Cup ratings take precipitous fall

really?
The Devils/Kings isn't a marquee matchup?

I don't give a rat's arse about the ratings. I want to see 4 or 5 more games or intense hockey and I could care less who else is watching.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:56 AM ET  06.01 by Rex Racer

I don't give a rat's arse about the ratings. I want to see 4 or 5 more games or intense hockey and I could care less who else is watching.

the people that watch hockey are going to watch this. bettman and his ilk have to realise that efforts to "bring in the casual fan" are pointless and indeed detrimental to the game.
Thisis not the NFL/NBA where random mutton heads will tune in. I would be willing to bet that most hockey fans...real fans...are more well versed in their sport of choice than other fans. We like the game, just let us watch it...we don't need "foxtrack" or robots or "inside the glass" (which adds exactly nothing to the viewing experience, by the way) or face time or any of it. Play the game, be consistent, put a good product out there, and we (the viewers) will come.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:12 AM ET  06.01 by Spiny Norman

the people that watch hockey are going to watch this.

Are they?

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:12 AM ET  06.01 by Spiny Norman

the people that watch hockey are going to watch this. bettman and his ilk have to realise that efforts to "bring in the casual fan" are pointless and indeed detrimental to the game.Thisis not the NFL/NBA where random mutton heads will tune in. I would be willing to bet that most hockey fans...real fans...are more well versed in their sport of choice than other fans. We like the game, just let us watch it...we don't need "foxtrack" or robots or "inside the glass" (which adds exactly nothing to the viewing experience, by the way) or face time or any of it. Play the game, be consistent, put a good product out there, and we (the viewers) will come.

great first game.......hope all are as intense.....

Did I miss Game 1?

They may be the two biggest TV markets, but they are definitely not the two biggest hockey markets. LA was 15th in home attendance, but they are listed as selling 100% of the seats. NJ was 24th in home attendance and they were listed as selling 87% of the seats.

Game 1 was a very good game but the NHL is stupid. Wait for the rating for games 3 and 4, which are not even on NBC, they are on the NBC Sports network. Everybody has NBC, much less have NBC Sports.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:12 AM ET  06.01 by Spiny Norman

the people that watch hockey are going to watch this. bettman and his ilk have to realise that efforts to "bring in the casual fan" are pointless and indeed detrimental to the game.Thisis not the NFL/NBA where random mutton heads will tune in. I would be willing to bet that most hockey fans...real fans...are more well versed in their sport of choice than other fans. We like the game, just let us watch it...we don't need "foxtrack" or robots or "inside the glass" (which adds exactly nothing to the viewing experience, by the way) or face time or any of it. Play the game, be consistent, put a good product out there, and we (the viewers) will come.

It should be promoted as Jersey Shore vs The Housewives of LA. Then the casual fans that the Buttgoblin so cherishes might watch.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:12 AM ET  06.01 by Spiny Norman

the people that watch hockey are going to watch this. bettman and his ilk have to realise that efforts to "bring in the casual fan" are pointless and indeed detrimental to the game.Thisis not the NFL/NBA where random mutton heads will tune in. I would be willing to bet that most hockey fans...real fans...are more well versed in their sport of choice than other fans. We like the game, just let us watch it...we don't need "foxtrack" or robots or "inside the glass" (which adds exactly nothing to the viewing experience, by the way) or face time or any of it. Play the game, be consistent, put a good product out there, and we (the viewers) will come.

I agree as I actually don't like when a sport gets too popular. I love the NFL, but its gotten so damn popular, there are soooo many commercials compared to 20 years. I swear every NFL game is atleast 3 1/2 hours and some hit 4 hours for primetime games.

Hockey will always be a niche sport with some great fanbases in certain cities: Detroit, Philly, Boston, etc. Places like NJ and LA will never draw big ratings because they have never had big fanbases. That is why expansion and the 'southern experiment' by Bettman had such negative effects on the sport, because they just added more fanbases that will never be big hockey towns.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:12 AM ET  06.01 by Spiny Norman

the people that watch hockey are going to watch this. [B]bettman and his ilk have to realise that efforts to "bring in the casual fan" are pointless and indeed detrimental to the game.[/B] This is not the NFL/NBA where random mutton heads will tune in. I would be willing to bet that most hockey fans...real fans...are more well versed in their sport of choice than other fans. We like the game, just let us watch it...we don't need "foxtrack" or robots or "inside the glass" (which adds exactly nothing to the viewing experience, by the way) or face time or any of it. Play the game, be consistent, put a good product out there, and we (the viewers) will come.

