What about handball and basketball in the Czech Republic? There are improvements there.
Finland loves hockey
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Basketball has been experiencing its best times since the break-up of Czechoslovakia. The national team at the last World Cup I think finished in sixth place, which is a great success. They also managed to qualify for the Olympics in Japan. In that qualification, they managed to win in Canada, which they simply did not have and they were a clear outsider. Otherwise, the Czech league is on the verge of interest, once a week there is a match on TV, otherwise nothing. But they managed to get a few players into better leagues in Europe, in the NBA they have Satoranský and young Krejčí in OKC.
What is the position of basketball in Finland? Did Markkanen attract any young people to play basketball?
The Czechs are weak in handball, they can qualify for the European Championships, sometimes even the World Championships, but they do not even come close to the medal. Interest in handball is similar to basketball. They have some city where the most popular sport is handball. The great Czech handball player was Filip Jicha, today he is a coach in Kiel. The incredible guy, who played for a long time in Germany and Barcelona, once won the award for the best handball player in the world, today he trains a top German club. Legend.
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FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
Shout out to all the Latvian fans in Finland making Latvian games the second attended games in the championship. There are complaints about prices of tickets and beer in Finland, yet there are thousand of Latvians there despite average salary of 900 EUR in the country.
On a wider note, hockey is slowly dying and catastroficaly lacks charismatic superstars. Young people are just not in to it. Both the IIHF and NHL feel it. Most hockey players are conservatives. Kucherov drinking beer at a press conference is the biggest non-sporting event in recent years. Hockey is expensive and traditional. Not exactly golf or tennis, but it will always be outplayed by either soccer or basketball, that are played in any back yard. People enjoy this closed society, but then complain about the lack of popularity.
On a wider note, hockey is slowly dying and catastroficaly lacks charismatic superstars. Young people are just not in to it. Both the IIHF and NHL feel it. Most hockey players are conservatives. Kucherov drinking beer at a press conference is the biggest non-sporting event in recent years. Hockey is expensive and traditional. Not exactly golf or tennis, but it will always be outplayed by either soccer or basketball, that are played in any back yard. People enjoy this closed society, but then complain about the lack of popularity.
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
actully, fans culture is much stronger in sweden than finland. both in hockey and soccer. especially AIK, Djurgården, Hammarby, IFK Göteborg and Malmö FF is really high level in the stands. not in national teams thought, finland have better fans than sweden in national teams
JabbaJabba
Registered User
Hockey is the most popular sport in Latvia as well.
Probably true. I can only go to myself, enjoy watching football and hockey (not as much now as when I was younger). But only at club level, I don't follow the national teams.
QnebO
Wheel, snipe, celly
- Feb 11, 2010
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Its true exactly. The best fans aint the suit people. But the union will make lots of money, honestly atually its probably going to help hockey program again for long time. And maybe build a new sauna somewhere of course.
Watching the CHL final between Rögle and Tappara I was very impressed with the crowd. We do have a loud fan section in one end here in Tampere but it's nothing compared to what the atmosphere was like Ängelhom. At Ilves games at Nokia Arena there are a few hundred people singing and chanting, but in Sweden they've got the entire arena doing it.
The level of hockey in that final was also unbelievably good for a European game. No wonder nobody could really challenge Tappara in the Finnish playoffs.
karhukissa
Registered User
- Apr 2, 2019
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In Finland it's all about success or bust. In other words, our hockey national team is successful = big crowd.
When we are playing in basketball or volleyball euros/worlds = Big amount of fans travel to wherever those game are and are very loud, in euro level often the biggest amount of away fans.
In Liiga, TPS for example draws bad numbers to a big arena during regular season, but during playoffs and especially if they go far, arena is sold out and atmosphere is great.
When we are playing in basketball or volleyball euros/worlds = Big amount of fans travel to wherever those game are and are very loud, in euro level often the biggest amount of away fans.
In Liiga, TPS for example draws bad numbers to a big arena during regular season, but during playoffs and especially if they go far, arena is sold out and atmosphere is great.
At the basketball World Cup in Bilbao in 2014 we had about 8,000 Finnish fans at the arena in every game. The opposing team usually had about 200 fans there. The locals decided to support Finland too because the atmosphere was so great. They didn't have their own team to root for because Spain played their group matches in Granada.
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
We just don't have a proper fan culture in hockey. Our football and basketball teams have actual fans who cheer for the team no matter of success. Hockey team only has fans when we do great.
By culture I mean like proper loud fan group. We got a lot of fans, they just won't be as loud and hockey fans have no clue what to chant so they just shout "Suomi". It's the easiest thing.
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karhukissa
Registered User
- Apr 2, 2019
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Yeah that's the issue. But it's probably because of Liiga and especially what it used to be. Almost every single person who follows hockey even tiny bit has a favourite Liiga team, and all teams have pretty good fan club, especially biggest teams. Hockey rivalries are more fierced than say in football, where different club team fans can co-operate when watching national team playing.
Also in hockey there's only world championships each year and that's about it. In football and other sports have those qualification games and more home games to see your national team in meaningful games so that could be one reason too.
Im not sure how is the atmosphere at Liiga games atm since i havent watched many games in the last 2 years. But to me it seems that the fan culture is something between north america and central europe. They games i have seen in the past in liiga are nothing to compare to for example switzerland. Even though hockey has much more importance in finnish culture and society than in switzerland, it seem like it doesnt show in hockey attendance.
