Solution to Hockey?

Question

I've been a huge fan of hockey for years and still don't understand why the ratings are bad? why Nike stopped sponsoring the NHL? Why ESPN refuses to play hockey games on their channel? Don't get me wrong Im a fan of all sports and have watched every sport and i have to say Hockey beats basketball, and baseball but is still ranked below them. What can the NHL do to make their ratings higher? I feel like their not doing anything and just accepting the fact that they will always be after baseball, basketball, and football.

Personally i think they should get rid of the pointless teams that are in the South just embarrassing the name of Hockey like the Panthers. And throw them in the North where Hockey is actually considered a sport. What do they need another team in Florida for?
Any suggestions on what the NHL should do?

I'm saying they don't need 2 teams in Florida, nothing against the Lightnings, just the Panthers.

These are the teams that i think should relocate and why they should.

The Capitals- Couldnt sell out a game with Jagr one of the most exciting players in the
NHL. And now they have Ovechkin fans are still not coming out to see them.

Predators-reported crowds of less than 15,000 seven times, including three straight this month.

Panthers-underachieving/rebuilding team is poised to miss the playoffs for the eighth time in the past nine playoff years. The question is, will anyone notice? No. But they'd sure notice in just about anywhere else you'd want to stick this team.

Bet fans in Houston, or Kansas City, Waterloo, Ontario, Quebec, or Hamilton would appreciate these squads a little bit more.

Answer 1

I think there are many reasons that Hockey has bad ratings. Certainly most of it stems from the fact that the vast majority of Americans never played the game as kids since not every town in the US has youth hockey but they pretty much all have basketball, football and baseball programs. It's mostly due to the cost of ice time or the lack of a playing surface where alot of Americans live. Since most Americans never played the sport the don't tend to watch it.

Nike stopped sponsoring the NHL in part because they are trying to sell Bauer and get out of hockey.

I think the best thing the NHL can do to help get ratings better is to help youth hockey anywhere it can because if you can get the kids to love the sport we love so much then the parents just may follow and when the kids grow up they will already be hockey fans.

As far as teams in the south go...Florida still has better attendance than some original 6 teams and lets face it, Florida is a heavily populated state and in towns where NHL teams are located youth hockey tends to get a boost and by having the teams down there it can only help in the long run as long as someone can manage to keep the teams in place long enough to make money but it's still tough. Even in the northern US hockey isn't beating football and basketball so all we can do is try to help by supporting our teams and youth hockey however we can.

Answer 2

Vinny, vinny, vinny. I think you have painted yourself into a corner. I KNOW that you have never been to a game in the Southeast division, because you would never posted your opinion (just the question). The Islanders had the worst attendance in the entire NHL last year. I am sure that you would not have considered "getting rid" of them, or considered them a "pointless team" or an "embarrassment". I am not going to grill you, I just think that you should do a little more homework. Since this is Yahoo Answers, I will answer this for you:
ESPN does not have a contract with the NHL, and many fans think that is a good thing, because if there were a great game on, ESPN for some stupid reason would decide to televise the 1999 World Poker Championship instead. NHL is about 3rd or 4th on their televising list of priorities.

You seem to be really worried about ratings and sponsorship. Keep in mind that those mean nothing, if you can't get butts in the seats.

As for suggestions: More game pack options, more players/staff functions with children in the area, like speaking at schools (if kids want to go to the game, then the parents will follow), and more advertising.

Answer 3

#1 I do not believe you know what you are talking about. First off the Caps are at or near capacity nearly every game AFTER football is over. The Redskins draw the money until the winter then those who are not into Wizards games (which also sell out all the time) they are at Caps games. How do I know? I spent many a day in the (MCI)Verizon Centre watching the Caps when I was living in DC. When they had Jagr (blagh) they were also in a rebuilding period that they JUST NOW are pulling out of.
#2 KANSAS FREAKING CITY?????!!!! HOUSTON???!!!! You are a yokel that has no clue at all.
I also RECENTLY lived in Kansas City for a while. The fans have TOLD the city and the management of Sprint centre that THEY EMPHATICLY do not want the NHL there. The ONLY thing that would come close to doing good in K C is the NBA. Those inbred hill billys could care less about the NHL or foreigners and they really HATE Canadians there. They also can not sell a Royals game beyond 65% for the past 7 years, and you think hockey would do good there. Houston is just a bigger version of KC, so no go there either.

With the exceptions of the Lightning and the Stars, ALL other hockey should go bye bye from the southern US.
Move Carolina to Winnipeg. Move Thrashers to Quebec City. Move Nashville to Hamilton. Dissolve Phoenix and Florida. Then not only will those teams be making cash hand over fist again, but then the NHL will rebound out of the slump it is in.

Answer 4

The main reason is the fact that the NHL has made it so difficult to find on TV. While I appreciate that they were trying to grow with a new network, It is now time to eat some crow and BEG ESPN to take them back.

