Which top ten NHL cities are the most hockey crazy right now?

[TOGuy14]

Leafs and Habs are probably 1A / 1B for this

Hockey talk is non stop during the season between Sportsnet, TSN and CBC. Tons of radio air time as well.

ACC sells out every game for prices that would make eyes bleed in other cities.

Just making the playoffs this year had Maple leaf square packed, and it was impossible to get a seat at anything resembling a sports bar in the downtown core on a game night





If the Leafs ever make a Stanley Cup final I don't know if this city would even be able to function at all.

 

[Laveuglette]

As someone who has lived in both Montreal and Toronto, it's Montreal first. It really is. And lol at people suggesting Edmonton first. That's a funny one.

 

[Dogewow]

So St. Louis needs some love here.

I am a bias homer but they SOLD OUT Busch stadium twice this year. Once for the Winter Classic of course and another for an Alumni game... Alumni game... Old guys on ice. Sold out a baseball stadium.

Seriously cannot drive down a highway in STL for longer than a few miles without seeing a Blues personalized plate or some kind of hockey bumper sticker on a car.

5 kids from St. Louis drafted in the first round in last years draft.

Hockey is HUGE here. Lately have great attendance numbers. Recent WCF appearance and two years in a row getting past the first round (hey that's good for us). So right now? Hockey is giant in STL and they are on the top 10. Easily competing with big markets and Canadian markets in terms of being a great area for hockey development. Definitely one of the best in the U.S. the past couple years.

Not to say St. Louis isn't a good hockey market and that it hasn't grown, but I don't know that they really belong on a top ten list as of yet. Definitely not ahead of most Canadian hockey markets, or hockey crazy cities in the north east/other parts of the country. Selling out an outdoor game or "seeing Blues apparel around" doesn't change that.

 

[TheKingPin]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_attendance_figures

Real answer is right here boys.

The flyers certainly stick out when looking at the numbers.

 

[TheKingPin]

Since the early 90s, the Flyers havent really been bad for more than a year at a time. You really see interest dwindle when you arent competitive for a few consecutive years. Have the Flyers even been bottom 5, aside from the JVR year?

The flyer certainly stay competitive. I would say the lack of success was the highest over the last 5 seasons or so yet we are top 5 on attendance. The people I know that are flyer fans are pretty die hard. They will have more success going forward so that should only increase. They do a good job with the youth programs. Smart moves like that ensure a good fan base.

 

[djpatm]

I think its ridiculous to claim any Canadian city besides Vancouver is more hockey mad than another. You're literally arguing about market sizes essentially. I'd put Edmonton first cause their fans stuck through one of the worst streaks of franchise failure in pro sports history but besides that they're all the same. Hockey is by far and away the #1 sport in Canada and its cities literally shut down during playoff runs.

 

[smack66]

Montreal is absolutely Habs mad but not hockey mad

 

[Cyclones Rock]

What strikes me after reading most of this thread is how solid so many NHL markets are. There are at least a dozen extremely strong markets right now. When almost half of the league's cities legitimately qualify as "hockey mad", the sport is in good shape-at least for the near term.

I'm thrilled to death to be able to get walk up $10 tickets to many weeknight games in one of the not-so-hockey crazy markets

 

[LeafFever]

I think its ridiculous to claim any Canadian city besides Vancouver is more hockey mad than another. You're literally arguing about market sizes essentially. I'd put Edmonton first cause their fans stuck through one of the worst streaks of franchise failure in pro sports history but besides that they're all the same. Hockey is by far and away the #1 sport in Canada and its cities literally shut down during playoff runs.

Read up on what Leaf fans went through with Harrold Ballard. Far worse than what Oiler fans went through,

 

[Wayne Primeau]

Your fanbase is easy to ignore, since most fans seem to only care when the team's doing well.

That's ridiculous. We've sold out every game since 2004, including some truly awful years in the early 2010s.

 

[Boreal]

Just a guess. Purely conjecture.

