Why is it that hockey, an exciting and fast-paced game, attracts the fewest television viewers compared to any other major sport on TV. Just to give you an idea:

In the US, only 1.013 million viewers saw Game 1 of the finals ... which is the second lowest rating of any finals game in the last 14 years on ESPN. In Canada, it was watched my 3.1 million viewers ... which is the second highest rating in the last 10 years.

I understand why Canadians are tuning in in large numbers (considering I'm Canadian myself :D ) but why is it such a drag in the US market. I mean, why would people rather tune in to watch baseball, for example, (which in my opinion is among the most boring of all major sports ... no offence to all you baseball fans) instead of watching hockey ... especially since it's the finals. Is there some psychological reasoning behind this?

It reminds Americans of Canada and well... figure out the rest.

I don't know. I like hockey. I think Americans are more into football. Hockey's better though.

As a Canadian I too once wrestled with the question, 'Why don't Americans like hockey?' No longer.

Hockey, to Americans, is a fringe sport equal in popularity to arena football and billiards.

Hockey, to Canadians, is part of our culture just as much as beer drinking, fishing, universal healthcare and the NDP is.

Hockey is the one thing, just as the NDP and universal healthcare, that seperates us from Americans.

Personally, I'm glad Americans don't get hockey, universal healthcare and the NDP - it ensures our identity. :)

I am a Canadian and I love hockey. I play it. I watch it. I was even fortunate enough to see Game Four in the Toronto vs Philly Series ( I love the Leafs). Contrary to what some AMericans think, hockey isn't about goons and fighting. How many fights have there been in this playoffs? Hardly any.

hockey is a sport of skill, athletics and natural talent. Only the best prosper. Tampa has 19 Canadians on their team, Canadians are known to breathe hockey, we play ball hockey as children in the streets for the Stanley Cup.

I think it is because that in the USA, there aren't as many ice rinks per capita. I live in a small town and we have a rink and a whole bunch of teams for all ages (from tykes to a men's league). This doesn't exist in most places in the USA.

Hockey is EXPENSIVE. It costs much less to throw around a football or baseball than it does to buy full armour, buy icetime get bussed or driven to out-of-town games...

I am a goalie, so my equipment has cost me over two thousand dollars in the past two years. For one yea rof playing compeditive hockey, it cost each player on the team $5000 for rep fees, tournament fees, icetime, hotel roooms, uniform, transportation...

Cnandians have a lot of money, and my situation shows where it all goes.

This kind of love for a sport can't be carried out in the US because most places can't sustasin an outdoor rink and a large rich population that plays hockey.

Since this love of the game is not programmed in them from birth, they shrug at the hockey game.

Lately, hockey has had a bad reputation because of Todd Bertuzzi. That wa san icolate dincident, but it marks the sport as dangerous and violent. The americans think differntly when it comes to violence.

I thik that there is such a huge difference between Americans and Canadians. It is hard to put into words. Hockey sums up the difference.

As a canadian I'd just like to say.

GOD, I HATE HOCKEY! (I admit it's a fast game but so is ping-pong)

ahhhh, ok, I feel better now.

But to your question. It probably also has a lot to do with the fact that we're north, more ice available and more time to play. You can play hockey in any part of canada, a large part of america has to pay a lot to have a rink. Here we just need a hose and December.

I went to the fights last night and a hockey game broke out! To much fighting and not much hockey whenever I've seen it. Great to have a little 5 foot 5 inch guy being smashed in the face by a 6 foot 4 inch 280 lb man isn't it? Then there's those sticks that they like to beat the shit out of each other with, great game , yeah....really great. :mad:

I'm an American, and I enjoy playing steet hockey since there isn't an ice rink near us. It's a little differant, but not much.

I went to the fights last night and a hockey game broke out!

Yeah, classic joke.

Yeah, classic joke.

I was thinking more like a stale joke... "why did the chicken cross the road" kind of stale.

I think it is because that in the USA, there aren't as many ice rinks per capita. I live in a small town and we have a rink and a whole bunch of teams for all ages (from tykes to a men's league). This doesn't exist in most places in the USA.

That's pretty much why. People aren't going to really be interested in a sport they haven't played. Football, basketball, baseball, soccer, etc, can be played anywhere. Hockey requires a specific environment. Those that are really into hockey live in an area where there's lots of natural ice such as Minnesota, etc.

