Ok, I realize I'm not really going out on a limb here, but the NHL has big time issues. Their problems really bother the hell out of me because I really love the sport of hockey. The speed, action, and skill are second to none. (You also used to be able to include physicality, but to every real fan's dismay, it has been legislated out of the sport in the "new NHL.") The NHL is such a great sport and really needs an upgrade to improve the sport and get people interested again. As evidence of the decline in interest in the sport, check out these stats that I came across in John Buccigross' ESPN.com column:
Oh well, on this bleak winter night, I should be jacked about hockey, but I'm not. Of course, the Flyers' piss poor season doesn't help, but is anyone else disappointed at how bad things have become for the NHL?
In a New York Times article from Feb. 2, Richard Sandomir reported that 736 people watched the Jan. 27 Devils-Panthers game on MSG ... 736. Here are other numbers from Sandomir's column:Wow, how did things become this bad? How can more people be interested in watching a bunch of stoners doing snow board flips at Winter X Games or watch Roger Federer destroy a bunch of panzies in the Australian friggin' Open than taking in a great game of hockey? Stats like these should be a mandate for the owners to seek Bettman's resignation. Anyhow, the above linked article by Buccigross has some great ideas on how to improve the league. He also swayed me as to increasing the size of the nets. It doesn't seem so cheezy to me now that I've seen his take on the issue.
• The Devils average 13,206 households for their televised games.
• The Islanders average just 7,336.
• The Rangers average 36,834.
• Of all Fox Sports Net regional channels, the Red Wings lead all NHL teams (average 96,915).
• This season's All-Star Game drew 691,000 viewers.
• 2.7 million watched in 2004.
• 6.5 million watched in 1996.
I have numbers from some of our own network's recent ratings. On Jan. 28, 925,377 people watched the Winter X Games between 9:13-11:21 p.m. On ESPN2, 824,360 people watched a replay of the Australian Open men's final.
Oh well, on this bleak winter night, I should be jacked about hockey, but I'm not. Of course, the Flyers' piss poor season doesn't help, but is anyone else disappointed at how bad things have become for the NHL?
4 comments:
First of all, you have to discount the three first teams that you referenced. The Rangers and Islanders? Those fans are waiting for the Yankees/Mets to get going. The Devils? They were lucky they had one sell-out the year after they won the cup. That's why they're moving to Newark. Their fans could give a crap, so why not move to a hell-hole that no one will want to go to? No one went to see them when they were the defending champs.
Why did the All Star game do so bad? Because they showed it mid-week on a channel that most people don't get!
Do they have problems? Well yeah, but they're easily fixable. Get rid of Bettman, ease up on some of the penalties they're calling now, and see what they get.
If you ask any real fan out there, their inevitable answer will be something along the lines of "It would be great if we could see some old time hockey."
I did read somewhere that hockey is coming back to ESPN2 next season. That would help some. I haven't been able to watch the Flyers games the last two night because I don't get VS. I can't even watch the playoffs. That league is about to collapse if nothing is done soon.
Inside joke coming....
Am I the only one that's bothered by the fact that there's someone with the last name of Zajac on the Devils?
Alex, I hold you responsible.
The bigger nets theory is ridiculous. I don't need to see 7-6 games. Just let them hit each other again and I will be happy. Stop turning the pint sized Daniel Briere's of the world into stars because you can't touch them.
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