Just to give you an idea of how far it has fallen in the sports pantheon of America, I was watching ESPN news overnight, when they show the same one every half hour. It was the night before the World Series started and there were 6 NHL games on that night. As a matter of fact, excluding preseason NBA basketball, it was the only sporting venture on that night. The first segment was all about the World Series. After the commercial break, there is a story about how Kobe wants out of LA. That is when the unthinkable happened...they showed highlights from 3 NBA preseason games. I say again...PRESEASON GAMES!!! After coming back from the second (of three) commercial breaks, They showed more preseason basketball highlights before they got to the hockey. It was the Rangers-Penguins game and they showed two pieces of tape before giving the score. That was it. The only other thing they had associated with hockey was the very last thing showing everyone that scored a goal, not the actual goals mind you, just telling us who scored them. ESPN actually believes that more people are interested in preseason basketball than in hockey. That is a pretty big problem

Answer 5

Ok Vinnie. I am a Panther fan. We have plenty of fans and our attendance is fine. As said above better some of the Northern teams. We are smack in the middle in those figures. So all of you quit tring to get rid of a team that has attendance and is making money just because of location. That is highly stupid. Next The fan base is growing slowly. I take this time as part of the ebbs and flow of fandom. This is our ebb. Basketball had it when hockey was popular and now it is our turn. It will get better. Nike did sell off thier hockey interested that is thier excuse. ESPN didn't accept the contract to play any NHL games. That may or may not change anytime soon. There are always the rumors floating around that they will be back on ESPN. This is the waiting time for our sport and just enjoy watching the best sport around. And if the Panthers are so embassing how come they came from behind last night and beat the Hurricanes? Yet Tapma got their behinds handed to them last night by the Devils 6-1, (Sorry TB) And you guys are picking on the Panthers?

Answer 6

Even as an American, I can understand and accept that hockey is a regional sport and that where a fan is from has very little to do with it.

I think hockey has made a mistake in trying to become a nation-wide product. I don't like that term but it is a part of the problem. Hockey never had trouble becoming popular in Canada, Boston, Minneapolis, etc., because it was popular on its own, nor was the game being forced into non-trditional markets as it is now.

I don't think it is wise to go into a region where hockey would never have evolved until the Ice Age but I can understand the business end of such a strategy.

My opinion is that the amount of teams can be reduced by 15 in such a way that some are then merged in other cities that don't currently have one. Winnipeg, Quebec, and Milwaukee would be my choices but this scenario is very unlikely given that one would have to overcome lawsuits by the NHLPA over lost jobs, and the duration of time required to convince 15 owners that their ventures are no longer required or desired.

All things being as they are I think the best solution for fans is to wait it out and let nature take its course. In time, the teams that aren't in markets where they are appreciated will eventually move or dissolve.

Answer 7

I somewhat agree with Wings fan ... and here's why. First off, it would be nice if ESPN showed highlights like the good old B.L. days (B.L. for before lockout). B.L., hockey was bigger than basketball was. It was definitely on the rise during the 90's. But, since the lockout, down down down. Anyways, the highlights would be nice, and more games televised and easier to watch. But other than these things, I'm glad hockey is less popular, and I love hockey more than any other sport.

My reasoning is this ... with hockey less popular, when I want to but tickets, it is far easier to acquire them. I'm not fighting the dorks that know nothing about our game because it is the "hip" sport. And ticket prices would be through the roof if hockey was as popular as football(american) or baseball. I love the fact that hockey is the best sport, but flies under the radar of the average "sport fan".

I think the reason why hockey is unpopular in the US is because ...

1)Most Americans aren't raised watching/playing it like people further north are.
2)The NHL is currently run by a baffoon (or baboon, take your pick)
3)The lockout killed all of the momentum the sport had.

But, I think hockey has all the potential to be huge in the US .. its the fastest sport played, its extremely adrenalizing, and it is a physical game. These aspects make it perfect for a fan favorite. Plus, there's fighting! What's not to love?

Answer 8

What is with all the Canes bashing. If you have never been to a game at a certain place then what right do you have to bash that teams fans? How are teams in the south embarrassing the name of hockey? It is not the attendance that embarrasses hockey. Remember you can't blame a city or its fans for having a team. It is league management that put the team where it is.

Answer 9

Now look here, there are teams in the south that have great fans. I am a big fan of the Lightning, they are my 3rd fave team. They have a huge fanbase. Teams like LA, San Jose, and Dallas all have great fans. LA is a historic team, you can't move those teams! There needs to be some changes, but some teams must stay. Maybe get rid of the Panthers and maybe the Hurricanes. Predators and Thrashers can go too. But NOT the Lightning.

Answer 10

I think a good start would be for the sport to banish mindless fans who don't think hockey has a decent following in places like Florida, Carolina, or California... because they do... but I disgress...

Hockey is a sport best watched live. It doesn't translate well on TV even IF it gets televised. If i was a NHL owner in a small market that wasn't selling out home games... like San Jose... err, they sell out... or Anaheim... err, they sell out as well... um... OK, Nashville... If I owned the Predators I'd let anyone who wants to see a game from the 10 minute mark of the second period until the end of the game in for free.

Fill those empty seats and let people experience the game live. Hockey is the best spectator sport in the world, but it's expensive. Let more people watch the live game and the game will sell itself.