Why is international hockey not popular?

[sr edler]

You have a Florida Panthers picture. What do you know about best of the best?

Ouch, serious 3rd degrees burn.

 

[Coinneach]

In the Czech Republic 1,5 million viewers saw game again Sweden. It was Friday's most watched broadcast across all stations.

 

[saskriders]

TSN and their advertisers don't pump out the over the top nationalism like at the world juniors.

 

[Macbanan]

Despite not being best on best, it's a whole bunch of good players representing each team in a way that largely keeps the power balance between countries.

It's just fun to see Ovechkin play with Malkin, Pettersson with Nylander, Gaudreau with Larkin and other player combination that you don't get to see otherwise.

My point is... it's a great tournament! if you're not watching then you're missing out.

 

[Star Ocean]

Judging by the great attendence by this years whc we can close this thread.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Its big everywhere but North America.

Its one of the only times people can watch the talents they grew up watching in their teens until they got drafted to NHL.. So of course Europeans hope "their" NHLers wants to play at the IIHF or Olympics when it happens. Why do you think a lot of people have a love hate relationship towards NHL?

NHL do have European fans, but because of when games are played its hard to watch alot of games.

I would argue this is the exact same explanation holding up a bunch of North American buy-in on the World's. Now I dvr Team USA games and I watch them after work, but I am not watching any of this tournament live Mon-Fri because of work. I got up today at 6AM to throw it on though and I know there are people that follow it, but the timing is poor for most in NA to seriously follow a lot of this tournament.

Those are just realities. But this tournament is wildly popular in Europe, I disagree with the way this OP was phrased. I think it would be bigger in NA if it wasn't only hosted here once in a blue moon but reality it is going to struggle to be watched Monday through Friday same reason you can explain why some massive hockey fans overseas have no interest in the NHL despite the standard of play being the highest of any league.

 

[Jon Riley]

I would argue this is the exact same explanation holding up a bunch of North American buy-in. Now I dvr Team USA games and I watch them after work, but I am not watching any of this tournament live Mon-Fri because of work. I got up today at 6AM to throw it on though and I know there are people that follow it, but the timing is poor for most in NA to seriously follow a lot of this tournament.

Those are just realities. But this tournament is wildly popular in Europe, I disagree with the way this OP was phrased. I think it would be bigger in NA if it wasn't only hosted here once in a blue moon but reality it is going to struggle to be watched Monday through Friday same reason you can explain why some massive hockey fans overseas have no interest in the NHL despite the standard of play being the highest of any league.

Yeah, that's pretty much the main thing.
You really have to be very committed to set an alarm clock in the middle of the night before a working day to watch a sport event.
I like the NHL, yet I only watch the matinee matches or the ones that are going on when one of my kids decide to keep me up in the middle of the night.
I would do the same for a WHC that takes place in NA (which would just be fair to organize more often, though)

 

[Rob]

International hockey isn’t popular because there are no tournaments where the best in the world are playing. It is truly heartbreaking. I envy FIFA so much.

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

I would argue this is the exact same explanation holding up a bunch of North American buy-in on the World's. Now I dvr Team USA games and I watch them after work, but I am not watching any of this tournament live Mon-Fri because of work. I got up today at 6AM to throw it on though and I know there are people that follow it, but the timing is poor for most in NA to seriously follow a lot of this tournament.

Those are just realities. But this tournament is wildly popular in Europe, I disagree with the way this OP was phrased. I think it would be bigger in NA if it wasn't only hosted here once in a blue moon but reality it is going to struggle to be watched Monday through Friday same reason you can explain why some massive hockey fans overseas have no interest in the NHL despite the standard of play being the highest of any league.

I believe that Quebec City's hosting back around 2010 is the only time it's been in NA?
If it came to NA once in a blue moon, it might be more popular? Halifax/Moncton/QC could host, as no NHL in the area. Boston/Montreal are the closest NHL cities, 14 hours by car from Halifax.

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

Despite not being best on best, it's a whole bunch of good players representing each team in a way that largely keeps the power balance between countries.

It's just fun to see Ovechkin play with Malkin, Pettersson with Nylander, Gaudreau with Larkin and other player combination that you don't get to see otherwise.

My point is... it's a great tournament! if you're not watching then you're missing out.

It's not balanced, look at team Russia roster vs Team Canada. Team Canada has won the last two Olympic Games and not a player from Sochi is here. On the other hand, Russia is very close to a roster that would represent it at an Olympic "best on best".

 

[Lambo]

For North Americans! Look to the game SVK vs FIN. Goose bumps atmosphere and a very exciting speedy game. This is the reason why people outside NA like WHC.

 

[Urbanskog]

I would do the same for a WHC that takes place in NA (which would just be fair to organize more often, though)

"Fair"? A North American country has applied to host the event exactly once in the last several decades and their bid won by a landslide. The IIHF can't force anyone to host the event, there's absolutely nothing unfair about this. I am sure that Canada or the US would win with their bid once again if they decided to apply.

