Bandwagon Critical Mass - When will it Happen?

[SA16]

I just back from a run through Prospect park and I saw 3 guys running/cycling with Rangers caps on.

I also noticed in the NHL store today that the Rangers "team" Tshirt with everyones name and number has sold out.

Link to this shirt? I would like to buy one if it becomes available again.

 

[trilobyte]

Good article on Brad Richards
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...ith-series-lead-on-canadiens/article18764797/

 

[RangersFan]

Howard Stern actually took a call from a Rangers fan today, and I figured he'd hang up like he does on many callers instead he went on for 5 minutes and actually talked about MSL's loss of mother and the streak since. Color me shocked. As any Stern fan knows, he isn't a sports fan at all, knows very little. Though he has become a regular at Knicks games and sometimes attends Rangers games. I think his friendship with Avery and other celebrities off the ice had broadened his horizons. Being a Stern and Rangers fan it got me excited.

edit: also the setup for the call made it even better. Howard often gets fed up when callers don't get their points out or are annoying, he is easily agitated so he often hangs up on callers. So a guy called in who Howard hung up on earlier in the show and he was yelling at Howard why did you hang up on me, why are you so easily agitated. Howard was like look I don't have time to sit there for you to get your point out, but here's your another shot go ahead, what do you have to say. The caller tried to be a smart ass and was like "what do you think about the Rangers neutral zone play, and standing up the rush at the blue line." And the best was instead of hanging up on him and yelling at him he went on about the Rangers playoff run, it was great.

decided to upload it just because: https://soundcloud.com/thenyrfan/howardsternrangers52014 it's even funnier when you realize that the caller is "sour shoes" a regular caller, who's actually using a fake voice and calling in on 2 phones. He's an idiot savant with an incredible talent for music and eidetic memory of sports trivia and dates. here's the extended clip where Howard busts him for calling in on 2 phones: https://soundcloud.com/thenyrfan/howardsternsourshoes52014

 

[BBKers]

Pretty sure I am the only NYR fan on The Koster Islands but certain there are bandwagon possibilities even here amongst the fishbillies

 

[Tawnos]

Well, all of the people I work with who are remotely interested in hockey are on the bandwagon.

But then again, none of them have anyone else to root for and I barely talk about anything else.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I was going to clarify that in my post, but it's little complicated to explain. You are bang on - Chicago USED to be a hockey graveyard (season tickets at 3,400, no TV, no interest). But through new ownership (Bill Wirtz's son Rocky), solid management, astute drafting, clever trades, great marketing, and lots of exposure, they've resurrected that franchise into one of the best in the NHL; one that now leads the league in attendance and garners MASSIVE local TV ratings. It's actually one of the biggest turnarounds and "good news" stories in sports.

I remember hearing someone on the boards saying that the post-Bill Wirtz era was almost the sports equivalent of the collapse of the Soviet Union. That's apparently how drastic the culture change and managerial turnaround was after his death; at the rock bottom point of his ownership, the AHL Wolves were at times outselling Hawks tickets.

 

[trilobyte]

I remember hearing someone on the boards saying that the post-Bill Wirtz era was almost the sports equivalent of the collapse of the Soviet Union. That's apparently how drastic the culture change and managerial turnaround was after his death; at the rock bottom point of his ownership, the AHL Wolves were at times outselling Hawks tickets.

Don't forget Dale Tallon's role in creating the present era Blackhawks, but yes, not having an awful owner like Wirtz Sr. made progress possible.

 

[GFiP*]

I don't take bandwagon fans seriously. I just want to pat them on the head.

 

[Petey Pucks]

I was going to clarify that in my post, but it's little complicated to explain. You are bang on - Chicago USED to be a hockey graveyard (season tickets at 3,400, no TV, no interest). But through new ownership (Bill Wirtz's son Rocky), solid management, astute drafting, clever trades, great marketing, and lots of exposure, they've resurrected that franchise into one of the best in the NHL; one that now leads the league in attendance and garners MASSIVE local TV ratings. It's actually one of the biggest turnarounds and "good news" stories in sports.

