I hear ya. Hence, lies the huge problem with today's NHL. Bettman needs to abandon his fantasy of successful hockey in Southern US. I live near TO and this area could easily support 3 NHL teams all by itself. (Toronto, Hamilton and Waterloo). Quebec could support another team and likely the Maritimes as well.
Edit:
I see today the NHL has cancelled the first 84 games... and so it begins. What a friggen joke this league has turned into.
Probably be better to roll with a 2nd team in Toronto.
the problem with the GTA is that Leafs will probably fight tooth and nail to prevent it...and league might not want to get into that sort of fight with that particular team.
more likely the next team (whether through expansion or relocation) is going to be in QC or Seattle.
NFL is popular for two reasons aside from the product on the field. Gambling and Fantasy Football. Do not underestimate the popularity of FF. Sprint entered in to a 600 million dollar deal with the NFL to broadcast FF stats. It's insane. 2 Billion is spent on fantasy sports by consumers.
To the previous point. There are plenty of alternatives in the states and most people simply don't care.
You missed the very important 3rd one, the amount of games. You essentially don't need to be a sports fan to be an NFL fan, cuz it only eats 1 day of your week. And with so few games, they're all so incredibly important.
You missed the very important 3rd one, the amount of games. You essentially don't need to be a sports fan to be an NFL fan, cuz it only eats 1 day of your week. And with so few games, they're all so incredibly important.
I made the Sunday point in my previous post. You could compare Bulls to Hawks in regards to alternative sports, number of games.
I'm sorry but saying you're a hard core Hawks fan & you barely care in the same sentence doesn't add up.
Oh no! You've called my fandom into question. What will I do!?!?
Reality check superfan - the overwhelming majority of everyone else on this planet doesn't care either. No one's sending in the national guard. No one's calling for a special investigation. Heck, no one cared when the NBA had it's stoppage and the NBA is FAR more popular than the NHL.
Those of us who remember the cancelled season may be just a little jaded. Why would I get my undies in a bunch over this argument between well off players and rich owners?
After that season and the cliff that the NHL fell off of in terms of fan support, who thought we could ever be here again? Well, here we are!
It'll get resolved and when it does, I'll be ready to go. In the meantime, I've got plenty of other things on my plate. I can wait and I'm not spending my days gripping.
Oh no! You've called my fandom into question. What will I do!?!?
Reality check superfan - the overwhelming majority of everyone else on this planet doesn't care either. No one's sending in the national guard. No one's calling for a special investigation. Heck, no one cared when the NBA had it's stoppage and the NBA is FAR more popular than the NHL.
Those of us who remember the cancelled season may be just a little jaded. Why would I get my undies in a bunch over this argument between well off players and rich owners?
After that season and the cliff that the NHL fell off of in terms of fan support, who thought we could ever be here again? Well, here we are!
It'll get resolved and when it does, I'll be ready to go. In the meantime, I've got plenty of other things on my plate. I can wait and I'm not spending my days gripping.
That's good info but you're posting on a hockey forum about being a hardcore fan that doesn't give a **** about the lockout. Add to that you would care if they were contenders. That sounds pretty hardcore to me. Still doesn't make sense but to each their own I guess.
I'm pretty sure 100% of us have other things to do in lieu of NHL hockey. Doesn't mean we are happy about no hockey. I am debating your contradictory points. No need for personal attacks or sarcastic insults.
The NBA got far more coverage in the U.S. in regards to the lockout. A decent amount of the population doesn't even know there is a lockout in the NHL.
Last edited by HawksFan74: 10-04-2012 at 07:40 PM.
That's good info but you're posting on a hockey forum about being a hardcore fan that doesn't give a **** about the lockout. Add to that you would care if they were contenders. That sounds pretty hardcore to me. Still doesn't make sense but to each their own I guess.
I'm pretty sure 100% of us have other things to do in lieu of NHL hockey. Doesn't mean we are happy about no hockey. I am debating your contradictory points. No need for personal attacks or sarcastic insults.
The NBA got far more coverage in the U.S. in regards to the lockout. A decent amount of the population doesn't even know there is a lockout in the NHL.
Didn't you insinuate that I must be a bandwagon fan because I'm sleeping like a baby, even through these dark, dark times?
The NBA got more coverage on ESPN because ESPN has a huge investment in the NBA. Fans were generally apathetic. Hockey is a niche sport. It's always amusing to see how some just can't grasp that the vast majority of sports fans don't care about your favorite sport.
Also, who has "no hockey?" I play twice a week. I coach my son's bantam team which practices twice a week and has 2-3 games a week. I have season tickets for a Division 1, Big 10 hockey program and live close enough to Rockford to see a few games a year there. Also have the Janesville Jets junior team not too far away although I've only ever seen them once.
Sure, I'll miss out on a few of the Hawks games this season that I otherwise would have gotten to, but there will be games and when there are, I'll go. Silver lining - Centre Ice should be prorated if the season is shorter!
There's been too many stoppages in all sports in my lifetime for me to get worked up over them anymore. I can wait. Again, once they cancelled a SEASON, they lost their ability to get me overly worked up. Baseball did it too.
I also never said that I'd "care more" if the Hawks were contenders. I said I'd be more anxious for the season to start. Big difference, even if a true hardcore fan like yourself can't see it.
Tell you what, I'll cede the title of "More Hardcore" to you. Wear it well. I'll sleep just fine tonight...
Didn't you insinuate that I must be a bandwagon fan because I'm sleeping like a baby, even through these dark, dark times?
The NBA got more coverage on ESPN because ESPN has a huge investment in the NBA. