Do you like the NHL being 4th in the 'Big 4' or do you wish it was more popular?

[herashak]

I wish the equipment was cheaper so it could be more popular but besides that I couldn’t care less about it being #4

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I don't even know if you can call it 4th at this point since soccer and racing are more popular.

 

[didimentionlarseller]

This forum did

I don't believe you

 

[GrumpyKoala]

The other 3 are far easier to play in terms of money.

Of the 3, hockey is the fastest. I remember reading that football really only has 11 minutes of play (on average) in their games ?

Basketball is the closest with flow, but it usually doesn't go too long.

Baseball is pretty slow, too.

I feel like a lot of people don't even care about basketball, they go because it's popular and the diehard fans who love basketball can't afford to go because some of the ticket prices make hockey seem cheap.

An avreage NFL carrier is 2.8 years
Its around 5:30 min of playing time per game per player, for thoses who play every offensive/defensive shifts (the ball is moving)

The avreage carrier is played under 277 minutes,

Around 4houer and 36minutes. I don't want to calculate the $/houer. That gross

A single game last longer than the avreage carrier playtime, we watch ads with a sprinkle of sports.

 

[Peltz]

I wish the equipment was cheaper so it could be more popular but besides that I couldn’t care less about it being #4

I think it's also rink access. It's not like accessing a basketball hoop or a field in football. You can play those sports anywhere. Even tennis is more accessible than ice hockey.

 

[Peltz]

Except once they look into the story about Matthews you can see the Coyotes weren’t necessary to him gaining interest. His uncle was, who was a Red Wings fans and gave Auston a positive experience while exposing him to the game. We’ve seen players come from places with no local teams, let alone the examples we have in Europe, so the argument that without the Coyotes there would be no Matthews is false - his exposure would have happened regardless.

As for the bigger question, I prefer the NHL niche. The potential of money, not even realized money, has seen the league become deformed and too Americanized in its presentation. Ironically, this has moved the game further away from what made it tough and exciting. The Disney on ice we have now is intended to be palatable to the casual family audience. And the ads on helmets, jerseys, ice, boards and glass from Tik Tok, Amazon, Wal-Mart and the like isn’t because anyone is starving, it’s because the game is run by a council of pimps who couldn’t care less about the optics.

I’m 50/50 at this point on wanting the league to fold in hopes the one that springs up in its place will realize what makes hockey appealing, stick to the formula, and not try and overreach their audience.

This is so dramatic. What makes hockey appealing to you? Concussions? The two line pass rule?

The game today is beautifully played.

 

[Dellstrom]

Agreed that I really wish the game was more accessible to play in general, but I don't mind the league being the least popular of the big 4. I find there are much less bandwagon/fairweather/etc. hockey fans. They're definitely still there, but much less so than MLB/NBA/NFL in my opinion.

 

[saffronleaf]

4th is generous. I think 8-9th behind soccer, racing, hot dog eating competitions.

 

[Puck Dogg]

4th is not bad in a country as big as the US.

If looking at US TV revenues, NHL is behind not only football and basketball but also Olympic games, NASCAR and college sports. Also behind soccer if taking in consideration World Cup, MLS and English Premier League as a whole. Average attendance at games is 5th highest as currently MLS draws bigger crowds.

 

[Rapsfan]

To be honest, I'd argue that it's not just cost/access that makes this difficult to market. It's that to try to play the sport, you can have all the money in the world but if you didn't start until you're like 9, good luck even playing at a higher level. Now not everyone that plays hockey is competitive but the entry skill level is much harder since you gotta learn how to skate. Baseball is hard in itself but you don't need to hit a 90 MPH fastball to play in competitive local leagues. Basketball; well obviously no question it's easy to play and learn. Football, I'd argue it's hard and dangerous but it's an American past time that you get a lot of marketing on "football Sundays".

 

[joelef]

I don't believe you

Max Kellerman believes “ nobody cares about hockey in the US”

 

[OG6ix]

Then don’t complain when max kellermen bashes the sport or complain that you can’t find on the tv

The people who complain about not finding it on tv anymore complained about NBCSN too. Max Kellerman has changed his tune since ESPN got the rights. When him and Stephen A debated NBA/NFL vs MLB he said MLB was #2 due to revenue while Stephen A said WWE was more popular than the MLB lol. So Max kellerman said NHL tv ratings did nothing hence they are not top 4 but spun the argument in favour for MLB due to revenue. In that case the NHL is top 4. It was a hot take lol.

Also in both revenue and tv ratings your favourite sport Joelef (soccer) is a dud.

 

[joelef]

Actually my favorite sport is hockey

 

[joelef]

Max Kellerman believes “ nobody cares about hockey in the US”

I’m owed an apology

 

[didimentionlarseller]

I’m owed an apology

who is he? nooone except you apparently cares

 

[joelef]

who is he? nooone except you apparently cares

Max Kellerman believes “ nobody cares about hockey in the US” Then tell me why there was a whole thread on it which I did not start?

 

[didimentionlarseller]

Max Kellerman believes “ nobody cares about hockey in the US” Then tell me why there was a whole thread on it which I did not start?

Topics get discussed on a hockey forum doesn’t make whoever you’re talking about significant

 

[member 305909]

Don't you think it is strange that as Americans have managed to export their entertainment-industry, that is movies, music, games etc, all over the world but haven't been able to export their version of football which to the rest of the world remains a totally foreign sport?

 

[tom_servo]

Don't you think it is strange that as Americans have managed to export their entertainment-industry, that is movies, music, games etc, all over the world but haven't been able to export their version of football which to the rest of the world remains a totally foreign sport?

Maybe we should've colonized more of the globe.

 

[Lemonlimey]

It sucks because we miss out on the best talent to far less superior sports. Guys like Allen Iverson would have been so fast and creative with the puck, Randy Moss would be fast explosive and strong while being 6'4. Then picture a athletic 6'9 Kevin Durant being one of the best offensive players in the game.

The players would enjoy hockey a lot more too.

reminded me of this great early-2000s Nike commercial:

 

[DarksideGhost]

The game management and makeup calls killed the game for me. NFL, NBA and hell even MLS are overall better league system in north America. Until NHL cleans up it's referee involvement in games, it's a loser of the big 4.

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

I think that baseball is only somewhat popular because it’s the only game played during the summer. There’s no other sport to watch. However, it’s dreadfully boring. I can’t even watch a whole game. When the baseball playoffs start, nhl preseason begins. I watch hockey preseason over mlb playoffs.

nba was ok until the mid 1990’s. That’s when Michael Jordan ruined the sport by turning it into a one-person game instead of a team sport. But I love those late 80’s / early 90’s Pistons.

Football is what it is. Intermittent excitement crammed down our throats with nothing but extensive replays in between plays.

 

[PROGFAN66]

I have gone to a NFL, NBA, MLB game in the past year and nothing to me was more exciting than watching a Detroit Red Wings game this past Saturday IMO. The atmosphere was amazing and if you understand the game it's more the better.

There are number of things the NHL can do to make the game more popular but they seem to not want to adapt what hockey fans want. We all complain about the referring and how the game is marketed but the NHL higher ups think they know better?

I personally think the NHL should follow what the NFL and MLB does and schedule more afternoon games during the weekends but that's me. Americans like weekend afternoon starts though it hasn't hurt the NBA which have even less early starts than the NHL.

 

[beedee]

I'm good with it being 4th.

 

[Maplebeasts]

I wish it was more popular in that it really is a great sport, and easily one of the best out there to watch. It's too bad stuff like Nascar is bigger lol.