1) Montreal
2) Toronto
3) Calgary
4) Winnipeg
5) Edmonton
6) Minneapolis (Yes, I know... St. Paul. 99% of people in Winnipeg just know it as Minneapolis)
7) Buffalo

 

[Oilers Propagandist]

That's ridiculous. We've sold out every game since 2004, including some truly awful years in the early 2010s.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_attendance_figures

trump facts.

 

[Wayne Primeau]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_attendance_figures

trump facts.

Hmm. Hadn't seen the numbers for the last season, but I would guess having Canada's largest unemployment rate might contribute to that. My point still stands... and the Flames were good last year anyway

 

[TaLoN]

Just a guess. Purely conjecture.

1) Montreal
2) Toronto
3) Calgary
4) Winnipeg
5) Edmonton
6) Minneapolis (Yes, I know... St. Paul. 99% of people in Winnipeg just know it as Minneapolis)
7) Buffalo

Just say the Twin Cities.

 

[Ace of Hades]

Nashville is starting to get up there now.

 

[CapnZin]

I'm with you on the Pitt hate, but I find it hard to believe. Are you sure they didn't block out local stations but it was on NBC? And for now Pitt may be the hockest place in the US.

Won't be blacked out on NBC because they're the majority owner on marketing. ESPN has NBA... NBC has Hockey. I live in Pittsburgh (couple streets away from PPG Arena)... before they won the 2 Stanley cups in a row, streets weren't filled as they are during the playoffs.
Only games that aired were the NBC ones. Local stations tried to buy the games off major markets and no one would sell to them because the ratings were too low. I watched all the games downtown so it doesn't really matter anyway.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Read up on what Leaf fans went through with Harrold Ballard. Far worse than what Oiler fans went through,

Toronto has a population of over 6 million in order to fill an 18,000 seat arena

Edmonton has a 1.2 million population to fill an 18,000 seat arena
Edmonton's support is a lot more impressive considering the size of the city

 

[Zen Arcade]

Won't be blacked out on NBC because they're the majority owner on marketing. ESPN has NBA... NBC has Hockey. I live in Pittsburgh (couple streets away from PPG Arena)... before they won the 2 Stanley cups in a row, streets weren't filled as they are during the playoffs.
Only games that aired were the NBC ones. Local stations tried to buy the games off major markets and no one would sell to them because the ratings were too low. I watched all the games downtown so it doesn't really matter anyway.

Am I the only one that has no idea what this means?

 

[MikeGrier99]

Lots of stuff about the Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a fantastic fanbase and I said so in my post. My own opinion that Edmonton is more hockey mad than Toronto is because on a per capita basis I think Edmonton fans care more. No doubt there's more Leafs fans, I just think Edmonton fans are more hardcore. This doesn't take anything away from Toronto, like I said in my original post, it is a legendary hockey city. I have a suspicion you know very little about Edmonton and probably have spent very little time there and know little about hockey culture in the city. I've lived in Edmonton for 20+ years, lived in Vancouver, visited Toronto 15+ times and have family there who are Leafs fans, and currently live in Montreal. I have pretty good experience within all the major Canadian cities, my own personal opinion is that no fanbase can match Edmonton's passion on a per capita basis.

FYI, the franchise value difference between Calgary and Edmonton is almost nothing, in the ballpark of 15M, both are small market teams who's fans think they are bigger players than they are. The Canucks on the other hand, who seem to be disregarded by both Alberta fanbases, is worth hundreds of millions more, and also had better attendance numbers according to the NHL.

Have you spent much time in Western Canada? Doesn't seem like it, because most people (even Flames and Vancouver fans) don't really agree with you. Yes the Canucks are worth more than the Oilers and generate more money. But the greater Vancouver area is almost 4x bigger than the greater Edmonton area. Literally nobody on earth that understands Western Canadian hockey will think that Vancouver is a true blue hockey city in the way that Edmonton is. There are great Canucks fans, many of which don't live in Vancouver. Vancouver is one of the greatest cities in the world to live in, I love the city, but it is nowhere close to the hockey town that Edmonton is, and I think anyone that knows Canadian hockey understands this. Vancouver has many beautiful things that Edmonton does not, insane passion for hockey is most definitely not one of them. Also not sure where you got the info for attendance numbers. Edmonton had perfect attendance in the darkest days imaginable and some of the league's highest ticket prices. Vancouver didn't sell out last season with 97% attendance. Edmonton hasn't had a number that low since 2001, despite having 1/4 of the population.


