If you were voted for NHL Commissioner for a day, how do you market the NHL?

[Sniper99]

Olympics = your superbowl

Bride FIFA so its USA v Canada in the gold medal finals

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Players need to be interacting w fans; more free fan fests ..

Thought about this the other day, back in the early 90's Oilers did a "Carnival of Champions" with the ESKIMOS yes I said it. Was just thinking about this too the other day. Cant imagine how long the lineup would be for McDavid now. Miles long all the way outside RC and for block and blocks.

 

[sr edler]

Lower ticket prices. Fewer teams. Let the players play in the Olympics. No betting ads. No shootouts (especially not the slow-ass zig-zag version). No Tik Toks.

 

[Moose Head]

I have noticed several threads about the failure of the NHL to market itself.

If you were voted NHL commissioner for a day, what kind of ideas you have to better market the NHL?

Can’t I just yell at a cloud in peace? You had to give me homework? Sheesh!

 

[DaveG]

A few things:
Streaming - more of that please. Get all the games on one of the major services, no blackouts. Prime, Netflix, effing Twitch, doesn't matter.

Marketing - market the hell out of the guys you do have that have actual personalities rather than the same bland players from the same teams every time. Guys like Marchand and Jarvis are funny as hell, use it to your advantage, it doesn't even have to be a full podcast like Joe Rogan try to get them on Hot Ones or something.

Growing the game - we all know the sport is frigin expensive, so do more to promote and support dek hockey leagues around the US/Canada. Have at least one intermission in-arena ad be for promoting these leagues. Work with whichever streaming partner to get a moderately high level off-season tournament for dek hockey going similar to TBT/TST.

Best on Best tourneys - The Olympics is a must, as is doing a World Cup every 4 years (but NOT in-season) as at minimum an 8 team tournament.

Standings - if we're stuck with the shootout (first thing I would try to get rid of) then regulation wins are worth 3 points.

Really depends on the level (when I play A and B, it's fine; when I play lower levels, hoo boy...) but beer league games have always been chippier than the NHL.

Especially in non-checking leagues, because (some) players take every bit of contact as a personal affront.

Shout out to the Sport Stable in Superior, Colorado and to the Promenade in Westminster! Y'all keep it real.

Dirtiest plays I've ever been on the receiving end of were in C and D level "non-checking" leagues.

 

[Chainshot]

Return to having a single streaming outlet. Sure, let TNT, ESPN, TSN, and whoever else have games but if you pay for the NHL streaming package from the NHL, you GET ALL THE GAMES. No more regional blackouts, no delivery channel blackouts - you bought it, you get the games.

 

[wmupreds]

Lower ticket prices. Fewer teams. Let the players play in the Olympics. No betting ads. No shootouts (especially not the slow-ass zig-zag version). No Tik Toks.

I'm not sure we need more teams (although it's most likely coming) but I don't think fewer is going to help market the league. Teams spanning the countr(ies) has objectively created more fans and even more talent.

 

[Kegs]

All it would take is commercials that are violent hits and really dope goals. Instead we get videos of the younger generation of players exercising.

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

As a fan of MMA myself, I'm marketing toward MMA fans immediately.

 

[crowi]

Easier to watch. Simpler plans. Using more streaming services over the caveman cable shit.

Then as European, more weekend games during (NA) daytime (=my evening).

 

[Midnight Judges]

In what other sport do you get this:

MMA - except the fights are far superior.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I’d buy an ad during the Super Bowl showing an NFL fan depressed that football season is over. They begrudgingly try watching an NBA game. After the 15th timeout in two minutes they’re even more depressed.

Until they discover the speed, skill and physicality of the NHL.

That is intriguing but something tells me the billionaire NHL ownership class isn't going to want to trash the product of the billionaire NBA ownership class - especially when you consider these are some of the same billionaires.