What can the NHL do to better market the sport?

Question

C'mon hockey fans, we all know we have the best fans in all of sports. but let's face it, even NASCAR markets it's sport better than hockey (yikes!!!). WHY? i'd love to hear some great ideas you might have on how the NHL can better market it's players, and it's game. and NO YOU CAN NOT SAY "MORE FIGHTING". please give serious and thoughtful answers

i agree with zaya... even when they were on espn and espn2, the only time you saw heavy advertising for upcoming games was when there was a hockey game already on

thank you to everyone for their GREAT answers. i appreciate your thoughtful insight and it's nice to be able to talk some hockey with people who know what they're talking about... -Z-

Answer 1

This new 'alignment' process they're implementing where teams will play division rivals many times, other division teams less, and one certain division is NUTZ!
They're doing this to save THEMSELVES money on travel!
Well excuse me, but if you can afford a salary cap in excess of 45 million dollars, then I'm sure something to pay travel can be worked out.
The only way to make the NHL 100% fair is to see that each team plays the other teams an equal amount of times at home and on the road.
That way, fans don't get bored of watching their team trample a lesser team all the time or get trampled themselves over and over by the same team.
Right now there are 30 teams. They could play everyone in their conference twice at home, once on the road,or vice versa, for a total of 42 games.(14 opponents X 3 games=42 games) In the other conference, they would play them twice at home and once on the road, or twice on the road and once at home depending on the previous seaon's record, for a total of 42 games again. This gives you a season of 84 games. he next season, the extra home team advantage switches to the other team.
This way, every city gets to see every other city's team. Doesn't this market the teams better? And think of the parody? You wouldn't have a team like Detroit playing Columbus 9 times. Who would go and see games where one team is sure to get pounded time and time again like 7-1, 5-0, 7-3, and 8-2? All that does is create empty seats, home team or not. I myself would get very tired of paying $150 for a seat to watch my beloved Leafs get constantly creamed by Boston or Montreal, like 9 or 10 times a year.
What an idiotic idea. The teams need to be exposed all over the NHL map!
Then, at the end of the year, so we don't see teams in one conference making the playoffs with a 29-35 and 20 record while teams in the other conference missing the postseason with a 37-30 and 17 record, we reward each division winner with a pass to the Cup run, and put all the other 24 teams into on column with the top 10 making the playoffs.
Then with those 16 teams,they are aligned according to their point totals, and you have 1 play 16, 2 play 15, 3 vs. 14, etc...etc...
I don't see how you could make the entire NHL fairer, with ALL the teams becoming known by ALL the fans in ALL the arenas!
Now THAT, in my viewpoint, would make the NHL an extremely marketable product.

Oh ya, and MORE FIGHTING!! LOLOLOLOL...kidding...only kidding...

Answer 2

Do some marketing is my first thought. I rarele see anything, & after the strike they were as dead as a "major" sport could be. They made the mistake of expanding beyond what hockey could support at the "major league" level,

Pricing also was allowed to exceed the sports popularity w the average fan. I know there are diehards, but they number no more than 10,000 in most cities & far less in others.

I had season tix for the Houston Aeros in the early 70s. I went to 7-10 Washington Capitals games every year in the late 80s, but when the bad seats went over $30 my interest cooled.

The players called the owners bluff & learned the hard way they aren't going to draw pay as obscene as the big three major sports. As a used to be into it fan I was embarassed for them upon learning bowling & poker drew far better than hockey during the strike.

Having the all star game on a weekday evening wasn't a good marketing plan. Maybe this Sunday, w no football was a better choice? I'm in DFW area so we heard a bit about the game, but still nothing to excite NEW fans.

If they want to put fannies in seats it would be a great start to give more comps, since they don't sell out that many venues w frequency.

There was a time I could name nearly every plater on our local team. Driving home from a meetng today it crossed my mind i can't name more than maybe 10-15 current players......

Answer 3

Well I don't think they can get out of the TV contract and really that is the best thing they COULD do for the sport. What they really need to do is help promote VS. Get it on all cable networks, or at least most. Yeah I get it and I have Time Warner. Seems from how some sound it is like the only one that gets it though. To market the sport people need to be able to WATCH it. Yeah I watch my Penguins on Fox Sports Pittsburgh, but how many get a local Fox Sports or such that carrys the games. On top of that how many that aren't really intrested only want to follow that one team. They need to see good games, that means they need that national broadcast. Now if they got it on a true national broadcast we could talk about who to get calling the games. I don't watch it on VS. so not sure how good their call is. The other thing is you have to leave the sport alone. You can't promote it the way you "promote" others because unlike the other sports you will lose hockey fans. NASCAR has ruined the orginal sport of STOCK CARS yet they never really lost fans. Fox tried that "glow" puck(still have nightmares of that) and the purists stopped watching those games, and no new fans came. It wasn't about "seeing the puck" that was just the excuse. It is about they don't understand the game. Perhaps get a good TV contract and EXPLAIN THE GAME BETWEEN PERIODS. Watching FSP after the game they have the Pens analyst there who explains some plays. Stopping and starting the tape to explain what is happening, then shows the tape real time again. That is a great way to TEACH the game. Then you get more fans and the purists don't get upset.

