Why is international hockey not popular?

[sandysan]

because the quality is not befitting "world championship" status. It's more 'casual world tournament'

That's not exceedingly generous

 

[sandysan]

Zero interest in watching the Olympics since NHL players stopped going.

Watching two superpowers ice their F teams is boring and attaching any meaning/emotion to the end result is straight up stupid.[/QUOTE]
Yet when I say it shannaban!

 

[Passionis]

Because.. Money.

NHL has WAY more money than IIHF. And with that money they basically control what is advertised and marketed for the consumer, in North America. They basically have their own broadcast network.

But what about The U20 Popularity in Canada?? FOR the North American audience, it's an NHL prospect tournament created by TSN, largely focused on the draft aspect. It's almost never best on best btw

You can bet, without changing much else the WC with the same marketing budget as the NHL product and held in NA regularly, the ratings would be amazing Even with these rosters. Nhl would lose money for sure.

And why would anyone want to lose money?

 

[robertmac43]

It's a tough sell when 1) There are not as many enticing match ups due to the lack of prominent nations and 2) These tournaments are after thoughts for the players (at least since NHLers were absent from the Olympics). Players at the Worlds would rather still be battling it out in the Playoffs, and some guys don't even show because they need a break from the game.

 

[robertmac43]

Something that I cannot understand that soccer players are (usually) willing to participate in friendlies in the middle of the season which mean absolutely nothing

I wouldn't say they mean nothing. Players for the most part want to play in these friendlies as it keeps there name in consideration for future Major tournaments. For instance if you don't show in the October International break, you may not get a look come Euro qualifiers.

 

[wetcoast]

It is popular. It’s just Canadians and Americans who doesn’t care about cuz it’s not “best on best” tournament.

Sure there is some of that forsure and rightly so people tend to prefer watching "the best" more than others.

Also the time difference in watching international hockey and the saturation of being able to watch only so much NHL playoff hockey to allow watching even more for most people with jobs.

 

[HanSolo]

To the point of int. hockey in general: not enough nations are consistently threatening. It's the same 5-6 countries that have any credible chance at a win every year.

Then you have the notable events:

Olympics: What was at one time the closest thing the sport had to a true world cup is now sapped of any compelling narratives without NHL participation. Even the the annual world championship has more of a collection of talent than this. I'm not even being sarcastic when I say I was more invested in the Women's tournament. At least in that case it was the best of the best in that gender class.

The "World Cup" of hockey: Nothing more than an overglorified all-star tournament with the teams divided by nationality. Any tournament that consolidates the players not from the "big" European nations and the North American players under 23 into two meme teams is not a world cup of anything. Watching that U-23 team may have been fun but I really pray they never do that joke of a tournament again. Very little could be done to make it less compelling.

The Annual World Championships: Basically take the World Cup of hockey. Make it every year and instead of having all the best players from any given nation available, the roster make up is always dependent on which NHL teams lost in the first round of the playoffs, leaving every competitive field every year a bit of a crapshoot. But hey, at least they don't snub weaker countries' national teams by making a "Team Europe"

WJC U-20: Among dedicated hockey fans, this tournament probably gets more hype because of the high competitive level and the promise of seeing future NHL stars in a tournament with a rich history of eventual stars having dominant performances. But to casual fans and fans who have yet to quite get into hockey, there's little to draw them in and so the tournament still has a bit of niche status.

 

[Maestro84]

I believe it's very popular in many European countries, but not nearly as much in Canada and the States.

To answer OP's question, IMO some of the reasons why it isn't more mainstream in NA is because:

- the event is mostly hosted in Europe and rarely in NA
- it's never a "best on best" competition since a lot of the elite NHL players (particularly those who are North American) are still competing for the cup in the postseason, while the Euro leagues have already completed their season if I'm not mistaken
- they're a lot of other events going on in NA sports in spring such as the NHL and NBA playoffs simultaneously occurring, along with the start of MLB season, the NFL draft and free agency and even the conclusion of the Champions League (which is very popular among the younger demographic, at least in Canada it is)
- other international hockey events such as the Olympics and World Juniors are viewed as more prestigious of events for hockey in this continent.

 

[KevinRedkey]

There is such a thing as too much hockey. NA has a lot of it already.

I assume people in Spain don't really care about MLS for the same reasons.

 

[Oddbob]

The WC is not popular because it is a short tourney on during hockey's clearly more important Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the top teams, in particular Canada don't have their best players most of the time, because they are still playing in the NHL playoffs.

 

[Konnan511]

I wanted to watch the USA game today and it was only available in German. That's why it's not popular here.

 

[Mikeshane]

Play the tournament in North America and it'll get more interest in North America.

 

[Phil McKraken]

I don't get the "not best-on-best" argument when the WJC:s are so much more popular in NA. The best U20 players pretty much never play because they're already in the NHL. It probably has more to do with marketing and with the games being played in Europe most of the time.

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

I don't get the "not best-on-best" argument when the WJC:s are so much more popular in NA. The best U20 players pretty much never play because they're already in the NHL. It probably has more to do with marketing and with the games being played in Europe most of the time.

To be fair, there's a pretty big difference between missing your 2-3 best players, and missing most of your best 30-40 players.

With that said, I agree with you that "best-on-best" is not the real reason. Timezones likely have way more to do with it.

A couple of other points:
1) IMO Canadians have a bit of possessiveness in their relationship with hockey, for better or worse (ex. the "It's our game !" banter). The IIHF and WCs don't always sit well with that. Big ice, different rules, always held in Europe. Plus, for a while, the tournament, like the Olympics, adopted rules that put Team Canada at a big disadvantage. This led to Canadians not having a lot of affection for the tournament.