Local rights holder WGN-TV, which just signed a new 3 year contract with the Hawks, set a hockey ratings record earlier this year. Their Jan. 5 game against San Jose(!) saw more than 275,000 Chicago-area households tune in. That is massive.

The Blackhawks averaged about a 4.5 rating on CSN this season, according to the team. Comparing this number to the Cubs, they averaged a 1.7 rating last season on CSN. So the simple answer is Chicago was a dormant hockey market, now it's vibrant.

Yup...exactly..I don't think I have ever seen such a turn around in North American sports franchises in such a short period of time like the Blackhawks

I remember hearing someone on the boards saying that the post-Bill Wirtz era was almost the sports equivalent of the collapse of the Soviet Union. That's apparently how drastic the culture change and managerial turnaround was after his death; at the rock bottom point of his ownership, the AHL Wolves were at times outselling Hawks tickets.

sad but very true

 

[KingWantsCup]

I'm in central jersey. Definitely seeing more Rangers gear than usual. The funniest one was this customer I saw today with a Rangers shirt on, so obviously I inquired if he saw the last game. He said no and that he moved here from the UK just 7 months ago and started following the team casually shortly thereafter. I told him that he picked a hell of a time to hop on the band wagon and that this playoff run is far from normal.

 

[DuaneHewitt]

i have a few friends that have jumped on the wagon since the 2012 run. also a few relatives that are much more interested in baseball and football that definitely pay attention in the playoffs.

i don't mind the extra support, but when someone calls lundqvist henry, i want to choke them.

the chant is hen-rik, not hen-ry. fail.

 

[JRinNYC]

I've seen posts on my FB feed with people talking about the past few playoff games who never talk about hockey or even follow it. I don't mind the bandwagon fans too much. It helps grow the sport and as it grows maybe it gets more coverage in the media.

 

[Ilovemymum]

Pretty sure I am the only NYR fan on The Koster Islands but certain there are bandwagon possibilities even here amongst the fishbillies

I will be in Koster this summer. When the Koster Rangers fans goes up by 100 % I guess something is going on.

 

[AHB*]

I like the fact that hockey is a niche sport. Couldn't care less about it becoming "mainstreamed." In fact, as long as it's not hindering it, I"d prefer it.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

I like the fact that hockey is a niche sport. Couldn't care less about it becoming "mainstreamed." In fact, as long as it's not hindering it, I"d prefer it.

If this sport became part of the mainstream media, it could "be good for the game" in so many ways!

1. Extra Commercials
2. Pop-Culture Entertainment during each intermission that lasts longer than the actual period
3. Being less able to afford tickets than we already are
4. Making sure international investors have a financial stake in teams they don't watch

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I think one glance at ticket prices should give a good idea of where the bandwagon stands.

Sucks that I am gonna have to sell a kidney to go to a game but what can you do. Times like these are why I have two of them.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

I think one glance at ticket prices should give a good idea of where the bandwagon stands.

Sucks that I am gonna have to sell a kidney to go to a game but what can you do. Times like these are why I have two of them.

Hush!

You don't want Dolan to get any ideas for a Garden of Dreams Stanley Cup combination.

 

[rkhum]

Ok so we all know hockey is #4 in this town, but we also know winners are also always #1 here too. The Rangers have pretty much been invisible in the media & streets in general up to now, but there's gonna come a point where the team just explodes in the city. After Saturday's win the Rangers article was buried as the 14th story down the sports section of the New York Times. After yesterday they're first on the sports page. Front page of the whole paper can't be far off.

Questions for the board:

• Are you guys hearing more Rangers talk at the office /streets from (a) non-hockey fans (b) casual/non-sports fans?
• Are you seeing more gear being worn on the streets?
• Has anyone asked you how to score tickets to a game?
• Has anyone asked you about who the players are?
• Will this peak if/when we make the Stanley Cup Finals and the national media descends?

