Is Hockey unpopular because people just don't understand it? If so:?

Question

If so, how can we educate the public so they will understand and enjoy this sport. There is so much more action than many other sports on TV.

OK. i admit, hockey always interested me, but it wasn't until I played EA Sports, NHL on Sega Genesis in 1992 when I actually understood the game. Eversince then, I Loved the Sport.
How do we educate the public?

Answer 1

Hockey is very popular, but if you want to educate the public more, talk about it to some of your friends who don't watch hockey or even some random people.

Answer 2

Ultimately you are correct about why the sport has not had more traction in the US. However, most US sports fans don't understand hockey because they've never played it.

If you go to Michigan, Minnesota and Massachusetts, you'll find deeply rooted and passionate fans because hockey has been woven into the fabric of their local sports culture. For that phenomenon to take place elsewhere, we'll need to wait a generation or two.

Dallas, for instance, has been one of the biggest contributors to the growth of hockey participation in the US. Since the Stars moved there some 15 years ago, rinks have sprouted up around the city and in the state and their youth teams have been qualifying for regionals and nationals in the last few years.

If that phenomenon is repeated and nurtured elsewhere, the average awareness and understanding of the sport will grow significantly in the next 20-40 years. That may seem long, but it pales in comparison to the Century long romance Canada has had with the sport.

Answer 3

I'm with ya zamdriver, there's not much that's more boring than Baseball, well maybe Basketball, but anyway, I too liked ESPN's attempt to educate fans.

But as many have said, between the cost to get in to the sport, and the rather regional popularity, many people in the states don't know much about hockey and therefore don't like to watch it. That is why I get upset when people say the NHL should pull teams out of the southern and western states. How do you expect hockey to EVER become more popular by shrinking it's exposure?

BTW, even though I live in Texas, I grew up in NY and have been a hockey fan for 40+ years. I feel al little hockey starved down here, even though we have an AHL team. But that's OK, I'm flying to CA to see game 5 of the Stanley Cup playoffs w/ my brother! (I feel pretty certain it will be needed).

Answer 4

It's partly unpopular b/c it's $$ to play. Compared to other sports it's really $$$. Therfore, most kids don't grow up watching and /or playing the sport. Instead, they go for what they play themselves, such as soccer or baseball.
The other factors that make it unpopular are lack of TV coverage. As you stated, ppl don't get it. But, that's a lame excuse. I started watching hockey when I was in high school. I didn't understand most of the rules, but as time goes on, you pick it up.
Currently, some schools are offering field hockey as a PE course. That is helping. Some teachers, like me, get the kids into it by telling the kids about the sport. A good comp is it's like soccer on ice.

Answer 5

First of all, the NHL needs to not anger it's remaining customers. Did anyone know that the Center Ice Package for DishNetwork blacked out all games with the exception of two every night the first week of the playoffs and then turned to one by the second week! Nice job NHL bet I will never buy that product again! Education is always the key. The NHL needs to swallow it's bottom line for a much more promising future. The NHL playoffs should be simply easier to find, especially in those states in which have pro teams. Every year pick a few pilot locations in which to air a few games and all the playoffs. The NHL needs to be more accessible.

Answer 6

I think you might be onto something about not understanding it. I run into fans on here that just don't know what they are talking about when it comes to player's abilities, anaylsis, and rules. All that matters is if their team won or not, and no one even knows if outside of winning do they really still follow the team.

I think it also has to do with advertising and contracts and availability. NFL has 3 big networks that televise it, MLB has 4, NBA has 3, and then NHL has 2 (VS, NBC, and then regional coverage, but that's not alot).

I think some NHL players should step up, get into the lime light and promote the NHL at movies, award shows, commercial advertising, events like other sports athletes do....but they aren't as well known (which they should work on as much as they can), they aren't as desired, and alot of them are from other countries so they aren't here or are more celebrated in their homeland.

Answer 7

I think you have a good point. I live in Buffalo and have been watching the Sabres my entire life. I don't find it hard to understand, but I guess if you haven't watched it for a long time it may not make sense. One contrasting point though, there is no NASCAR anywhere near where I live, but I started watching a few years ago and really enjoy it. I really don't get everything that is going on, but I still find in interesting. And no, I don't just watch it for the crashes, just like I don't just watch hockey for fighting.

I completely blame TV coverage. ESPN will only show a few minutes per sportscast. Even playoff coverage is relegated to later in the show, after other meaningless games.

Answer 8

Find out areas that have successful marketing, as a Penguins fan I'd say look to places like Pittsburgh(which is one of the biggest U.S. Markets), and find out what they are doing. Pittsburgh has Fox Sports Pittsburgh to broadcast MOST of the games. So we don't need to try to find VS, or some other channel that we may have to pay for if it is even available. That is another great form of marketing. Sure you need to get cable but most people have it. So people can WATCH the games which makes it more popular. As to getting people to understand it that would be harder. I'd say having people that can analyze it after the game, again going by what I know from the Pens, will help. Next time they watch a game they will be armed with the knowledge of what to watch. They will start to know how to watch the play rather then watch the puck.

Answer 9

Although it seemed juvenile to many old school fans at the time, ESPN made a solid attempt to educate people on the game by broadcasting certain games with a "NHL rules" theme. They would use pop up graphics at the bottom of the screen to explain much of what was going on and what the announcers were saying. I thought it was a really good idea and should have been utilized further.
Other than that, I think it is up to existing fans to expose people to the sub-plots in each game as well as the great playoff traditions.

Answer 10

its unpopular because people dont grow up playing it, I mean if you live in Florida or California, what are the chances you're gonna play ice hockey? its usually baseball or football, or even basketball. Hockey's problem is that its classified as a rich mans sport because of the cost of the equipment, my goalie pads cost $700, you could fund an entire little league for that amount...

Look at Soccer's popularity around the world because all you need is a ball and 2 objects to form a net...its played by even the poorest people, which is why its universally popular