Exactly, pandering to non-traditional fans in the hopes of winning them over has given us such gems as the shootout, 4 on 4 overtimes, the instigator rule, taking the red line out etc, etc.

I'm all for having new fans come on board to watch this great sport................but not at the expense of changing the rules and turning into soccer on ice.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:42 AM ET  06.01 by Flyers1986-87

Hockey will always be a niche sport with some great fanbases in certain cities: Detroit, Philly, Boston, etc. Places like NJ and LA will never draw big ratings because they have never had big fanbases.

Let's not forget our brethren north of the border when speaking of great fan bases.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:42 AM ET  06.01 by Flyers1986-87

I agree as I actually don't like when a sport gets too popular. I love the NFL, but its gotten so damn popular, there are soooo many commercials compared to 20 years. I swear every NFL game is atleast 3 1/2 hours and some hit 4 hours for primetime games. Hockey will always be a niche sport with some great fanbases in certain cities: Detroit, Philly, Boston, etc. Places like NJ and LA will never draw big ratings because they have never had big fanbases. That is why expansion and the 'southern experiment' by Bettman had such negative effects on the sport, because they just added more fanbases that will never be big hockey towns.

true about football, and basket ball is getting as annoying
But I wouldn't call it a "niche`" sport. Lacrosse is a niche sport. I think hockey has a very unique case in the consciousness because of that. It is of course far more popular up north than here in the US. (we will never fully adopt anything that wasn't invented here.) Sort of the way Baseball is here. Yeah, baseball is popular in Canada....but not like hockey. So why not accept that and leave it at that? Does everything have to become gargantuan? This is why guys like Bettman (aside from a lot of others) drive me batty

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:49 AM ET  06.01 by Rex Racer

Exactly, pandering to non-traditional fans in the hopes of winning them over has given us such gems as the shootout, 4 on 4 overtimes, the instigator rule, taking the red line out etc, etc.I'm all for having new fans come on board to watch this great sport................but not at the expense of changing the rules and turning into soccer on ice.

right.
As I said before, we hockey fans understand the game....those that don't...that's okay, everyone doesn't have to like everything...a sad product of the 24/7 world we live in now

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:56 AM ET  06.01 by Rex Racer

I don't give a rat's arse about the ratings. I want to see 4 or 5 more games or intense hockey and I could care less who else is watching.

I never understood this being a big deal unless you are the TV network. The NHL has been #4 on the lists of sports in the US for decades now. Why is this shocking news every year?

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:29 AM ET  06.01 by Burgh-Fan

They may be the two biggest TV markets, but they are definitely not the two biggest hockey markets. LA was 15th in home attendance, but they are listed as selling 100% of the seats. NJ was 24th in home attendance and they were listed as selling 87% of the seats.

Thank You.

NY could give a **** less about the Devils; only real hockey fans will watch regardless of the teams in the final.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 09:54 AM ET  06.01 by Spiny Norman

right.As I said before, we hockey fans understand the game....those that don't...that's okay, everyone doesn't have to like everything...a sad product of the 24/7 world we live in now

Unfortunately, this simple fact has never settled in with the people running the league or the owners. They still think they can make the NHL as big as the NFL or baseball. It isn't going to happen, so maximize the support where the fanbase is strongest. Common sense does not reign at the league offices.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:42 AM ET  06.01 by Flyers1986-87

I agree as I actually don't like when a sport gets too popular. I love the NFL, but its gotten so damn popular, there are soooo many commercials compared to 20 years. I swear every NFL game is atleast 3 1/2 hours and some hit 4 hours for primetime games. Hockey will always be a niche sport with some great fanbases in certain cities: Detroit, Philly, Boston, etc. Places like NJ and LA will never draw big ratings because they have never had big fanbases. That is why expansion and the 'southern experiment' by Bettman had such negative effects on the sport, because they just added more fanbases that will never be big hockey towns.

Fantasy killed your NFL.

Now any half witted idiot can spew stats about some subsitute tail back on Arizona Cardinals....

It has gone from sport to big business

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:49 AM ET  06.01 by Rex Racer

Exactly, pandering to non-traditional fans in the hopes of winning them over has given us such gems as the shootout, 4 on 4 overtimes, the instigator rule, taking the red line out etc, etc.I'm all for having new fans come on board to watch this great sport................but not at the expense of changing the rules and turning into soccer on ice.

Bingo.