why is NHL attendance declining?

wright · Veteran Member

why is NHL attendance declining?

AB Habman · Guru

wright wrote:

From Chicago to Anaheim, NHL attendance is in decline this season. Denver had their first non sellout since '95. The Habs Blackhawks game had an announced attendance below 11,000. Detroit had their first non sellout in LA in 7 years. Gary Bettman is already doing damage control, saying it is too early to gauge what the overall league attendance numbers will be.

To me, the new rules have made the game way more enjoyable to watch. Goal scoring is up, the skill players can better demonstrate what they can do, the league has a flood of great young stars like Ovechkin,Stahl,Crosby,Malkin that make highlight reel plays on a game to game basis. Teams in the major media centers in the US such as New York and Chicago are putting out competitive interesting squads, and yet the NHL still can't get more than the last 5 minutes of coverage on ESPN.

I ecognize that the NHL will always be viewed as a "niche" sport in the US,but with the salary cap and the level of parity in the league, and the more wide open play, the game itself has never been healthier. The NHL marketing of its product should be capitalizing on the improved game, but it is not. Why is Gary Bettman not being held accountable?

It always boils down to the dollar. Just waaaay too expensive even for the middle class to afford admission to these games.

heet_150 · Guru

Colorado missed a sell-out this year. That is huge as they had some stupid number of sell-outs in a row.

AB Habman · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

Colorado missed a sell-out this year. That is huge as they had some stupid number of sell-outs in a row.

It's not Theo's fault..is it?

-- Edited by AB Habman at 23:28, 2006-10-25

chelii chilli · Member

Hockey will NEVER be able to compete with Football, Basketball, Baseball or even televised Poker.

I think it's time to accept the fact that the NHL in the USA is not as 'Cool' as it used to be.

barry33 · Guru

Plain and simple..fighting..or lack therof. For some assinine reason. Bettman thinks that it is the fighting and violence that turns American viewers and fans of. Hellooooooooooooooo Gary....have you ever gone to an NHL game in the USA and watched the fan's reactions when there is a fight or a big hit?!?? They go nuts. American fans (for the most part) do not care about pretty plays and goals..they want to see hits and knuckles.

davidb · Guru

I have not attended other sports, heck I have not been to Hockey game since I went in 1974 the year Dryden sat out. The Habs were at Boston. I know I know dont laugh but thats the last time ive been to a game. I can tell you that other sports NFL, MLB are doing well. BBall is not so hot around here ,but hockey as far as I am concerned is at an all time low. I know people who have had enough with the Bruins and they gave up their season tickets after many years. Even the Bruins have had many empty seats this year. Maybe tonight because the Habs are in town they may have a sellout. I loved hockey from the 1970s to the mid 1990s. I dont know where this sport is headed, but they beter dop something fast because people I know cannot afford to take there families to a Bruins game without spending 300.00 for parking, food and tkts. I say thats asking too much. Is is the large salaries and rising tkt prices, Lack of Fighting who knows Thats just Daves editorial from south of the border

-- Edited by davidb at 15:36, 2006-10-26

Traveling Hab · Veteran Member

There are a few concret reasons that attendance is down.

Firstly you can't judge attendance south of the border until baseball is over.

Secondly, ESPN nopt carrying games has been huge. (Americans correct me if I am wrong here but...) Most American sports fans, or at least the ones with cable, follow ESPN like we would watch TSN or RDS. ESPN has been putting much less highlights on, and of course, they do not advertise it during other sports matches, so unless someone is dedicated to hockey, it drops off the sports map very fast.

Thirdly, all the other major sports in the US are dominated by American players. I don't think that is the biggest reason, but with patriotism being promoted so strongly south of the border these days I wonder if it makes more of a difference than it used to.

Lastly, there isn't nearly as much drama as in other sports. As horrible as this is to say, when charismatic players go on trial or get involved in drug scandals ratings go up. Likewise, they have only just started promoting the players as individuals. It is kind of against hockey's philosophy to promote individualism, but it sells tickets to those who don't follow the sport religiously.

As for hockey never passing one of the other big three, before the penultimate lockout, hockey nearly passed the NBA and was projected to do so. Of course there was the lockout and the NHL dropped down in ratings while the NBA got stronger and stronger.

As for fighting, I know I enjoyed it, and I would like to see it make a comeback. With scoring up to early 90 levels wouldn't it be great if fighting was too?

30_NILAN · Member

barry33 wrote:

Plain and simple..fighting..or lack therof. For some assinine reason. Bettman thinks that it is the fighting and violence that turns American viewers and fans of. Hellooooooooooooooo Gary....have you ever gone to an NHL game in the USA and watched the fan's reactions when there is a fight or a big hit?!?? They go nuts. American fans (for the most part) do not care about pretty plays and goals..they want to see hits and knuckles.

I couldnt agree more BARRY! They are trying to turn the NHL into the Swedish Elite IKEA League. It makes me sick when i watch guys throw a hit and then get trashed for doing so!

Bring back Nilan vs Jay Miller!!

davidb · Guru

I know you want to laugh?? Jay Miller has a restaurant about 6 miles fom my house in the next town. I am not sure what Nilan is doing