Aren't I usually the one who asks these questions?

Just curious, with the Rangers up 2-0, what's it like in the region?
Are the Rangers the talk of town?
Are they getting front/back page, lead news stories?
Are they the focus on sports radio?

How excited is New York, and how does it compare to say a Knick playoff run?
Is New York becoming hockey crazy?

 

[Ilovemymum]

If this sport became part of the mainstream media, it could "be good for the game" in so many ways!

1. Extra Commercials
2. Pop-Culture Entertainment during each intermission that lasts longer than the actual period
3. Being less able to afford tickets than we already are
4. Making sure international investors have a financial stake in teams they don't watch

When I grew up my biggest fear was that we ran out of oil, so we couldn't make the Tuuk plastic on the skates and had to return to the all metal ones. You just added some new concerns. It's like English football, being so expensive that the fans are better of flying to Germany to see football.

 

[rkhum]

I think there's a market for another sports talk radio station in NYC with a primary focus on hockey. They could eventually get the Rangers broadcast, so for example instead of after the postgame show cutting to an obscure basketball game nobody cares about, there would be follow through on the Rangers.

Somebody please raise the money and get 'er done

I have been saying for YEARS I wish New York followed Boston who also never talked hockey on the radio until the 98.5 The Hub was launched as a Pats/Bruins station.

I wish New York would do the same.
This is not just a Ranger problem however, WFAN is the flagship station of the Giants and they have NO Giants fans there as hosts.
It stinks.

 

[rkhum]

Chicago was dead for years, especially during the late bill wirtz ownership era. this was a guy who blacked out home games on TV to get fans to buy tickets. He was an ******* for lack of a better word. His son Rocky is responsible for the late Blackhawk revival. He changed a lot of things for the better

I spent a lot of time in Chicago in 2007/early2008....the blackhawks were dead then

Do you think New York could be like Chicago and become hockey mad?
As I recall it took the Hawks sometime to get consistent front page covers and top air time on the radio.

 

[RangerFan23]

Aren't I usually the one who asks these questions?

Just curious, with the Rangers up 2-0, what's it like in the region?
Are the Rangers the talk of town?
Are they getting front/back page, lead news stories?
Are they the focus on sports radio?

How excited is New York, and how does it compare to say a Knick playoff run?
Is New York becoming hockey crazy?

On the backpage of sports sections after every game (though not much competition with the knicks/nets done and it being May baseball)

Wayyyyyyyy more rangers hats/shirts etc on the subways and streets. More people in the bars for every game, etc.

 

[Fletch]

jax...

don't seeing NY becoming hockey mad. While this run feels great, is great and looks great, it's still not the same as 93-94, at a time when the Internet really didn't exist, we didn't have cell phones, and there wasn't as much competition to watch a hockey game (meaning, days just seem busier now than then and there just seems to be way too many options of what to do; oh, and it was a bit more affordable). Lots of factors go into that. There will be a bump, and the bump will only last so long.

 

[CHGoalie27]

i have a few friends that have jumped on the wagon since the 2012 run. also a few relatives that are much more interested in baseball and football that definitely pay attention in the playoffs.

i don't mind the extra support, but when someone calls lundqvist henry, i want to choke them.

the chant is hen-rik, not hen-ry. fail.

Except, more than enough die-hards, me included, call him "Henry", and "Henke", and "Hank", and "Hen", and "Henny", and "King", and my personal favorite (used since October 2005) "the best ****ing goalie I've ever ****ing seen".

Both Hen-ry and Hen-rik are acceptable, sounds more like Hen-ry than Hen-reek. Who do you know that speaks his name "HenrEEK" anyway?

So get off that macho AH BS. Anytime a Rangers fan acts like a Flyers or Devils fan (barely a difference), I want to choke them!

All joking aside, improper fail call. Same **** really.

I love going into the Walgreens here in Deerfield and see the NY Post, and who's on the cover

 

[qwertyaas]

I often catch myself saying Hank and I'm stared at all confused.