With all this said, all Canadian cities have the potential for great atmospheres and I like them all. I just stick to my guns that Edmonton is one of the most hockey mad places on the planet. I will also admit I might've underrated Calgary's fan base, but I maintain that Edmonton has the clear edge in hockey passion

 

[MikeGrier99]

As someone who has lived in both Montreal and Toronto, it's Montreal first. It really is. And lol at people suggesting Edmonton first. That's a funny one.

There's many good arguments if we are talking on a per capita basis. If we are talking purely how obsessed a city is with their team, considering relative sizes of the cities, I have no doubt Edmonton and Winnipeg are above Toronto and Montreal. These are true blue hockey cities. Way more people play at the outdoor rinks, there's less other distractions, there's less diverse culture, it's more focused on hockey. Even though the Habs played poorly this playoffs, I found the playoff atmosphere in the city utterly disappointing this year. I can't tell you how many Habs fans I met that couldn't even be bothered to watch a regular season game.

 

[NeverForget06]

The Leafs have 10x the fan base size than the Oilers.
1.Leafs fans pay more (support) than Oilers fans for tickets.
2.Their team is worth more than twice what the Oilers are.
3.They have better attendance numbers than the Oilers.
4.During the past decade in which both teams sucked the Leafs didn't have a bunch of 1st overall gifts to sell hope to their fanbase, yet the fanbase stayed loyal even though Toronto has far more entertainment alternatives to turn to.
5.The Leafs have a longer and richer history.6.
6.The area is home to the highest concentration of leagues and teams in the world.
7.Highest concentration of hockey centric media.
8.Produces the most NHL players.

Yet you had the Leafs 4th and Edmonton 1st, so asking why I have Calgary over Edmonton like that is outrageous is pretty rich.

FYI, the franchise value difference between Calgary and Edmonton is almost nothing, in the ballpark of 15M, both are small market teams who's fans think they are bigger players than they are. The Canucks on the other hand, who seem to be disregarded by both Alberta fanbases, is worth hundreds of millions more, and also had better attendance numbers according to the NHL.

I numbered your points to make it easier for me to argue. Numbers 1,2,3,6,7,8 are all pretty easily explained by the fact that Toronto has 5X the people that Edmonton does, and a far larger population living within a reasonable distance of the city.


4. Not that I like to brag, but the Oilers were historically awful over the last ten years. No number of underwhelming 1st overalls, including one of the worst 1st overalls in NHL history, can off set that. Plus more people=more fans willing to come to games even when the team sucks.

5. I have great respect for the Leafs as a team of history and their part in the origins of the NHL. But I really don't think that should allow you to assume Oilers history is immediately better.

Overall, you should have posted this in the "which team is most financially successful" thread. I think Flames fans are a bunch of dummies, but I respect their passion. If I wanted to insult them, I would say they are less passionate then the Canucks fans. Watch a Canucks game and you will see their attendance is dropping fast.

 

[RDTBay4]

Lightning fans never get any respect.

 

[Pyrophorus]

5. Toronto - junior hockey and The Marlies are not on the radar

What junior teams are in Toronto?
Marlies are very much on the radar.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Toronto has a population of over 6 million in order to fill an 18,000 seat arena

Edmonton has a 1.2 million population to fill an 18,000 seat arena
Edmonton's support is a lot more impressive considering the size of the city

Then your wait list must be less?

 

[Martinez]

-Not sure why Detroit is on there. Seems like the team is trending downward at this point and don't have any real home run prospects. If I'm a fan of Detroit, I don't know that I'm feeling "hockey crazy" at the moment. People have really bought into that "hockey town" marketing gimmick, eh?

Why wouldn't Detroit be on there? We don't need a good team to be hockey crazy. Everyone is pumped for the new arena. We love hockey, red wings and all of our sports teams.