Answer 4

Most of you out there have very good ideas.But in order to do all that we have to eliminate the NHL's biggest problem:GARY BETTMAN. This asswipe has been a poison to this great sport for over a decade now. He did the same thing with the NBA before joining the NHL. Pay close attention when this monkey is introduced to a crowd in a NHL building He is booed off the ice.Days ago in Dallas at the all star game ,at the end of the game he was booed until they announced Martin Briere's name as the game's MVP.When you guys watch the tube and see a commercial with somebody you hate , will you watch or change the channel. Same thing with this piece garbage. How can fans identify to this moron when they know that as long as this jackass is the head of the NHL he will keep driving this great sport into the ground deeper and deeper. We need somebody that when fans see him they go "That's a Hockey guy" not some some bonehead who's there for his personal interest and because he needs a job. BETTMAN would drive a Mc Donald's into bankruptcy
Hey STEVE YZERMAN Are you busy for the next 20 years

Answer 5

It is my thought that the NHL could possibly be just a couple years away from "getting big" again. I think that some of the new rules have created some great fan interest and I like what I have seen from the VS. network. But it is like what a lot of people have said: not everyone gets the VS. Network. I think the States needs to adapt some of the things that have worked in canada.

-They need something similar to Hockey night in canada, and they need a very charasmatic former player commentator. Brett Hull has just started on NBC, and he is a "speak his mind" kind of guy. He should do well. But what about Jeremy Roenick in a few years?
-Another thing the league has been experimenting with is camera angles. IF anyone is like me they saw the on the boards camera at the skills competition and was very frustrated by it. Its my believe that if they will find a good system soon that will allow the video people to be ahead of the play as opposed to behind it.
-heres another idea, always show pictures of the stanley cup. then they could have documentaries of things that have happened to the stanley cup. yes, these stores are a little more mature themed, but they are interesting and funny.

- In summary, fix the tv product


Wild fans #1

Answer 6

First of all the US showed hockey on the West Coast via ESPN until the morons decided they wanted to go on strike.

Needless to say that "REALLY" pissed ESPN off, and I don't blame them. Hockey don't got it like that. Reality check! And it has suffered since then.

Secondly, the NHL needs to get rid Gary Bettman who has all but officially sissified the sport. There seems to be 3 new penalty calls created each new season. Defensemen are basically defenseless against all these knicky knack rules and calls.

People you have to understand that hockey had it's biggest fan base before Bettman became commissioner of the NHL. Ever since then it's been all down hill. He stinks!!!.

You can't market a sport that does not a have strong core folllowing and is currently losing fans. Bettman is the problem not marketing.

Once they get a new commissioner he can start with this list.
1. Lower some of these insane ticket prices
2. Bring back the old division names. Patrick, Norris, etc.
3. Get rid of at least 10 of these knicky knack calls
4. Kiss ESPN's azz in a national letter of apology and get back on it. Key!!
5. Get rid of rewarding the losing team 50% of what the winning team get's based on effort. They're grown men not kids in elementary school.
6. The shootuts have got to go. This is not soccer.
7. Create more national hockey promotions overall.

Answer 7

Honestly, I too have been turned off from the NHL since the lockout. And the fact that the Ducks are the leading team this year isn't entertaining to me, a loyal Kings fan from 1991-2004.

The NHL made a mistake overexpanding into the warm states. It should reduce the number of teams, go back into the small but loyal markets in the northern US and Canada, and bring back the old school rules that gave the sport the unique combination of fast and rough. The new rules have made the game too soft. It was the grinding and perserverance of NHL players that was so impressive and compelling to watch.

Creating another deal with ESPN also helps!

Answer 8

well first of US needs a T.V station that will televise the games from coast to coast like we have here in Canada with are hockey night in Canada (HNIC) which would be a great big boost for American viewers (ABC which doesnt cover NFL anymore or NBC). I remember when FOX started to do NHL games they didn't start till almost February and they would only televise on Sunday afternoon and they use to have an old NFL commentator, commentating the NHL games which wasn't a good idea. hockey is fine here in Canada, and most spots in the Northern parts of the US like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, this are hockey city's in the US that don't need the attention. the NHL just needs to really get it out there and really try and sell the game more down south for this sport to be on top. Yes there is allot of rules to learn, but just don't give up on this game cause you don't understand it or just can't skate. learn the history of this game and the passion that these players put in to there game and if you do give it a chance then you will see why hockey is clearly the best sport in the world.



GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 9

How about they market on a TV station that everybody in the US gets. I am from Pittsburgh and I know of a couple cable providers that don't carry VS. I am lucky enough to have it. Every time the Pens play on VS I have people asking if they can come over to watch the game. The Pens have a great marking plan but if you don't live around the area you will never see it. Hockey also needs to market there product when the games aren't on. I always see ads for it when they are playing and none when they aren't playing. How are you suppose to attract people to watch hockey when you don't show the general public who aren't watching hockey the product?

Answer 10

Many components pass into this. i'm speaking from a united states of america point of view, because of the fact Canada is hockey. NHLs loss of an excellent television deal would not help. maximum human beings don't comprehend the game and don't have get admission to to a community rink. alongside with this, it is plenty extra high priced to play than Basketball. I even have heard by way of casual followers that it is annoying to maintain on with the game on television, and it is in basic terms approximately a actuality that the game is extra advantageous stay. The NHL prolonged to at present in my view to markets that are luke heat approximately hockey.