Hockey is known as the official winter of Canada. The game is remembered in America when the team in 1980 won against the Soviets. Hockey is a game that glitters at times in America like the ice after the Zamboni has cleaned it. What will it take for the National Hockey League to gain audience and fan support in the United States? The fact that most people do not know about the NHL other than the fact the teams did not play two years ago and that Wayne Gretzky was a great player. Here a few ideas and these are not the be all end all but they might be start to get more in the USA to watch the game.
The NHL should take on the issue of no one in the big metropolitan areas of the states has no means to buy the expensive equipment for the game to be played. Basketball and baseball equipment is inexpensive for kids who do not have alot of money. In essence this point is that accessability to the equipment of the sport for kids is limited to the middle and upper class of the United States. Making the equipment affordable would increase accessability for new generations of fans, this could be applied to the urban areas of Canada as well.
Tell the ownership of the Chicago Blackhawks to give authority for the games to be televised locally. The city of Chicago is ready for a winning team and one thing that will help the Hawks to reach the people is to televise the games for all to watch. So far it is easy what the problem of Hockey America is, accessablity. The fact that the equipment is expensive and that television is not used in a large metropolitan area like Chicago is not good for the NHL as an entity. Correcting these issues will grow the sport to the fans and the profits will increase as well.
If you have any ideas about Hockey America leave comment. The sport has potential to reach people and give people more reason to get ready for the Stanley Cup playoffs. I would say that expansion is not the answer if the NHL is to expand it should the game through affordable equipment and more games on local and major networks.
I agree hockey does have potential and its by far the most exciting in my opinion. Did you hear about the all star Jerseys costing over 400$????Jeez, NHL is sure trying to get fans...
Hello hockey friend,
I live near Dallas and hockey surprisingly is a pretty popular sport here in the South. Not like the other three sports and NASCAR but I can see the support. I am so glad they televise most Dallas Stars games locally because that is partly how I became a fan and I also got to go to a Stars game a few years ago as well. I was disappointed that the All Star game and ratings didn't turn out better although I am one of the few fans who get Versus on my cable and actually watched the game. I don't know what to do to make hockey a more popular sport. I actually switched over to hockey from basketball, but it will probably be most popular with it's core fans because like soccer the game is not the most popular in this country and doesn't get the ratings when there are so many choices out there. That's why I like watching when a Canadian team does well in the playoffs because their fans are so loud passionate and noisy but all the Americans see is that Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and the other Canada teams don't get ratings and then they put down hockey from that. Anyways great post and I'll put you in my favorites friend. Have a great day! fenfan67
learn how to advertise. most nhl advertisements are on during nhl games. spend the money, advertise during a baseball game, a football game, deal or no deal. shows people watch. have highlights of good saves, nice goals, big hits. entice the people. either that or shove crosby down my throat as im watching the leafs play because you know how well that’s working
Hockey is a truly international game. The best players in the world come from all over the world. Few Americans are aware that their under 20 and under 18 year old national teams are among the best in the world. The NHL needs to promote these great young player in America. Show off the skills of a Phil Kessel or Jack Johnson. America loves sports heros, but have difficulty relating to Sydney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin. If you get some excitement built around these great American players people will tune in to see what the fuss is about and learn to appreciate the speed, beauty, and athleticism of the game.
Hockey can be a very tough sell in southern markets,after all,how do you make a sport that involves ice relevant to people who have most likely never seen a frozen pond.
Also hockey involves proficiency at two skill sets,ice skating and then the game itself.This makes it tough sell for both parents and children getting into a new sport,much less the cost of equipment that you mentioned.
As the USA becomes more of a recognizable force on the international scene, you will see a paralell rise in the NHL as well as hockey in general in non traditional markets....as long as the NHL dosen't mess with the game too much!
The game of hockey is intense, it is a game that is not about finesse all the time. It is about second chances and detmerination and the fight to win welcome back DMAC #25!
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