The Business of HockeyDiscuss the financial and business aspects of the NHL. Franchise sales, valuations, TV contracts, ratings, expansion, relocation, the CBA and work stoppage discussion goes here.
Regular Season Attendance in Europe & North America
Stuff like this is honestly an amazing testament for how different hockey really is in North America from Europe. Granted, the U.S. and Canada tend to have significantly larger arenas (which is another statement altogether), but it is pretty surprising to see really only seven teams averaging 10,000+ per game over there, whereas (according to ESPN) the NHL hasn't had a team draw below 11,000 since at least 2000-2001.
Love seeing Zagreb so high in a non-traditional European hockey market. (Croatia) They're like the Nashville/San Jose of European hockey. I believe they'll be considered for the KHL soon.
no, the mentality it's not the same. even play in khl is out of question for a swiss team.
has for swiss people love hockey, i can tell you that 7000 persons in a swiss stadium, make more noise that 17.000 in nhl.
And that is completely true. Knock the attendance all you want but from what I remember when The Score showed the Champions League, a 7000 European crowd sounds way better then a corporate/American crowd of 16,000.
Certainly much more of a 'fun' atmosphere at many games in Europe. NHL games in contrast are often fairly bland, mostly because they cater to the corporate suit types as opposed to the more blue collar fan.
Certainly much more of a 'fun' atmosphere at many games in Europe. NHL games in contrast are often fairly bland, mostly because they cater to the corporate suit types as opposed to the more blue collar fan.
From the games I attended, I would say Winnipeg is on par with the Euro crowds.
i don't know about that. here in europe we have what we call "ultras". and they are always in standing places situated behind the goal. they put a crazy show all match long. they usually made the opponent goalie a living hell.
the team that i support, 15 minutes after the game is over:
what kind of comparability is that? being a loud means passion, means that you are there when the team needs you. you guy's don't know how lucky you are having that kind of players in nhl playing for you every night.
Last edited by Special One: 03-15-2012 at 08:06 PM.
what kind of comparability is that? being a loud means passion, means that you are there when the team needs you. you guy's don't know how lucky you are having that kind of players in nhl playing for you every night.
I disagree, my dad is one of the most passionate fans you will ever meet, you can't even talk to him during a game because he is so focused in on the game. He doesn't yell but he lives and dies with his team.
I didn't know KHL attendance was so low. or that the arenas were so small. definitely cannot compete with the NHL.
Small arenas. Most teams are pretty much below the equivalent of NHL's lower bowl section. Heck, even Jr A teams in my league have more seats that some KHL teams!
And even if large arena (like Megasport Arena in Moscow) exists, no Moscow team wants to use it because none of Moscow teams can even fill the seats in their existing arenas!
Certainly much more of a 'fun' atmosphere at many games in Europe. NHL games in contrast are often fairly bland, mostly because they cater to the corporate suit types as opposed to the more blue collar fan.
The main problem with NA games is that die-hard noise-making European-style fans do not get their own section (like sec 303 in Nashville) but instead such fans are scattered all over the arena. I really want to chant and make noise at NHL game but it feels really awkward and out-of-place to have no one around to join me singing and jumping.
Stuff like this is honestly an amazing testament for how different hockey really is in North America from Europe. Granted, the U.S. and Canada tend to have significantly larger arenas (which is another statement altogether), but it is pretty surprising to see really only seven teams averaging 10,000+ per game over there, whereas (according to ESPN) the NHL hasn't had a team draw below 11,000 since at least 2000-2001.