There's an ice rink in my town, but it wasn't here when I was a kid. And I'm not going to pay money to use it just to play hockey, forget that. The rest are free. Many things can be used as a hoop for basketball.. from a real hoop to a trash can, to a bucket, to a shopping cart, etc. Baseball can just use trees, a piece of cardboard, or anything as bases and boundries. Soccer is just to pegs, boxes, poles, street cones, or anything for the goals.

As for street hockey, I have nothing against it, but it just ain't the same. Concrete isn't as fast as ice and the like. At least playing other sports ghetto-style, there isn't too much of a difference.

- N

To my mind hockey, and particularly ice hockey is as boring as watching another pet hate, synchronised swimming - but each to their own!

I guess I should say that it's not just hockey I hate watching but any sport really, although womens beach volleyball can be a nice distraction.

Love playing sports, hate watching them. I never really saw the point, it's like porn. All watching it does is remind you how fun it is to do and that you aren't doing it.

As an englishman we dont have much hockey over here but i still love the sport, go figure.

I went to the fights last night and a hockey game broke out! To much fighting and not much hockey whenever I've seen it. Great to have a little 5 foot 5 inch guy being smashed in the face by a 6 foot 4 inch 280 lb man isn't it? Then there's those sticks that they like to beat the shit out of each other with, great game , yeah....really great. :mad:

Yeah, the American alternative, of 6'7, 280 pound defensive lineman goin' home and beating the shit out of their 5'1, 120 pound wives is much better.

I think one reason Americans don't like hockey is that it's never been an American sport. I mean, baseball and basketball are both internationalizing, but the most storied baseball franchise will always be the Yankees, and the most storied basketball teams will always be the Celtics and the Lakers. Hockey, on the other hand, has always been Canadian dominated, even if four of the original six were south of the border.

Another reason Americans don't like hockey ... all of the major markets in the States are for shit right now. The Blackhawks are so bad the Chicago Wolves, a minor league team, talk shit about them. The Rangers have been overspending on barely motivated pussies for about a decade. The Kings have never been anything but a stop on Wayne Gretzsky's ambassadorship. The Bruins just watched the Canadiens rip their heart out, and Joe Thornton didn't even lift a finger.

Most of the best players on any any NHL team are ultimately Canadians. That should tell you why Americans don't like the sport.

And I wonder how many people who claim to not like the sport have actually been to a hockey game?

I admit, only on tv and boredom crept in after a couple of minutes.

And I wonder how many people who claim to not like the sport have actually been to a hockey game?
I doubt many, most that go are regulars, and the total capacity of the NHL stadiums isnt a lot compared to other sports, its worth going to though, fantastic atmosphere, americans should start getting into it and maybe there will be more good american players than canadians one day.

maybe there will be more good american players than canadians one day.

NEVER!

edit: Damn it, even though i hate watching it I will protect canadian dominance in this area with my dying breath. God help me, it's in my blood.

*grumble* Stupid blood! *grumble*

I did say one day, im not implying it'll be anytime soon, especially not if they dont take an interest.

After deliberating over this ... everything mentionned here makes sense. I have to admit myself, I only ever watch hockey during the playoffs when the games have meaning. Generally I hate watching any sport during the regular season ... it's only during the palyoffs I like watching cuz I get to see those high paid teams filled with stars screw up royal and fail to beat a much weaker, low paid team.

I would prefere to play the sport myself then watch a bunch of overly paid players who aren't really in it for the sake of playing the sport. I know that isn't necessarily true but would you turn down a 50 million$ multi-year contract?

I know that isn't necessarily true but would you turn down a 50 million$ multi-year contract?

Hopefully, American's dis-interest, the shortfall of reveneues due to a 'no-name' Stanley Cup playoff and the reality that only Canadians really appreciate the sport will result in fewer teams, less television revenues and ultimately lower salaries and a better overall product on the ice.

GO Calgary GO!

Part of it is just that so few Americans play hockey. That and the FOX "visible puck" just did hockey in as far as American viewers are concerned. If they did that to baseball, the people would destroy the network responsible.

Most of the best players on any any NHL team are ultimately Canadians. That should tell you why Americans don't like the sport.

And I wonder how many people who claim to not like the sport have actually been to a hockey game?

