Has hockey gained popularity since scoring levels increased?

[SnowblindNYR]

For the longest time the argument was to gain popularity scoring needs to increase. Well in the last 4 or so seasons it has. Are there any stats showing that hockey gained in popularity in the last few years? Has enough time passed?

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[nhlanon1]

As a somewhat casual fan, I don't really see any increased interest in hockey. It has nothing to do with goals or really anything the NHL can control.

You need to have a lot of equipment to play hockey and you need things like rinks that aren't going to be available in many areas. A lot of people are going to be lost at that level alone.

Next, the NHL was basically locked out of mainstream coverage during their last TV deal. ESPN never covered it when they didn't have the rights to it and FS1 never really covered it. It doesn't matter how exciting your game is (see Slamball), if the talking heads like Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith don't cover it in the US, it won't go anywhere.

The next problem is that we are entering a post-cable era. While that has benefits like us being able to see all the games easy on ESPN+ and stuff, everything is going to be behind paywalls. And if you don't have a sub to that streaming service or your friend doesn't, they aren't watching it. I can't get my friends to watch youtube clips of things. Getting them to pay to watch stuff is never going to happen.

Demographics are also going to be a major problem going forward for every type of entertainment to grow. It's going to be very hard to appeal to people who speak different languages, have no real backgrounds with hockey, have very different lifestyles and have a million different free entertainment options to choose from.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Well, I haven't watched a Sharks or any hockey game since the middle of January so in essence, the NHL has lost a fan.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

No

 

[Bard Marchand]

I follow hockey all day every day on here and other social media. I listen to multiple hockey podcasts. I try to watch games from other markets if I have the time.

Then I gotta remind myself when I am in the real world talking to actual people, nobody else seems to give two bits about hockey or even know ANYTHING about it.

I saw a woman wearing a Habs hat a while ago. I nodded at her and went, "Oh, do you like the Canadiens?"

Her response was, "Oh. Canadians. Yes. Uh, Trudeau, I like him."

At the time I was really confused by her, and it only hit me later on that she somehow knew who Justin Trudeau was but she didn't know that the hat she was wearing was representing the Montreal Canadiens.

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

The younger generation is doing fine. You have some pretty popular influencers posting some hockey related stuff on social media. The problem is that media appeal like the podcasts, social media pages and stuff are still somewhat behind.

 

[LPHabsFan]

Hockey will never, ever, ever reach the level of popularity that other sports have for the simple fact that it will forever and always be viewed as a foreign or North Eastern sport that is not part of what people think of as "Americana".

 

[njdevil26]

I have no idea the level of popularity and if if has increased or not. All I know is as per Twitter, the New Jersey Devils have gained popularity 10 fold with 13-18 year old girls/women in the last 3 years.... and it's weird.

 

[RRhoads]

Where I live hockey is not very popular. If a Canadiens fan and a Maple Leaf fan lived in the same city here, they would be best friends.

 

[Nineteen67]

I think the level of play in the NHL is the worst it’s been in 50 yrs. I’ve missed one Stanley Cup presentation in the 50 yrs, Sids first, because a storm knocked out my power, however this year I may not watch the playoffs.

 

[Nineteen67]

I have no idea the level of popularity and if if has increased or not. All I know is as per Twitter, the New Jersey Devils have gained popularity 10 fold with 13-18 year old girls/women in the last 3 years.... and it's weird.

This is true. I was at some high school baseball games in South Alabama over spring break and saw a couple of teenage girls with Devils gear.

 

[HolyHagelin]

I think the level of play in the NHL is the worst it’s been in 50 yrs. I’ve missed one Stanley Cup presentation in the 50 yrs, Sids first, because a storm knocked out my power, however this year I may not watch the playoffs.

Don’t tell this to @IWantSakicAsMyGM !

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Don’t tell this to @IWantSakicAsMyGM !

He didn't quote me, or try to use bad faith arguments to claim I'm wrong. Why quote him to troll me?

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I have no idea the level of popularity and if if has increased or not. All I know is as per Twitter, the New Jersey Devils have gained popularity 10 fold with 13-18 year old girls/women in the last 3 years.... and it's weird.

Because J Hughes is bae. Seriously though, can’t hurt having a more charismatic guy lead the squad outta the doldrums.

I’d say hockey is more interesting to the casual fan now. I don’t think the league has necessarily done a good job highlighting the increased skill and scoring, but I think a random person with passing interest would enjoy a game now more than in the ‘90s.

 

[Osakahaus]

5TH PLACE SOON BABY

GARY BETTMAN IS NEVER GONNA MAKE HOCKEY POPULAR IN THE STATES LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[GreeningOil]

As a somewhat casual fan, I don't really see any increased interest in hockey. It has nothing to do with goals or really anything the NHL can control.

You need to have a lot of equipment to play hockey and you need things like rinks that aren't going to be available in many areas. A lot of people are going to be lost at that level alone.

Next, the NHL was basically locked out of mainstream coverage during their last TV deal. ESPN never covered it when they didn't have the rights to it and FS1 never really covered it. It doesn't matter how exciting your game is (see Slamball), if the talking heads like Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith don't cover it in the US, it won't go anywhere.

The next problem is that we are entering a post-cable era. While that has benefits like us being able to see all the games easy on ESPN+ and stuff, everything is going to be behind paywalls. And if you don't have a sub to that streaming service or your friend doesn't, they aren't watching it. I can't get my friends to watch youtube clips of things. Getting them to pay to watch stuff is never going to happen.

Demographics are also going to be a major problem going forward for every type of entertainment to grow. It's going to be very hard to appeal to people who speak different languages, have no real backgrounds with hockey, have very different lifestyles and have a million different free entertainment options to choose from.

On point #1- I think as tenured fans of hockey and the NHL, the increased scoring has been a treat.

For the new fans, they’ll quickly learn to love the way hockey is played now. Fast, skilled and entertaining. The McDavids and Mackinnons definitely draw new fans.

 

[tarheelhockey]

If profits and franchise values are any measure, this is the most popular the NHL has ever been.

 

[ijuka]

No.

There are too many teams, and so the talent pool is too diluted. Maybe 50% of a team's players are ones I'd consider proper NHLer.

 

[Iggys Dome]

It’ll always be 4th unless it somehow becomes more affordable and/or becomes popular with different demographics.

 

[Osakahaus]

On point #1- I think as tenured fans of hockey and the NHL, the increased scoring has been a treat.

For the new fans, they’ll quickly learn to love the way hockey is played now. Fast, skilled and entertaining. The McDavids and Mackinnons definitely draw new fans.

i actually hate the increased scoring because it makes the league a god damn joke

32 teams (soon THIRTY FOUR) is already enough. This sport is already not as large as it can be yet Gary Buttman truly thinks it can be 3rd? GTFO

 

[ryan callahan]

No. Hockey in today's social circle has become extremely niche.

 

[Nineteen67]

No. Hockey in today's social circle has become extremely niche.

It’s niche and regional. Baseball is similar but each region, or market, is bigger with more natural fans.

 

[Givememoneyback]

It's probably less popular every year, in Canada and the States. I don't think it's a quality of product issue. Honestly, if my mother didn't go to Ferris State and get me into Hockey as a kid on a great rink, I probably would have never become a fan.

 

[Grinner]

Hockey just isn't a TV friendly sport

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Well, I haven't watched a Sharks or any hockey game since the middle of January so in essence, the NHL has lost a fan.