survey of about 4,100 Chicago-area households showed 43 percent of respondents watched, listened to or attended a Blackhawks game during the 2011-12 season, up from 8 percent in 2007-08, according to New York-based market research company Scarborough Research.

The growth began in 2008, before the Blackhawks' June 2010 Stanley Cup victory. In 2008 the franchise struck deals with Comcast SportsNet and WGN-TV/Channel 9 to broadcast all its games locally on television.

(Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz discusses how, despite capacity crowds at the United Center and surging TV ratings, the team still is losing money. Click here to watch the video.)

The Hawks' level of fan participation is now fourth-highest in the NHL, behind Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Detroit.

The hockey team falls short of the Chicago Bulls' fan reach of 46 percent, the Cubs' 50 percent and the Bears' 65, Scarborough reports, but it tops the Chicago White Sox's 40 percent.

Recent Blackhawks ratings on Comcast SportsNet have reflected the ongoing trend, jumping 12 percent compared to its year-ago figures to a 3.1 average household rating; that's nearly four times the rating the team received on the cable network in the 2007-08 season.

Last month, the team also set a franchise record for its longest sell-out streak, which now stands at 188 games and dates back to the final three home games of the 2007-08 regular season, according to the Blackhawks.

With that growing fan base and an estimated 10,000 people on its season ticket waiting list, the team last week announced that ticket prices will increase 8 percent across the board next season.

The Blackhawks close the 2011-12 regular season on Saturday in Detroit, having already clinched a spot in the NHL Western Conference playoffs.