When did the decline of hockey in canada happen?

[Ace Card Bedard]

I haven't seen a decline.

 

[Juxta Position]

When it became too expensive for an average family to afford

this is a major reason, if not THE major reason.

Hockey has become essentially an elitist sport and has also become a big legacy sport due to overall costs as well. Former players are the ones that can afford all the extra training/personal trainers, nutritionists, summer leagues/tournaments, travel teams, hockey academies, etc for their 12,13,14-year-old kids, which the average middle-class family can absolutely not afford.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Not sure it has declined much.
Seems like other nations which had a lot of room to improve have done just that.

 

[HockeyVirus]

If this thread wasn't obviously bait enough, the earliest poll option being almost 30 years ago while Canada has only arguably lost relevance in the last 5 or so years says it all

 

[tarheelhockey]

When it became too expensive for an average family to afford

This is the answer.

The rest of the world was always going to catch up. 1972, 1980, 1996 were going to happen. That didn’t necessarily entail a decline for Canada.

What actually caused the decline of the sport in Canada was driving the amateur game in this highly commercialized direction where it’s all about making money with academies and travel leagues and private instruction and over-engineered equipment. As in any market economy, when costs go up the rate of consumption goes down. That has removed the game from the center of working class culture, and increasingly removed it from the center of middle class culture. There’s a certain point where you tip the balance and lose participation en masse.

People will still pay to watch the professional product, but that product is increasingly dependent on an influx of foreign talent to plug holes where Canadian kids used to be competing.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Never thought was declining.
However didn’t vote, with the available options, especially since 1996 is the latest date.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Can you elaborate on what you mean?

Because I don't think it really did.

 

[BullyHockey]

Other countries got better.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Michael Jordan

Into the late 80s early 90s hockey was so far ahead of any other sport for youngsters in Canada it didn't really matter who was number two. Hockey was that much more popular. While NFL and soccer have made strides, the bulk of the growth has been in basketball.

And it all traces itself to Michael Jordan dominating the sport while being a mega sports icon. It coincided with Toronto and Vancouver getting NBA teams, the NBA actually being shown on Canadian TV, and the explosion of basketball facility availability.

Hockey is 1A to basketball's 1B in Canada now. That was unthinkable 30 years ago.

People point to demographics and that plays a part of it. But it doesn't explain why all my (white suburban) cousin's kids are obsessed with basketball and don't care about hockey.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

Canada has only arguably lost relevance in the last 5 or so years says it all

Hm. I won't think too hard about this. Good day.

 

[Turin]

Economy? Broken.
Hockey? Expensive.
Population? Replaced.
Broadcasts? Rogers.
Tims? Rancid.

 

[Ben White]

The salary cap, not only a Canadian issue though