could one team bring back a large fanbase?

Question

what team do you think could bring some attention to hockey if they won the cup? Or at least had a great season, and is it possible for one team to bring in a larger fanbase?

Answer 1

A team with history in the league winning attracts the most peripheral attention and press from the non-hockey community. However, a newer franchise having success promotes more focused and intense awarenes within that community.

Recent examples would be Florida in 96, Tampa in 04 and Carolina last year. The problem in each of those cases was the teams' inability to solidify that interest and awareness with their on-ice performances the FOLLOWING year.

Answer 2

I think the question is about hockey as a whole. Realistically, there's only one team that can do that, and that's the New York Rangers. Because, they play in New York. I hate to admit that, but it's true.

Remember in 1994 when the Rangers won? The Cup was on David Letterman, hockey was the subject of some national buzz because the movers and shakers in New York were paying attention. You think that's going to happen when the Cup is won by Carolina or Tampa Bay? Naturally, hockey then missed the first half of the 1994-95 season with a labor dispute and killed almost all of that buzz.

A Toronto or Montreal Cup would spark interest in Canada, but that's clearly not the same since Canadians are already paying attention. The other franchises could cause a regional boom, but the Rangers are the only one that could cause a ripple effect.

Answer 3

The Capitals did a pretty good job, for me at least. I hated all kinds of sports until I saw the Caps play, and the announcers are a load of fun. I can't watch most of the Stanley Cup games because of how annoying the announcers are.

A lot of people say Pittsburgh...but I don't know so much about that. They don't really think "Pittsburgh"; they think "Crosby".

As far as the Sabres can go...they can go anywhere so long as I never see them again. I hate them. Oh, I used to loathe the Pittsburgh Penguins...but that was a friendly rivalry. I hate Buffalo so much. There's a reason for this, by the by. Several, actually:

1. When Ovechkin hit Briere, it didn't look that bad and Briere got back on the ice immediately afterwards. Ovechkin was kicked out of the game. I seemed to remember seeing Ovechkin get speared in the balls last season and whoever did it didn't even get a serious penalty, let alone expulsion.

2. Some of the Sabre fans came to the game via bus. They went to bars before the game and came in drunk. They then bought more beer to get more drunk.

3. The Sabres fans had knives confiscated.

4. The Sabres fans were spitting at Capitals fans.

5. The Sabres fans got into so many fights and caused so many disruptions that entire rows of them were moved around or kicked out.

6. Sabres fans behind me couldn't stop swearing, even though there was a little kid in the area.

7. After the game, I went to visit Ovechkin's fan site, since the team had won and I was pretty psyched to get a chance to talk to the star player. Instead, I was greeted by a bunch of Sabres fans going nuts about the Briere hit. They were threatening him with death, hoping that he was injured, hoping he was kicked out of the NHL, etc.

So...it's not the Penguins, since it's not really that fun of a team to watch (besides Crosby and Malkin). It's definitely not the Sabres, since their growth spurt in their fan base has been that of thugs and freaks that would stab someone and fight them over a game.

Senators, Avalanche, Lightnings, Hurricanes, and the Capitals. They could all gather a big fan base. The Lightnings just need to get it together and win another cup, the Senators might win the cup, the Avalance have Sakic, the Hurricanes count as 'under dogs' (and America loves under dogs), and the Capitals never disappoint with entertainment...plus they convinced someone like me to adore hockey.

Oh, and I agree with the earlier post that pointed towards the Rangers, just on location alone. NYC has enough news stations that a Stanley Cup victory there would generate a lot of publicity. I was in New York on a trip, and we got in right after a game that the Rangers won. The streets were flooded with Rangers fans. So yes, I can see them getting a massive fan base.

Answer 4

I think a lot of people here are misunderstanding your question. The way I read your question is you're wondering if any team can bring attention to the NHL by being successful, correct? To that, I would have to say a team with an exciting style and young players, and that basically means the Penguins.

I don't want to offend fans of either team, but the dominance of the Devils and Red Wings between 1995 and 2002, since both teams played a suffocating (and many call it boring) defensive style, whether it be "the trap" (as the Devils referred to it) or "left wing lock" (as the Wings called it) hurt the overall popularity of hockey. When the game plan involves scoring the first goal and relying on defense and goaltending to make it stand, people equate hockey with soccer from an entertainment perspective. And we all know how soccer has NOT caught on with mainstream America beyond people rooting for Team USA or the nations of their ethnic backgrounds in the World Cup. I think an Ottawa/Anaheim final, if the NHL can get people outside those two markets to watch it, can show everybody that hockey is an exciting game and could boost the popularity.

Answer 5

In terms of bring more attention to the whole league i agree that a young attacking oriented team would be the best bet to attract a larger fan base. One team won't automatically increase interest across the continent but if enough teams were to adopt that style of play and do it well then interest in hockey would increase. One team that has the most potential for increasing their fan base with a good team is Boston. All of New England follows Boston sports and most New Englanders are hockey fans. The Bruins constant disappointing results has alienated many fans. With an ownership committed to providing an exciting product on the ice many fans would come back to the Bruins.

Answer 6

Philadelphia, and here is why. They have one of the biggest fanbases in hockey, they are a large market team, and they have not won a cup since the 70's. That is just the hockey reasons. The biggest reason is that the city of Philadelphia has not won a professional title since the 83 Sixers. So that is 24 years without any championship. The city is starving for a championship in a major professional sport. They will embrace any of it's team's championship. They were going to have a parade down Broad St for Smarty Jones (Philly horse), if he would have won the Triple Crown for God's sake!

Answer 7

From what I understand the Flyers , Bruins, or Pens. When I see games in those arenas there is no exitement when they used to be some of the loudest barns in the NHL. There has not been allot to cheer about espeacially since the lockout

. I live near San Jose and Bay Area are the biggest fair wheather fans in the NHL when there good they have a love affair w/ the Sharks when not who cares for proof see the Warriors.

Answer 8

Pittsburgh Penguins

Answer 9

I would say either Pittsburg or Buffalo. Even though both have a great fanbase, I could see it grow by the team winning the cup.

Answer 10

Pittsburgh Penguins!!!