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Fantasygod
Prospect
Joined: 16 May 2006
Posts: 8
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 Posted: 6/1/2006, 8:53 am Post subject: How long can hockey last? |
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Is hockey really that dead? It had come back from the lockout year and it really is not mainstream being on OLN network and such. I had come to the conclusion that the main reason that the sport is fading is the exposue, the fact thatthey play too many games and that it does not translate too well to television (people can not follow the puck).
What do you guys think about that?
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shamedog18
Moderator
Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Posts: 2564
Location: Long Island
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| Posted: 6/2/2006, 2:21 am Post subject: |
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Eh, I think for the past decade or so the problem has been mainly marketing and lack of interest in the sport. Maybe it doesn't translate that well into television and maybe it is hard to follow the puck sometimes, but that wouldn't explain the success the league was having in the late 80's and early 90's when the T.V. quality was even poorer.
Honestly, I think the NHL had a great season this year. Attendance was actually up from the previous season, and no other sports league has ever been able to say that the year after a work stoppage. The league being teing on OLN is not a product of the shape the league is in right now necessarily, but a hit that it took from the season erased from the lockout. The contract was signed before the season and also goes through next season, but if the league continues to progress the way it has this season I'd be surprised if they don't cut a deal with ESPN after next season. |
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Champ3233
Top Prospect
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 76
Location: Provo, UT
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| Posted: 6/2/2006, 9:36 am Post subject: |
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I personally think hockey is in trouble. Unfortunately for hockey, one of the best post-seasons they've had in a while (with #8 Edmonton beating everyone to get the the Stanley Cup Finals) has been over-shadowed by one of the best NBA playoffs in recent history.
But I think the general attitude toward hockey is that it's really not an "American" sport. When you go to espn.com, the tabs along the top are put in the order in which they are clicked on the most - the NHL tab falls behind NASCAR. Also, on the popular show PTI that is shown on ESPN, the question was posed to both Wilbon and Kornheiser which they would be watching...The National Spelling Bee or Game 7 of the Easter Conference Hockey Finals - the answer.....the Spelling Bee (which I and my co-workers also watched over Game 7 - of course, only during commercial breaks of the Mavs/Suns game!)
I just think hockey did themselves no favors by having the lockout - that really hurt their support from the average sports fan.
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arh843
Prospect
Joined: 07 Dec 2005
Posts: 36
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| Posted: 6/4/2006, 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| What you guys are talking about is just the american market. Here in Canada, hockey is as popular as ever. Thats because in every city except Toronto thats the only thing we've got in the wintertime. Thats why a city of under a million can get almost 17000 a game in the regular season(edmonton), even when their not doing so well. Sports fans in Canada have no choice but to be at least part-time hockey fans. In the american market, however, there's NBA, NASCAR, MLB, and more to compete with, and these sports have always been embedded in the American identity, while hockey hasn't. It's a tough market to crack into. But this market is crucial if the league is going to survive. I think that the rule changes after the lockout make for a better game that americans will hopefully come to enjoy. More american players coming into the league may also help. and a fat TV contract wouldnt hurt. |
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Everlong
Prospect
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 26
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| Posted: 6/21/2006, 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| Hockey just doesn't have the same following in the states but that doesn't mean it's dying as a sport. |
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eddymn
Prospect
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: 6/21/2006, 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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hockey is a canadian and northern USA phenomenon. In Minnesota, hockey rules! Pockets of Massachusetts and Michigan are into it as well. it will never be a nationwide sport because southerners never will know the thrill of skating on a pond or taking a slap shot off your ankle when it is 20 below. Somehow, you learn to love that!
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sr6622
Prospect
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 11
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| Posted: 7/6/2006, 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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Hockey is the national sport of Canada and will always be popular there. I know some people are saying to bring a team back to Winnipeg or Quebec.
The US, especially the South, just hasn't grasped hockey. Also, hockey is an expensive sport and many don't have the luxury of growing up with the game. The weather also constitutes to this. For sports purposes, playing bball and football is much easier than playing hockey.
I personally didn't like how the NHL tried to expand like crazy in the US. I think it's losing money and is looking for a payoff that just may never be there. |
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bicepsforyou
Prospect
Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 23
Location: Florida
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| Posted: 7/14/2006, 5:35 pm Post subject: Hockey is ded |
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I gotta say I never even saw 1 playoff game.
Nelson |
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Lunatic
Prospect
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 17
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| Posted: 7/24/2006, 11:17 am Post subject: |
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I think Hockey's biggest problem could of been the work stoppage. I was a big hockey fan, and I still love the sport. But with the stoppage, it became so hard to follow, as a lot of teams had a completely different look as far as their roster goes.
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bicepsforyou
Prospect
Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 23
Location: Florida
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| Posted: 7/25/2006, 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Hope hockey never dies! |
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