Hockey Fans: What Shoud Be Done?

[DeltaSigStan]

Though I'm a native San Diegan and the only hockey experience we have is an ECHL team, I love hockey more than basketball and baseball. There's just more tradition and discipline amongst NHL players that you don't see in other sports.

The CBA talks, the Mike Danton situation, declining ratings, attendance issues. What do you think should be done to generate interest again outside of hardcore hockey fans?

ESPN has said two things of note: Too many teams dilute the talent, and the league needfs to market stars instead of teams. Do you agree?

I don't know, I love hokcye, and I'd like to not have to worry about no NHL in the future.

[PM_Mama00]

Despite the not so great season we had last year....

The Detroit Red Wings of Hockeytown most definately DO NOT need help in ratings and attendance!

I guess we could move some of the Detroiters to the other areas and bring on the craziness that they are!

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
ESPN has said two things of note: Too many teams dilute the talent, and the league needfs to market stars instead of teams. Do you agree?

I disagree. I don't think teams need to market stars. Sure it will be bring in new fans, but I think it will only do that for a short period of time. You have a few great players and non-fans are like woo-hoo!! Superstar athlete endorsing Nike! I want to be like him, but they still won't udnerstand or appreciate the game.

If you want teams with stars you need to get rid of the goon players who don't produce. Then you have teams filled with goal scores and exciting talented players and the get rid of the fighting that detracts for the game.

Alos having teams with a bunch of star players does nothing. Look at the New York Rangers. They have/had tons of star players (Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Eric Lindros to name a few) and the biggest payroll of any NHL team and what has it gotten them...dick all! The problem is star plyers play for themself and not the team. The do whatever they want and because they "fill seats" (not always) teams keep them around. Well fans want to see their team in the Stanley Cup finals. Not some jack ass player who makes millions of bucks and does nothing.

Another thing is get a commisioner who knows the game (this should be applied to all sports). get someone who is experienced in marketing and promotions and not some lawyer, who can really market the game, someone who's knowledgable and knows what old fans want but also can attract new fans.

ETA: Also, if you want new fans you have to start at the grassroots level. You need to get the kids involved in the game. Put them in houseleagues, get rep teams going. Take the kids out to watch minor league, Jr. A level games.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
I disagree. I don't think teams need to market stars. Sure it will be bring in new fans, but I think it will only do that for a short period of time. You have a few great players and non-fans are like woo-hoo!! Superstar athlete endorsing Nike! I want to be like him, but they still won't udnerstand or appreciate the game.

Few on the planet could explain to you the intricate nature of the Cover2 defense, or how to trap-block . . . yet the NFL is the most popular television (and attendance) sport in the nation.

Just saying, you don't need to market a deep understanding of the game . . . or an underlying appreciation for its subtleties.

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
If you want teams with stars you need to get rid of the goon players who don't produce. Then you have teams filled with goal scores and exciting talented players and the get rid of the fighting that detracts for the game.

For someone who's promoting an understanding of the game and its traditions, you seem willing to toss one aside . . . the 'goon' (or, more likely, enforcer) has been a part of hockey since Eddie Shore laced 'em up. The game is physical by nature, and it allows roster spots for players purely versed in physicality - fighting is a PART of the game.

Did you complain when Vinny LeCavalier and Jarome Iginla fought? They're not goons . . . they're the best players on the ice, and that was a pivotal moment of the Cup finals to date.

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi

Alos having teams with a bunch of star players does nothing. Look at the New York Rangers. They have/had tons of star players (Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Eric Lindros to name a few) and the biggest payroll of any NHL team and what has it gotten them...dick all! The problem is star plyers play for themself and not the team. The do whatever they want and because they "fill seats" (not always) teams keep them around. Well fans want to see their team in the Stanley Cup finals. Not some jack ass player who makes millions of bucks and does nothing.

Um, they won the cup in '94 w/ Messier and all them . . . only recently, they have begun overpaying for players on the downside of their careers with albatross contracts.

Regardless - the argument is that, when promoting the league, you need to promote your star players. This works in every other sport - football, baseball, and especially the NBA. For a renaissance in hockey attendance and interest, it is necessary to actually do something to pander to the casual fan.

You want to TAKE AWAY fighting?! The NFL actively promotes the violence of its game, and it currently outdraws everything else (and by a huge amount). Promote your star offensive players, and the overwhelming and amazing physicality and artistry of the game. Then, cap salaries reasonably (like the NBA has) in the new CBA, allowing you to drop ticket prices, allowing a more blue-collar fan base into the stadium.

Think about this: More than any other sport (excepting possibly football), hockey has traditionally been a sport of blue-collar interest. Ticket prices almost unilaterally exclude this type of casual fan.

Do the math.

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
Another thing is get a commisioner who knows the game (this should be applied to all sports). get someone who is experienced in marketing and promotions and not some lawyer, who can really market the game, someone who's knowledgable and knows what old fans want but also can attract new fans.

Bettman is quite solid - compared to someone like David Stern, he may not have the same knack for marketing, but I'd say he compares favorably to all major sports and their analogs.

Think about this:

Outside of Canada, who has rallied around the Flames . . . what is the interest in a Tampa Bay/Calgary finals?

In the states, teams like the Avs, Red Wings, Devils, and etc carry much better viewership and a larger following.

Maybe the problem is less with the actual play on the ice, and more with who's playing.




Anyway, to recap: market stars, don't make drastic moves to increase scoring or decrease fighting (ie moving to 4 on 4, etc), do make moves to continue to eliminate trapping by enforcing obstruction and interference rules in the neutral zone, create a 'world cup' to keep fan interest in between olympics, and create stronger grassroots interest in the game by creating youth programs a la baseball and basketball.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by KSig RC
Anyway, to recap: market stars, don't make drastic moves to increase scoring or decrease fighting (ie moving to 4 on 4, etc), do make moves to continue to eliminate trapping by enforcing obstruction and interference rules in the neutral zone, create a 'world cup' to keep fan interest in between olympics, and create stronger grassroots interest in the game by creating youth programs a la baseball and basketball.

They do have a world cup of hockey. It's actually this summer at the end of august.

Also the have the world championships every year.

They also have the world Jr. championships every year around christmas time. Very exciting hockey and you will be able to watch future NHLers.

Not tomention the woman's hockey championships too.


And fighting is not part of the game. No league allows fighting. Contact is not allowed until player reach midget (in houseleague...the oldest kids) or until Bantam (in rep hockey...some league might allow it at the major pee wee level in rep hockey).

There is a huge difference in contact and fighting. You can have amazingly skilled players still throwing the hits. But fighting is bullshit. It totally takes away from the game. A few good hits get fan going more than a stupid fight. A great check will have fans talking for days. I fight. A few minutes. The only reason why the LaCavalier/Iginla fight is still being talked about is because they are to great players that NEVER fight. It's like Gretzky and Lemeuix fighting. You can be DAMNed sure that everyone would talk about and you'd probably get more people watching the next game between their 2 teams to see if they would go at it again.

I don't mind contact at all. Contact is part of the game. In fact I would like to see contact in womans hockey.

Skilled players that can throw checks are more fun to watch than goon plyers that can't do shit except jersey someone.