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

[JAS 39 Gripen]

Theyre not though, esports is now ahead both the NBA and NHL in terms of viewership

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I think part of it is society changing,a s well.

Seems a lot of professional sports are starting to trend lower, both in viewership and participation. The average family just can't commit the time or money into any sport for their kids, unless there's a solid chance that child is good enough to get a scholarship out of it. Kids are turning more to e-sports. Millennials, who would normally be at the age to start buying season tickets, simply don't have the disposable income to do that. People are working longer hours, and that lends itself to watch sports on the tv instead of live.

In another decade, it may not be the idea of the NHL catching up to the other Big 3, but the Big 3 falling down closer to the NHL level of popularity.

 

[Pookie]

I’m not sure what it is with the human condition that needs others to like what a segment likes.

Let’s get more people to follow the NHL
Let’s go on a mission to another country and “convert” them to our religion.
Let’s tell everyone to be Vegan.

Ugh.

Maybe it’s my Gen X upbringing but I really don’t care who likes what or how many people like what I do.

I like it and that’s good enough for me.

 

[bacon25]

Would be nice if the NHL was 4th, but a quick stop at ESPN will have you searching for the NHL tab somewhere next to the cricket tab.

 

[Hoek]

As long as I can watch all the games I want and my team doesn't fold I'm okay with hockey where it is right now.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Couldn't care less and I've never understood why anyone else cares. If you like something, what does it matter if someone else does? Not really a great analogy but I live a nice small city (Burlington, ON) that most people in Canada barely know anything about yet we've quietly been ranked the best city to live in 2 years in a row. And that's perfect because it increases the likelihood that we will stay that way. All of the other suburbs around us have sprawled into choked, ugly messes that barely resemble what they were even 20 years ago.

Stay under the radar I say.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

NHL being part of the big 4 would be a triumph for the league at this point.

 

[Fixxer]

Hockey "blue collar" attitude doesn't fit with the social media era. That sure don't help.
Fighting being lower don't help either. People enjoy hockey fights, even the ones who say they don't like violence.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Hockey is a very diverse sport in terms of different nationalities such as Canadians, Americans, Swedes, Fins, Russians, Slovaks, Czechs, Germans, and the Swiss. It is just not racially diverse. But that's alright. Hockey being an overwhelming White sport (95%) is very unique for a major
North American team sport. It would be a shame if that was to change in a significant way.

It would be a shame if hockey stopped being overwhelmingly white? WTF is wrong with you?

 

[Panthaz89]

I don't find much appeal to watching NBA or Baseball at all and the refs have been steadily ruining the quality of NFL games over the years. At least the bottom teams in the NHL will compete, win, or make it pretty close in regular games more often than it does in other sports and teams like the Lightning getting swept isn't something you'll hear about in the NBA where the superstars actually dictate whose going to be good this year rather than the team's management.

 

[Butch 19]

There isn’t that many in the US. If you want to grow in the US you need less hot places. Why do you think places like Canada, Boston and New York like hockey and places like Florida don’t? The weather. I doubt many in Florida know how to skate but anyone can pick up a basketball.

You don't have to know how to skate to play hockey.

 

[maacoshark]

Hockey has come a long way in the States. When the NHL expanded in the late 60 and early 70's the new American franchises struggled getting people in the stands.
Of the 4 sports you are talking about I have followed them all. At first I was a hockey fanatic. Then I switched to NFL. For awhile in the 80s hockey was below the other 3 sports. Now hockey is once again far ahead of the other 3 sports.
Don't follow the other sports near as much. I was a huge NFL fan until recently. I don't care fore some of the rule changes and I think the officiating is awful. The biggest reason for turning on the NFL was Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

 

[maacoshark]

You don't have to know how to skate to play hockey.

Well to play real hockey you need to know how to skate. Yes there is street hockey and floor hockey. And those are just as fun to play.
The skating part was always my problem. Had the other skills but was always a below average skater.

 

[BrockLobster]

Soccer → Hockey in the US, isn't it? The popularity of soccer is growing rapidly in the southern areas mainly. Soccer has replaced hockey in the big 4 seriously.

No it hasnt. At all.

 

[Capathetic]

Hockey is fine. Let other people waste their time and money on inferior entertainment.

 

[Donnie D]

Soccer → Hockey in the US, isn't it? The popularity of soccer is growing rapidly in the southern areas mainly. Soccer has replaced hockey in the big 4 seriously.

NASCAR is probably bigger than both of them.

 

[tony d]

I wish it would get more play for sure. I watch a few of the sports talk shows, wish the NHL was discussed more than it is.

 

[Donnie D]

I know some true football fans despise stuff like the halftime shows and all the drama that goes into the superbowl. Imagine having intermission shows from Katy Perry.

All-Star game Singer Bebe Rexha performed during the second intermission

 

[HisIceness]

Theyre not though, esports is now ahead both the NBA and NHL in terms of viewership

I'm honestly shocked at how many people tune into Overwatch, it blows my mind that ESPN picked it up. I don't understand the fascination with watching people play video games, but whatever.

 

[Boulder Avalanche]

Hockey will never be as popular as any other of the big three. It is a cold weather sport and vast sums of people live in places where freezing weather is unimaginable. Hockey is more expensive to play at an organized level but can be affordable if it is “pond hockey”. Those backyard experiences are important in getting people interested in a sport and unless you live in a cold climate that is impossible with hockey. Add in the fact hockey is dominated by Whites (which is totally fine and understandable given it’s history) in a country increasingly non White and one starts to see why the appeal of hockey is less than other sports.

 

[TheMule93]

I really don't care at all. It could be less popular or more popular and nothing would change for me.

 

[Love]

Hockey will always be 4th because only rich people are allowed to play.

 

[Garnet76]

The game itself have been fantastic the last 5 years or so the problem is the NHL is terrible at marketing its game and its stars!!

 

[King Mapes]

You don't have to know how to skate to play hockey.

Real hockey, yes you do. Most people that watch hockey play real hockey it’s what gets a lot of people into sports. Why do you think most cold places like hockey and warm places don’t?

 

[Hattrickkane88]

200IQ conclusion. Are you really so out of touch with the rest of the world?

How can anyone not like the amazing Murican sports, am I right? It can't be any other reason than that they are poor. Not like any kind of turf or paved road which requires next to no maintenance is good enough to play basketball. Not like you need perfectly even surface to play soccer because the ball is going to jump around all over the place otherwise. The part about the "basketball net" is hilarious altogether. How do you even think the net is a necessity to play basketball? Have you ever seen a basketball rim? You know it does function without the net too, right?

sorry if i offended you or something, i did not mean to attack anyone in anyway but statistically i am not wrong and many people liked my post.

Also the net is necessity to hear the swoosh, and it sounds even better with one of the red white and blue nets as well.