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

[Garbageyuk]

It doesn't work that way, skill doesn't necessarily translate over from one sport to another, nor is talent developed so that it can be applied universally. And athleticism is no indicator of success, if it were guys like Roman Polak would be winning Norris trophies.

Yes it kind of does work that way. Just to throw out some hypothetical numbers: if 100k kids play hockey competitively vs 2M kids playing basketball competitively at any given time, chances are pretty good that the ones who make it to the NBA are going to be higher level athletes and more naturally talented because the number of professional roster spots is roughly the same for different sports, i.e., a very tiny number compared to the amount of people that play the sport. The competition to reach the NBA or NFL is much more fierce.

 

[LightningStorm]

As someone who grew up in a city without an NHL team, how accurate is this perception about how the NHL is a distant 4th among the big 4 sports?

I've noticed there's several American cities where the NHL team is more popular than a team in one of the other 3 leagues. Basically, plenty of American based teams aren't last among the big 4 teams in their market. Where the NHL seems to really lag is it's popularity in cities without teams. That's where things seem to really plummet compared to the other 3.

 

[MadLuke]

Yes it kind of does work that way. Just to throw out some hypothetical numbers: if 100k kids play hockey competitively vs 2M kids playing basketball competitively at any given time, chances are pretty good that the ones who make it to the NBA are going to be higher level athletes and more naturally talented because the number of professional roster spots is roughly the same for different sports, i.e., a very tiny number compared to the amount of people that play the sport. The competition to reach the NBA or NFL is much more fierce.

For the NBA that will be only be true at certain height/position I think, the percentage of 6foot10 and above players that make it, can be shockingly high.

 

[Mr Positive]

It's fine. Maybe it's a getting older thing (although I'm still in my 30s, well 39) but I care less about flag waving for any cause unless its correcting an injustice.

For the NHL, I am happy as long as it exists. It doesnt have to rank high

 

[Lachute]

I love that hockey is 4th in popularity. We are all part of the weirdos club I guess. It brings us together and soothes my aching soul.

 

[HisIceness]

As someone who grew up in a city without an NHL team, how accurate is this perception about how the NHL is a distant 4th among the big 4 sports?

I've noticed there's several American cities where the NHL team is more popular than a team in one of the other 3 leagues. Basically, plenty of American based teams aren't last among the big 4 teams in their market. Where the NHL seems to really lag is it's popularity in cities without teams. That's where things seem to really plummet compared to the other 3.

In my town it's accurate although there are a lot of transplants here who grew up on Hockey and still watch it, but they also like other sports too. Canes have slowly started to build up a fambase here.

I'd probably say Charlotte goes something like the following

Panthers/NFL
NCAA hoops
Hornets/NBA
NCAA Football
Baseball

And then Hockey would fall somewhere around where NASCAR and Golf lie.

 

[John Price]

it used to be more popular before espn idiotically put it behind a paywall

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

As someone without a financial interest in the NHL, I couldn't care less as long as the league is doing well enough to exist.

I think ordinary people care too much about the financial well being of random millionaires and billionaires way too much.

 

[cgf]

When did Hockey rise to 4th?

 

[JJ68]

dont give a f***. in Canada it's number 1. That's all that matters. I get to hear and read and watch it to my hearts delight.

The US can enjoy it's fat f*** pastimes. Let them.

 

[Chinaski89]

I mean realistically, hockey will never trump baseball, football, or basketball in the U.S. Definitely not baseball or football. Basketball is the only one it has a shot at, and I feel like basketball has only gotten more popular since I was a kid. I'm 41 now, and hockey has always been #4 so it makes no difference to me.

Baseball? Basketball is a billion times more popular now. Baseball is a dying sport in the US.

 

[Chinaski89]

Maybe we should've colonized more of the globe.

 

[Chinaski89]

In my town it's accurate although there are a lot of transplants here who grew up on Hockey and still watch it, but they also like other sports too. Canes have slowly started to build up a fambase here.

I'd probably say Charlotte goes something like the following

Panthers/NFL
NCAA hoops
Hornets/NBA
NCAA Football
Baseball

And then Hockey would fall somewhere around where NASCAR and Golf lie.

There is one, yes one pizza bar in Charlotte I know of that plays every Canes game… lol

 

[Peltz]

As someone who grew up in a city without an NHL team, how accurate is this perception about how the NHL is a distant 4th among the big 4 sports?

I've noticed there's several American cities where the NHL team is more popular than a team in one of the other 3 leagues. Basically, plenty of American based teams aren't last among the big 4 teams in their market. Where the NHL seems to really lag is it's popularity in cities without teams. That's where things seem to really plummet compared to the other 3.

No idea. Here in NYC, I think it's pretty accurate to say that hockey lags behind football, baseball and basketball. But it's still pretty huge since we have so many teams in the area - within a 3.5 hour span there is Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Flyers.

But even with all that access, Rangers are still second fiddle compared to the Knicks which is hilarious considering how much better its run.