It's pretty much the #4 sport in most of the United States, too, ya know.
even if it's #1 you have also to have in mind that usa and canada have larger cities. and countries like swiss and sweden have 7.5 and 9.5 millions respectively:
Sweden:
Equipe Ville Capacité Population(Metropolitan area)
AIK Stockholm 8'094 2'091'473
Brynas IF Gävle 8'265 71'033
Djugårdens IF Stockholm 8'094 2'091'473
Frölunda HC Gothenburg 12'044 937'015
Färjestad BK Karlstad 8'647 61'685
HV71 Jönköping 7'038 89'936
Linköpings Linköping 8'500 104'232
Luleå Luleå 6'000 46'607
Modo Hockey Örnsköldsvik 7'600 28'991
Skellefteå AIK Skellefteå 6'001 32'775
Timrå IK Timrå 6'000 10'443
Växjö Lakers Växjö 5'229 60'887
Swiss:
Equipe Ville Capacité Population(Metropolitan area)
HC Ambri-Piotta Ambri 7'000 1'003(yap that is correct)
SC Bern Berne 17'131 133'920
EHC Biel Bienne 7'000 51'203
HC Davos Davos 7'080 11'166
HC Fribourg Gottéron Fribourg 6'800 34'897
Genève-Servette HC Genève 7'382 466'536
Kloten Flyers Kloten 7'624 17'995
SCL Tigers Langnau 6'500 9'017
HC Lugano Lugano 7'800 54'667
Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Rapperswil 6'100 26'212
EV Zug Zug 7'015 26'327
ZSC Lions Zürich 10'700 1'091'732
Last edited by Special One: 03-16-2012 at 12:42 PM.
The main problem with NA games is that die-hard noise-making European-style fans do not get their own section (like sec 303 in Nashville) but instead such fans are scattered all over the arena. I really want to chant and make noise at NHL game but it feels really awkward and out-of-place to have no one around to join me singing and jumping.
Yep, I wish NHL arenas had rowdy sections; Nashville intentionally allows a section to be so? I know at CFL games, the student section is known as the section where the rowdies go.
It's pretty much the #4 sport in most of the United States, too, ya know.
And it's about #24 in the UK. In Spain they're not even aware there's such a thing as ice. Ice hockey has a smaller entry on Wikipedia's 'Sport in Italy' page than baseball. And in France the children are mostly too drunk to learn how to skate. Like I say, virtually non-existent among the larger Western countries, besides the niche placing alongside handball in Germany.
Yep, I wish NHL arenas had rowdy sections; Nashville intentionally allows a section to be so? I know at CFL games, the student section is known as the section where the rowdies go.
Or at least the designated road fans section like soccer in Europe. (I think KHL teams have this judging from their broadcast). It's really sad to see individuals of road fans (instead of one big group) celebrate when their team score.
even if it's #1 you have also to have in mind that usa and canada have larger cities. and countries like swiss and sweden have 7.5 and 9.5 millions respectively:
Sure, but that doesn't change the fact that other countries do still have significant populations, like Germany and Russia, and their draws are still comparatively tiny when you put them side by side with the NHL's, not to mention that in some of those markets the hockey team is the #1 or #2 sport in the area, particularly in Russia, whereas that's only the case in Canadian cities as even the most traditional American hockey markets like Buffalo, Detroit, and Minnesota have teams in other sports that get much more attention from the locals.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebirds Boyo
And it's about #24 in the UK. In Spain they're not even aware there's such a thing as ice. Ice hockey has a smaller entry on Wikipedia's 'Sport in Italy' page than baseball. And in France the children are mostly too drunk to learn how to skate. Like I say, virtually non-existent among the larger Western countries, besides the niche placing alongside handball in Germany.
Sure, I recognize that, but also looking at countries where it is #1 or #2 and the draw is still comparatively low. Not to mention, as I said, a good deal of American markets especially have major pro teams one or two or even three other sports all competing for recreation dollars.
I wasn't making a judgement call about European hockey culture, I was just simply pointing out how very different the draw is when you compare the NHL (and even AHL) with even top European leagues.
Sure, but that doesn't change the fact that other countries do still have significant populations, like Germany and Russia, and their draws are still comparatively tiny when you put them side by side with the NHL's, not to mention that in some of those markets the hockey team is the #1 or #2 sport in the area, particularly in Russia, whereas that's only the case in Canadian cities as even the most traditional American hockey markets like Buffalo, Detroit, and Minnesota have teams in other sports that get much more attention from the locals.
Most Russians have relatively low incomes and the country suffers from a ludicrous wealth disparity. The result is sports attendances don't flourish in Russia and clubs instead rely on a benefactor. This is true of both ice hockey and soccer.