Canadians and Europeans.

tiassa:
That and the FOX "visible puck" just did hockey in as far as American viewers are concerned

I'm still befuddled at that too, that is why Fox thought it important to track the puck with hi-tech effects? Maybe it was their [Fox] blind attempt to commercialize and market a game which, to their demize, already had a faithful audience, an audience content with the status quo not ready to see the game they love commercialized.

Who knows, I'm just happy to see that the game I grew up with, the game I played all my life, the game I love hasn't lost a single rating amongst the die hards.

EDIT: GO Calgary GO!

I personally just don't understand all the rules. I like watching a hockey game every now and again, but I just don't understand what's going on half the time.

I played an xbox demo NHL Hitz (I think that was it). It did a killer job of being realistic. After playing that game for awhile I found I was able to follow the game a bit better, but I still don't understand half the rules. I usually play with rules limited.

Isn't Hitz the hockey version of Blitz?

In britain hockey is a very unpopular sport, thats to say there are only 10 bigbudget teams in the whole of Britain with around 20 small budget teams. Bigbudget where it consists mainly of Americans and low budget consisting of mainly British players.

Our local team Ayr Eagles went burst, mainly due to bad management over priced tickets etc (the manager was effectively trying to turn it into football where you can charge as much as you like where people will still pay). It didnt work out and they had to close it down. At one point they won every trophey there was, the first time it had been done. The sports popularity peaked at this point but then began to fall until they had to close Ayr's ice-rink down. That was about 2 or 3 years ago.

I had a season ticket and it was about 95 pounds but then they put that up to about 150 quid, they started charging for car parking, everything went up: the team was losing and people just stopped going. It was down to greed.
A few other teams went burst as well and at one point they didnt know if they could sustain the 'superleague' because of too few teams.

:)

I am Canadian and I love hockey
I think it's because that hockey has become a part of the Canadian culture, the media covers a lot of hockey games in Canada because they improve the national identity

and oh yeah
GO FLAMES GO!

What a team. I know this is way off topic but man, the Flames are a force to be reckoned with, not to mention admire.

I've played, watched and lived hockey my entire life, i've never before seen a hockey team dominate a game as much as Calgary did tonight [game 3].

I've seen some great teams; Team Canada '72, '87, '02; Oilers during their dynasty and I can honestly say that Calgary in '04 takes the cake - they're a team destined to win the cup.

If you're the gambling type, put your money on Calgary to win the cup - it's a sure thing.

*WOW*

Fire - Hey, man, you're an excited fan, and that's cool, but to note one painful example of a more dominant performance ... Game 7 of the WCF two years ago, when the Wings beat the Avs 7-0.

Also, Kiprussof doesn't make the save on Richards, and Canada collectively commits suicide at the thought of a team from Florida winning the Cup. That being said, I picked the Flames to win, and they will win, further proving that the Avs' decision to trade Yelle and Drury was a terrible, terrible call, especially as they ended up shipping McAmmond back to the Flames, and Morris to Phoenix for Gratton and Vassanen, neither of whom did a damn thing for 'em.

Gained a lotta respect for Lecavalier ... already knew Ignila was a bad-ass, but "the Michael Jordan of hockey" really steppd up tonight, at least in that area. Not so much on the scoreboard.

Invert - there might be something to that. There's a lot of Viking people in Minnesota, which is basically Canada's eleventh province, in terms of hockey love.

I thought the game was fairly even, but the flames took their chances on the powerplay and made one other, kiprussof was solid between the pipes(and im getting tired of having to say it), other than that it didnt seem too much of a one sided game, it was a stupid penalty to take at the end of the third and summed it up, i dont think either side played too well.

It was a hard-hitting game though. I wish I was on 17th avenue after the game finished.

I think the main answer is the rules. It takes a while to get a good grasp on the rules of hockey, and until you know them, it's really hard to follow the game. Low scoring doesn't help, either.

That being said....I love hockey. It hasn't yet reached the level of the other "top sports" where athletes are often overgrown children regarding salaries and the like (although it's getting close....if they strike, I don't know how hockey will recover).

Recent dirty incidents (Bertuzzi, McSorley and some smaller incidents) have really hurt hockey's reputation, but only among those WHO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Those incidents were totally out of character for hockey, but now that's the image that most non-fans have of the game. Nothing but ignorance.