In Switzerland u have clubs like ambri piotta, a tiny little village, not so successfull, but lots of passion and great fans. They have a deep culture of following their team.
There are many other good fan groups in switzerland beside ambri, but i guess this is a prime example. I absolutel love the finnish love for hockey and everything that comes with it, but in the fanculture (Singing, Drumming clapping, whatever) they have lots of room to improve.
I am also wondering why they dont have better attendance in liga games? are the prices to high? do pple rather wathc at home?
Also if u watched the Sui vs CAn game, the atmosphere seemed better than at any finland game this whc. at least it seemed to me like that.
In Switzerland u have clubs like ambri piotta, a tiny little village, not so successfull, but lots of passion and great fans. They have a deep culture of following their team.
There are many other good fan groups in switzerland beside ambri, but i guess this is a prime example. I absolutel love the finnish love for hockey and everything that comes with it, but in the fanculture (Singing, Drumming clapping, whatever) they have lots of room to improve.
I am also wondering why they dont have better attendance in liga games? are the prices to high? do pple rather wathc at home?
Also if u watched the Sui vs CAn game, the atmosphere seemed better than at any finland game this whc. at least it seemed to me like that.
QnebO
Wheel, snipe, celly
- Feb 11, 2010
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Liiga would have better attedances and atmosphere with these changes:
1. Lowerin ticket prices a bit.
2. Opening series like in Sweden
3. Allowing consumation of alcohol everywhere in stands (this is for atmosphere). Finns are quite reserved and most finns find it silly to go absolutely nuts, unless you have few drinks, then its not so reserved atmosphere any more.
I think many other countries allow alcohol, Finland currently only in some part of the stands. Unsurprisingly, there is the best atmosphere. Being hard core fan fan isn't supposed to be a civilized suitman thing to do in first place. It doesnt mean being absolutely wasted, but few beers might affect the atmosphere positively.
Also I dont know if the TV / streaming is done as well in Sweden, but in Finland all games are available and well broadcasted in reasonable monthly price, and the ticks prices are highish and everything is bit expensive in the arena, especially beer. This has to have affect on the attadance numbers.
1. Lowerin ticket prices a bit.
2. Opening series like in Sweden
3. Allowing consumation of alcohol everywhere in stands (this is for atmosphere). Finns are quite reserved and most finns find it silly to go absolutely nuts, unless you have few drinks, then its not so reserved atmosphere any more.
I think many other countries allow alcohol, Finland currently only in some part of the stands. Unsurprisingly, there is the best atmosphere. Being hard core fan fan isn't supposed to be a civilized suitman thing to do in first place. It doesnt mean being absolutely wasted, but few beers might affect the atmosphere positively.
Also I dont know if the TV / streaming is done as well in Sweden, but in Finland all games are available and well broadcasted in reasonable monthly price, and the ticks prices are highish and everything is bit expensive in the arena, especially beer. This has to have affect on the attadance numbers.
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If you make bold claims like this, it would be good to have some kind of support for them. Naturally you don't since what you're saying is untrue. Hockey has been growing and it also continues to grow, just look at the participation figures.
snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
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Finns are awesome.
They are a hockey power and love this sport with the same passion many Canadians have. Pound for pound might be the best hockey nation, they love hockey.
I can’t wait to go to Suomi one day for a hockey event. Pretty sure I’ve made enough Finnish friends over the years here that I’d make some lifelong friends if I took my family over there.
They are a hockey power and love this sport with the same passion many Canadians have. Pound for pound might be the best hockey nation, they love hockey.
I can’t wait to go to Suomi one day for a hockey event. Pretty sure I’ve made enough Finnish friends over the years here that I’d make some lifelong friends if I took my family over there.
Suomen Maajoukkuen Kannattajat (SMJK).
Finland football fans (soccer, que?!).
Smooth name ...
No funny hats and painted faces all around only Finland blue/white national jerseys.
Nothin' else.
Rather pretto for sure; but who cares ... not SMJK anyway and anyhow.
Go to watch hockey then if you can't dig it ...
SMJK - a much better version of Iceland fans ... if they, and Finland, only their fans only could get to there Europa/World Championships on a regular basis.
Finland football fans (soccer, que?!).
Smooth name ...
No funny hats and painted faces all around only Finland blue/white national jerseys.
Nothin' else.
Rather pretto for sure; but who cares ... not SMJK anyway and anyhow.
Go to watch hockey then if you can't dig it ...
SMJK - a much better version of Iceland fans ... if they, and Finland, only their fans only could get to there Europa/World Championships on a regular basis.
Camp Sweden ... is a bloody joke.
Every Folkpartist in Sweden and their sons/daughters have join the ... yellow troops. Jesus.
What will happen to you when Zlatan is gone?!
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
On the other hand, club fans in Finland is a bloody joke. Finland dont have any fans in the level of AIK, Hammarby, Djurgården, IFK Göteborg and Malmö FF. Finland national fans are not impressing compared to those swedish clubs fanculture.
The only one who thinks Finland is better than Sweden at soccer is finns themself. Sweden is miles ahead of Finland in soccer. Just compare resualts and rosters. Zlatan is not a key player anymore for the NT btw. Elanga (man united), Isak and Kulusevski (spurs) is making sure we have good offensive players.
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
... so the second troops of Sweden chaps like Elanga, Isak and Kulusevski incoming?!
I stand with the Finland troops.
I stand with the Finland troops.
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
Which young players do Finland have that is better than Elanga, Isak and Kulusevski?
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