 

[HarrisonFord]

Honestly I don’t care. It’s #1 for me and that’s all that matters to me

 

[OneSniffTwoSniff]

I hate to say it, but the reason people don't watch the NHL is simply because it's very boring.

There is nothing wrong with the game of hockey itself, however there is no question that the NHL is run by people who can't match the product that the NBA, NFL and MLB create. The reason why marketing of NHL and it's "star" players won't work is simple.

Outside of the ice they are very bland and boring people. Pretty much all of them come from upperclass neighborhoods, the worst tragedy that has happened to them is when their supreme backpack got stolen in school. Generation Z cares more about the players and their stories than the actual teams. Guys like Mcdavid and Matthews have zero charisma about them it's literally impossible for the NHL to market them.

 

[Slurpeelover27]

I hate to say it, but the reason people don't watch the NHL is simply because it's very boring.

There is nothing wrong with the game of hockey itself, however there is no question that the NHL is run by people who can't match the product that the NBA, NFL and MLB create. The reason why marketing of NHL and it's "star" players won't work is simple.

Outside of the ice they are very bland and boring people. Pretty much all of them come from upperclass neighborhoods, the worst tragedy that has happened to them is when their supreme backpack got stolen in school. Generation Z cares more about the players and their stories than the actual teams. Guys like Mcdavid and Matthews have zero charisma about them it's literally impossible for the NHL to market them.

You make a good point about personalities being bland onesniff. There is more to it though then it just being that players are from upperclass neighbourhoods as you say. I think a lot has to do with hockey being a true team sport where the culture is to not have the focus on just the stars quite as much as the other sports is one factor. Also in the past the NHL did not want individual players to be the focus. In the NHL's supreme wisdom this did probably help keep salaries low many many years ago. It may also be the type of thinking of not wanting the inmates running the asylum. Only recently have players been allowed to wear more flamboyant clothing to games and Lou Lamoreillo teams still have strict policies of things like facial hair I believe (something like that anyway - too lazy to look it up).

 

[OneSniffTwoSniff]

You make a good point about personalities being bland onesniff. There is more to it though then it just being that players are from upperclass neighbourhoods as you say. I think a lot has to do with hockey being a true team sport where the culture is to not have the focus on just the stars quite as much as the other sports is one factor. Also in the past the NHL did not want individual players to be the focus. In the NHL's supreme wisdom this did probably help keep salaries low many many years ago. It may also be the type of thinking of not wanting the inmates running the asylum. Only recently have players been allowed to wear more flamboyant clothing to games and Lou Lamoreillo teams still have strict policies of things like facial hair I believe (something like that anyway - too lazy to look it up).

Yes this is a big factor

 

[HisIceness]

There is one, yes one pizza bar in Charlotte I know of that plays every Canes game… lol

Not sure what bar that would be but it's one more than I'm aware of.

 

[habamillions]

When did Hockey rise to 4th?

Was thinking the same thing. I would assume they were behind college basketball and nba. College football and nfl. Then you have soccer and probably nascar that are more popular them hockey. Likely golf too. Baseball definitely way ahead. So hockey likely sits somewhere in 7-9 slots in popularity. Assuming im not forgetting anything

 

[StreetHawk]

Was thinking the same thing. I would assume they were behind college basketball and nba. College football and nfl. Then you have soccer and probably nascar that are more popular them hockey. Likely golf too. Baseball definitely way ahead. So hockey likely sits somewhere in 7-9 slots in popularity. Assuming im not forgetting anything

Those talk shows in the US focus on the nba, nfl, mlb, ncaa football and ncaa basketball. That covers the entire calendar for them. The personalities on those shows don’t know hockey.

ESPN since opening night when Bettman went to the head offices to do lives shows with them how many segments had they had about the on ice product, not the Chicago Blackhawks headlines? Does anyone know? Hockey talk is just on their show with Torts.

 

[Shinjuku Calling]

It's funny to me that it's barely ever mentioned as one of the major sports leagues by people here.

 

[saffronleaf]

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.

also behind most premier hotdog eating competitions

 

[cgf]

Was thinking the same thing. I would assume they were behind college basketball and nba. College football and nfl. Then you have soccer and probably nascar that are more popular them hockey. Likely golf too. Baseball definitely way ahead. So hockey likely sits somewhere in 7-9 slots in popularity. Assuming im not forgetting anything

Last time I looked...which was some time ago...Soccer, MMA, & Nascar were more popular than Ice Hockey in America; and all of them were way behind the big three of Basketball, American Football, and Baseball.

 

[cgf]

Yes this is a big factor

Then why is soccer one of the sports that's more popular? That is even more of a team sport and it is thriving.

E:
I think the problem is more about the NHL wanting to glorify the violence & physicality of the sport, while shunning the creativity & skill...especially come playoff time...and that is not just a turn off for many fans, it's less interesting for many fans who aren't immediately pushed away by the bloodsport-element to the game.