FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I was wondering. Are there more professional hockey teams in the US than in Canada? I'm serious, I'm all about college football and basketball. I do have 2 observations.

1. Me old buddy from years ago was from upstate Minnesota, when the hockey team went to Dallas, he could hardly breathe. How many teams in Florida, Cal? It's a pro sport and it goes where the money is (retirees in the sun belt), but that slaps at the northern tier origins of the game. It's just not universally accepted outside of Mankato St.

2. It's boring on TV for the casual fan. the one who doesn't know the players, the history, the blue-line. Hockey is even below golf and bowling for the casual fans viewing pleasure. I still think it's ahead of soccer though, so you have a chance.

There are far more American teams than Canadian Teams. I mean you have two Florida teams. You have a hockey team in Nashville, and San Jose, Anaheim, LA.

Wow...below golf and bowling? That must hurt for all Canadians.

It's just too bad that the NHL doesn't get primetime coverage by the American media.

"It's boring on TV for the casual fan"

If you simply take the time to learn the rules of the game, you will find that hockey is incredibly entertaing on TV and ever better in person. It is truly a dynamic game and offers everything: speed, skill, precision, athletecism, grace, hitting, fighting and more. Think about it, if you didn't know the rules of football, how boring would it be?

And I'm sorry, watching golf or bowling is like watching the grass grow...boring!

They need a decent TV contract like on ESPN or something to make it work in the States.

hahah yeayea... Rogers Sportsnet and CBC doesn't really bring the action south of the border...

Why is hockey so unpopular? It's quite simple, really:

1) No TV exposure.

Every other one of the Big Four have contracts with more than one significant television network. The NFL is with FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN. The NBA is with ABC and ESPN. The MLB is with FOX, TBS, and ESPN. The NHL? There's the odd game on NBC, but past that there's the mighty Versus. A sport can't be popular if regular people can't normally see it.

2) It's on ice.

This is crucial. In the US, there seems to be a bias against hockey because it "isn't American". The fact that most of the elite players are Canadian or European only fuels this stereotype. If the NHL was played on blacktop, popularity would increase. People don't want to see a sport that's not "ours".

I think if there was an African American star from the US in hockey... with a great, semi-arrogant attitude/personality I think it would help the NHL a lot in terms of exposure in the US.

The NHL had finally made some headway, and was getting pretty popular, starting in the 90's. The lockout killed them. For a sport having to fight to keep viewers (Fox blue puck anyone?), the lockout was the worst thing to do. You saw a backlash against MLB when they had a lockout, but it took it being "the national past time" and the homerun campaign of Sosa and McGuire to bring it back. Hockey didn't have a chance to be able to do that.

It will take years to gain a foothold again (I'm actually surprised to see hockey highlights on ESPN). Wayne coming to LA and compelling rivalries (Wings-Avs) made the game popular in the US. Young phenoms (now with Crosby) and exciting matchups (Wings-Pens was the highest rated Finals in a while) will help make strides. As of right now, the NHL is remarkably below lots of sports, including NASCAR and golf (maybe even women's basketball???).

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 07:55 AM ET  11.19 by LGP: Stanley Cup Champs

"It's boring on TV for the casual fan"If you simply take the time to learn the rules of the game, you will find that hockey is incredibly entertaing on TV and ever better in person. It is truly a dynamic game and offers everything: speed, skill, precision, athletecism, grace, hitting, fighting and more. Think about it, if you didn't know the rules of football, how boring would it be? And I'm sorry, watching golf or bowling is like watching the grass grow...boring!

I never understood that gripe about it not being a "tv friendly sport". I've watched hundreds of games on tv and never felt slighted. I've turned 10 people at a time into hockey fans just by urging them to watch the game on tv at a party (Philly-Pittsburgh 2000 playoffs 5 OT game). I do think it is the limited tv exposure. As bad as Fox was covering the league when it did, at least their was a steady buzz being heard. More TV!

The non hockey fans talk to say the season is too long. That and too many games. I think alot of people have a problem with non-American stars in the game as Redwing19 had said. I know that was one of my dad's big problems with the game. "I can't pronounce half thier damn names" was the comment I would get alot of times.

It takes time to ease into a 'new sport'.

If you've grown up in a Canada or the Northern U.S., you skate as a child and learn that basic component of hockey. And if you didn't play yourself, there will at least be a certain number of your friends that did. So at least it is on the radar.
In the southern states, that initial attachment is not build in so it's tough to relate in any way.

In order to come to relate to it, you need to know others that are in to the game and can ease you in. Or you need to go to a live game and get that experience.
There is a long process that comes with learning the rules, the nuances, the players, etc.
TV exposure helps fuel and interest. A proper deal is needed.
Better marketing all-around by the league is also needed.
The game ITSELF is fantastic - It's simply a matter of getting it in front of people.
They NEED to showcase the playoffs in the same way that college Bball uses March Madness to promote the entire sport.

I truly do not understand why hockey is not more popular. Even having read the sage words of my fellow PUCKHEADS above I am not really any the wiser.

I am not Canadian, or even American, I didn't grow up knowing about hockey, I can't skate and, aside from one live game in London I only ever get to see hockey on TV. And I LOVE it. After seeing just one game I was hooked. Dazed and confused, to be sure, but also mesmerised and exhilarated and desperate to learn more. A few years down the line, and here I am still.

So. Are people just very closed-minded? Or am I, as most of my friends are eager to tell me on a fairly regular basis, a freak? I'm beginning to think that I was swapped at birth when a Canadian tourist went into premature labour while visiting my hometown, and that, somewhere up there in the northern lands, there wanders an equally out of place soccer and cricket fan ....

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 12:00 PM ET  11.19 by darkstorm

The non hockey fans talk to say the season is too long. That and too many games. I think alot of people have a problem with non-American stars in the game as Redwing19 had said. I know that was one of my dad's big problems with the game. "I can't pronounce half thier damn names" was the comment I would get alot of times.

Length is not really different from the NBA. Season is shorter compared to MLB.

I still think, having a LEBRON figure in hockey would do wonders. The Avs are a Canadian export. Crosby is a soft-spoken Canadian that doesn't CRAVE attention, which is a downside I think.

There's very little familiarity for the average American.

Personally, I think the game of hockey has too little scoring (even though the recent changes have improved the game) for being the fastest and the most flowing game. Since it's so fast, it is difficult for a casual viewer to see the small intracacies of the game? like baseball? Just throwing out another thought.