COSMIC TRAVELLER: I don't know what hockey games you have been watching, but in the NHL, you won't see guys who are 6'5", 245 lbs. crushing little guys half their size....it just doesn't happen. There is a code, believe it or not, among hockey players. Once in awhile, someone loses their cool and goes outside the code, but it's very rare. Big guys only go after big guys (especially if we're talking about fighting). If you actually saw a HUGE guy go after a little guy (with a big hit or a fight), he would be the target of the ENTIRE team and probably disrespected publicly by his own teammates. I don't think there's a sport around in which the participants respect each other as much as they do in hockey.

Then again, I'm pretty biased!

Congratulations to the Flames and the Lightning....this is good for hockey, and both teams deserve to win the cup, IMO....my Red Wings will be back, though!

I don't know what hockey games you have been watching, but in the NHL, you won't see guys who are 6'5", 245 lbs. crushing little guys half their size....it just doesn't happen

I can't believe I'm defending hockey but I agree in this area. I have seen fights between little guys and big guys before but in every case the little guy started it. Some of the most hardcore scrappers I know are small, I don't know why that is but it's certainly true among my friends that play hocky at least.

Big guys going after little guys is like taking a cheap shot at the goalie, it's a good way to get killed by the entire bench of not only you're opposition's team but possibly your own. I'm basing this on lower levels of hockey that is played by people I know personally but I assume this translates to the NHL as well.

True, incidents like Bertuzzi and McSorley have damaged the reputation of hockey but if we were to look at the criminal activities of players from baseball, football and basketball, those incidents pale by comparison.

Notice that you rarely see hockey players in the news when it comes to criminal activities.

I think the main answer is the rules. It takes a while to get a good grasp on the rules of hockey, and until you know them, it's really hard to follow the game.
Its true the rules are complex, but i wouldnt say anymore than other sports.
Low scoring doesn't help, either.
Its hardly low scoring, take the finals, 4-1, 4-1, 3-0, thats not low scoring.

Lemming, compare that with a basketball game, which ends 98-96, and probably has 10-12 baskets a quarter.

I am american, and I like Hockey a lot more then baseball. I just love to goto hockey games, just to watch someone get a bloody nose. I just find that entertaining. But sadly, there aren't a lot of people with my sense of humor. Go figure.

ILikeSalt said it well. People tend to enjoy watching sports that they can play -- or that their children can play, or that even an amateur team in their city can play and they can go watch. Most of the USA is too far south for people to skate outdoors, and for whatever reason, skating itself is not too popular here so there aren't a lot of rinks that could double as -- at least -- amateur hockey stadiums.

But there's also a lot of jingoism in it. Americans like American sports. Look how long it took soccer to catch on. And if you ask me, most of the people who really support the game and keep it going are from the new, large wave of immigrants. Americans don't play cricket or a million other games either that are popular elsewhere. Heck, we don't even listen to most types of foreign music, and the popularity of foreign movies is at a low point.

Lemming, compare that with a basketball game, which ends 98-96, and probably has 10-12 baskets a quarter.
And compare it to a cricket game which ends up to 1000 - 900(over two innings), in my opinion they arnt games you can compare as the scoring system is different, its harder to stop a shot etc, in a way your correct but i dont think there scoring systems are comparable, maybe football(thats soccer to you yanks), floorball, field hockey are comparable with similar rules.
Low scoring isnt a reason not to watch hockey, i find cricket, baseball and basketball much more boring and they are high scoring.

cricket is boring cos it takes ages, and most shots are just left or blocked
baseball is boring cos its just throwing hitting and running, but its better than cricket
hockey, now that is fun, you actually need tactics, rather then just hit hard or bowl/pitch fast

Exactly, and the fights help aswel.

And compare it to a cricket game which ends up to 1000 - 900(over two innings), in my opinion they arnt games you can compare as the scoring system is different, its harder to stop a shot etc, in a way your correct but i dont think there scoring systems are comparable, maybe football(thats soccer to you yanks), floorball, field hockey are comparable with similar rules.
Low scoring isnt a reason not to watch hockey, i find cricket, baseball and basketball much more boring and they are high scoring.

Hey, I'd take hockey over basketball any day of the week. The NBA barely even qualifies as a sport in my opinion, since calls are determined on the size of your shoe contract, and not on the rules.