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Could NHL surpass NBA?

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WillTheThrill said:
Not until there are more black players in hockey. A big reason why half the population doesn't watch is because there's nobody who looks like them.
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Black people don't make up anywhere to close of half the population in either USA or Canada though, atleast not yet.
 
Zero chance. Basketball is growing worldwide big time. Hockey is limited in its ability to grow in many parts of the world. In America college basketball is still huge, and the NBA is still strong and cuts across basically all cultures. Basketball is just far more accessible for kids to get into and become fans of.

And all of that is fine. Hockey continues to be strong as well in multiple countries and the NHL keeps growing, just not at NBA level.
 
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Summer Rose said:
Not a chance. Hockey is tremendously more expensive to play and will pretty much always have a more regional and niche appeal. Basketball is the second most popular sport in the world, I believe (after soccer) and I don't see that changing. That will pretty much always be reflected in the relative popularity of the NHL and NBA.
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That’s why I think the NHL should do more to promote floor hockey too.
 
TheGreenTBer said:
Hockey is extraordinarily expensive and extremely inaccessible compared to basketball. That will forever limit its growth potential.

People can talk about a whole bunch of other cultural and racial issues but the bottom line to me is that the game is way too expensive and it's too difficult to find available ice.
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This hits the nail on the head.

Hockey is pretty much an exclusive, rich white-person's sport in the US. It doesn't have the low barriers to fan participation that drives the popularity of basketball the US.
 
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I would have said no a few years ago but the nba product is so bad right now. So yah, I think it could eventually happen if the nba doesn’t get their shit together
 
simple look at the economics. how much do the top players get paid in their respective sports? hockey is nowhere near NBA in those terms so that's the answer of them ever catching up
 
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castle said:
I don't see that happening until the MLS can get the best players in the world during their prime. That's the thing about the big 4. They all have the best players the world has to offer in their respective sports. If you ask an MLS fan who their favourite soccer player is, they probably aren't going to name someone that actually plays in the MLS.
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The growth in American hockey talent from the last 40 years proves otherwise in my opinion. MLS is still new and it needs time to grow. Once an MLS team signs their first McDavid/Crosby I think it's curtain's call for the NHL as a "top 4". Pat LaFontaine lead to Patrick Kane. The Phoenix Coyotes inspired Auston Matthews. You are right that the MLS needs someone to have their favourite soccer player before it beats the NHL. I just think it's gonna happen sooner than we think.
 
The NHL can never surpass the NBA for a few reasons:

1. Accessibility. It's too expensive and mostly played in colder, wealthier countries. Basketball needs a ball and a hoop, which is why the NBA is growing worldwide, even in Africa. The NHL is mostly stuck in North America and a few European countries.

2. The NHL is a true team sport while the NBA revolves around a few superstars. In hockey, success depends way more on depth. Also, an NBA player can play nearly the entire game while the best NHL players play only 1/3 to 1/2 of the game. Because of the individualized nature there are debates like Jordan vs. Lebron or Shaq vs. Wilt which don't happen in hockey. There's a lost more individual hype and drama with the NBA because of the nature of the game.

3. Cultural relevance. The NBA is part of celebrity culture in a way the NHL isn't and there's a soap opera feel that the NHL doesn't. Not to mention, NBA players are referenced in rap songs, are part of the fashion world and entertainment in general. A typical Laker game will have a bunch of celebrities sitting court side. Also, NBA players are wearing shoes, jerseys, and shorts. They're easily recognizable compared to NHL players who are hidden under helmets and gear. I bet most sports fans can't pick out McDavid or Crosby out of a lineup.
 
Nope. Unfortunately Americans just don't give a shit about a more interesting, faster sport.

Most kids don't grow up playing it and/or watching it and it's just not part of the culture. I legitimately don't see a way it breaks through, regardless of how well (or poorly) hockey is marketed in the US. Americans love their hoops and I do not see that ever changing.
 
China is big. Like, really big.

Unless the nhl somehow takes over from the nba as the most popular in China, NA and Europe don't even matter the nba will always be far ahead.

I also don't see the nhl overtaking nba in usa so that's not even reasonable to expect.
 
Mr Kot said:
NBA right now is in a bit of a tailspin, but it's pretty clearly ahead. NHL had it's chance in the 90's when they were neck and neck, but lack of tv deals that could compete over the years, no boosting of star players, and several lockouts/threats of lockouts probably did it for the NHL. It is growing, but probably missed it's boat. We will see how a new commissioner will do in the coming years.
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The nba is not in a tailspin. Don't look at tv ratings, they don't matter and they're a massively outdated metric from a bygone era.

It's all social media now. Go to Asia and look around, you'll see tons of nba jerseys. Kids watching nba on social media, following the players. It's probably more popular globally than ever
 
WillTheThrill said:
Not until there are more black players in hockey. A big reason why half the population doesn't watch is because there's nobody who looks like them.
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Chinese people follow the nba religiously and there are very few Chinese players. Same for the Philippines.

It's not that, it's just a more marketable game. And accessible, kids all over the world can grab a ball and play.

Good luck finding ice or a rink. Let alone the cost. It'll never happen
 
Realistically, no, NHL won't surpass the NBA. With that said there are a LOT of people tuning into the NHL for the first time, or the first time in a long time, and are genuinely excited for it. Which is a good thing, success for the NHL means that there is going to be a higher chance of the sport getting more mainstream attention. See: The international news from the Canada vs USA games (possibly enhanced by the geo-political events that were just big news before that) got a LOT of people interested, especially when they saw the physicality and the skill on display (given that it was the replacement for the ASG this year, after a very disappointing NBA All Star weekend). There was also Tkachuk on Jimmy Fallon recently. I'll take the increased interest, and the mainstream media bump any day though. That alone could lead to an increased interest in kids to want to play which is something I think we all want to see,
 
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