2) That attachment to international competition seems to come naturally to Europeans. Which makes sense: a big patchwork of many neighboring countries with distinct cultures and identities, but also with shared history, friendly rivalries and old grudges. If you were to create a perfect environment for international sport competition, you'd probably create Europe. Canada is not in the same situation, and I think it affects the way Canadians approach international sport.

 

[BigBadBoar]

To be fair, there's a pretty big difference between missing your 2-3 best players, and missing most of your best 30-40 players.

With that said, I agree with you that "best-on-best" is not the real reason. Timezones likely have way more to do with it.

A couple of other points:
1) IMO Canadians have a bit of possessiveness in their relationship with hockey, for better or worse (ex. the "It's our game !" banter). The IIHF and WCs don't always sit well with that. Big ice, different rules, always held in Europe. Plus, for a while, the tournament, like the Olympics, adopted rules that put Team Canada at a big disadvantage. This led to Canadians not having a lot of affection for the tournament.

2) That attachment to international competition seems to come naturally to Europeans. Which makes sense: a big patchwork of many neighboring countries with distinct cultures and identities, but also with shared history, friendly rivalries and old grudges. If you were to create a perfect environment for international sport competition, you'd probably create Europe. Canada is not in the same situation, and I think it affects the way Canadians approach international sport.

I understand it basically the same way : International sport in general is something which naturally affects Europeans more than the North Americans. All the national identities, rivalries between countries, which are relatively small compared to the NA, but with long histories and own specific cultures. You wrote it well.

 

[Sam Spade]

Too many? For seniors there is only WC. Olympics are once per 4 years and it may be without NHL players for 20 years or so...

I'm pretty sure the NHL will be in the Olympics in 2022.

 

[Albatros]

I wouldn't say they mean nothing. Players for the most part want to play in these friendlies as it keeps there name in consideration for future Major tournaments. For instance if you don't show in the October International break, you may not get a look come Euro qualifiers.

Not to mention soccer players are not entitled to refuse international call ups. They can retire from international football if they so wish, but as long as they remain active they have a duty to play whenever selected.

 

[maclean]

The WC is not popular because it is a short tourney

I mean, being a relatively short tournament is one of the things that makes it great - games on every day for much of the tournament keeps the interest and atmosphere up, plus it's at the time of the year when it gets nice out and you want to be out somewhere watching it on a big projection screen. There is a positive feedback loop in terms of people being interested and watching it together pushing up interest. But Europe is historically just more social in that way, with people living closer together.

 

[goonybird]

I don't get the "not best-on-best" argument when the WJC:s are so much more popular in NA. The best U20 players pretty much never play because they're already in the NHL. It probably has more to do with marketing and with the games being played in Europe most of the time.

When Crosby McDavid Matthews etc. aren't at the WHC it's not even the best of what's left. At least the WJHC is the best available players.

 

[Kalzu]

Football has Champions League, basketball has Euroleague, handball has Champions League so... what?

The status of these interleague competitions varies between sports. In soccer it may be bigger than national leagues, in others it may be barely comparable to winning a strong national league, and e.g. in hockey it's more like a glorified exhibition tournament. Also in soccer it's very much just a handful of countries with teams capable of winning the CL while some potential WC/Euro title contenders don't have proper CL title contenders. So in many European countries the national team may be the only team capable of winning a big title. Then again, North America have teams playing for the Stanley Cup so it's not such a big surprise they don't care that much about international play, especially since their sports culture is so much centered around the professional leagues.

The IIHF Worlds do well in catering to the European crowd. But to get the North American crowd into international play, there needs to be a best-on-best tournament, preferably the Olympics. For any other best-on-best tournament it would take time to properly establish its position in the sport.

 

[letsgocaps]

When Crosby McDavid Matthews etc. aren't at the WHC it's not even the best of what's left. At least the WJHC is the best available players.

But that's not the tournament's problem if your players won't show up.

So in many European countries the national team may be the only team capable of winning a big title. Then again, North America have teams playing for the Stanley Cup so it's not such a big surprise they don't care that much about international play, especially since their sports culture is so much centered around the professional leagues.
The IIHF Worlds do well in catering to the European crowd. But to get the North American crowd into international play, there needs to be a best-on-best tournament, preferably the Olympics. For any other best-on-best tournament it would take time to properly establish its position in the sport.

In football there aren't a lot of countries that can win a big title. Just a handful maybe. It's a low scoring sport, so you might get lucky once in a while though.
People just like to cheer for their national team even if they have no chance at winning anything. I'm thrilled to watch team France play next week, and we aren't going to win any title.
I do get that NA care more about professional leagues though.
ps: And it's not "best-on-best" , I think it hasn't been said enough

 

[goonybird]

But that's not the tournament's problem if your players won't show up.


In football there aren't a lot of countries that can win a big title. Just a handful maybe. It's a low scoring sport, so you might get lucky once in a while though.
People just like to cheer for their national team even if they have no chance at winning anything. I'm thrilled to watch team France play next week, and we aren't going to win any title.
I do get that NA care more about professional leagues though.
ps: And it's not "best-on-best" , I think it hasn't been said enough

I never said "This is the tournament's problem:" I answered the question as to why it isn't popular.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

It would be more popular if it wasn't at the same time as the playoffs and the players cared about it more. It's obviously not that big of a deal for them if so many are willing to sit it out.

Also NA hockey fans have way more allegiance to their club team than their national team.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

The Olympics are popular.

 

[robertmac43]

When it comes down to to it there really is not much international interest outside of soccer in the big 5 sports.