 

[Nexon]

"Fair"? A North American country has applied to host the event exactly once in the last several decades and their bid won by a landslide. The IIHF can't force anyone to host the event, there's absolutely nothing unfair about this. I am sure that Canada or the US would win with their bid once again if they decided to apply.

I can see it happen in 2058 on 150 years of IIHF anniversary. In USA there won’t be any marketing point for that, just what happened in Buffalo (way more important WJC) exactly the same thing would happen here. It could happen in any Canadian city maybe except Toronto, because Canadian teams are far from making it far in PO. And it would certainly attract decent amount of people, based on fact it’s “hockey”.

I don’t think it will happen in near future though, there is no push to happen it there honestly. Maybe they could hold it in September. There is no way for it to make best on best, never all, not even majority of players will show up from NA teams.

 

[Jon Riley]

"Fair"? A North American country has applied to host the event exactly once in the last several decades and their bid won by a landslide. The IIHF can't force anyone to host the event, there's absolutely nothing unfair about this. I am sure that Canada or the US would win with their bid once again if they decided to apply.

I mean "fair" from a fanbase point of view. That said, I'm happy that it doesn't happen more often. A whc tournament in NA would be a tournament that I would not be able to watch, my solidarity towards american fanbase is not strong enough to make up for that.

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

"Fair"? A North American country has applied to host the event exactly once in the last several decades and their bid won by a landslide. The IIHF can't force anyone to host the event, there's absolutely nothing unfair about this. I am sure that Canada or the US would win with their bid once again if they decided to apply.

I'm a bit surprised that QC/Halifax was the only time that NA has submitted a bid.
I think that QC, with a new NHL sized arena, Halifax (10,500)and Moncton with a brand new arena, (9,000) would be a slam dunk. Heck, you may even get Maritimers such as Crosby, Mackinnon,Marchand,Couturier, to play if their team is eliminated from NHL playoffs??

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

I think its very popular internationally, but dumb of the tournament to compete with the NHL playoffs every year. Wait 2 weeks after the Finals are done.

 

[Bures Elbow]

Because for the most part it's not best on best.

The times Team Canada brought over a solid team I usually watch the world championships. (even when they lost in the quarters etc with great teams on paper)

 

[Albatros]

I think its very popular internationally, but dumb of the tournament to compete with the NHL playoffs every year. Wait 2 weeks after the Finals are done.

That would mean playing in June, months after European leagues have ended and players have started their summer holidays.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It’s worth considering that no form of hockey other than the NHL and Olympics gets real attention in North America. Some people notice the WJC, but that’s mainly for its implications toward the NHL draft and future Olympic teams. But most people just don’t care about hockey to the extent of following minor leagues, overseas leagues, non-Olympic international tournaments, etc.

For that matter, it’s like that across the board in NA sports culture, with the exception of college sports (which again is top-tier competition in that age group). The only NA sports fans who take non-Olympic international play seriously are soccer fans, and that’s directly connected to soccer having a European-based culture.

 

[Zamboni Parade]

From a North American point of view the geography simply doesn't lend itself very well to international matches, you could have Canada and the US play each other a gazillion times but not much else unless you're prepared to fly to another continent all the time. In Europe on the other hand you've got many countries in relatively close proximity so international competitions are much easier to set up. Even more so in past times which I reckon is why international play is much more ingrained in Euro sports culture.

 

[jj cale]

It’s worth considering that no form of hockey other than the NHL and Olympics gets real attention in North America. Some people notice the WJC, but that’s mainly for its implications toward the NHL draft and future Olympic teams. But most people just don’t care about hockey to the extent of following minor leagues, overseas leagues, non-Olympic international tournaments, etc.

For that matter, it’s like that across the board in NA sports culture, with the exception of college sports (which again is top-tier competition in that age group). The only NA sports fans who take non-Olympic international play seriously are soccer fans, and that’s directly connected to soccer having a European-based culture.

WJC in Canada is huge too.

 

[ecemleafs]

IIHF doesnt help things when they put a North American team on at noon CET time. There are only 2 north american teams in the tournament. Why is the USA playing at 6am eastern time, 3am pacific on a sunday?

 

[pld459666]

Part of the reason that folks don't like these tournaments is the level of mismatches

The games between USA-France and Sweden-Italy are soooo boring.

I absolutely cannot stand when one team gets dominated the way both France and Italy were today.

These are not games I have any interest in suffering through.

They are not fun on the eyes

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

That would mean playing in June, months after European leagues have ended and players have started their summer holidays.

So when everyone is off? Sounds like the perfect time.

 

[Albatros]

Even more players would refuse than now, and everyone except the NHL finalists would be badly out of shape.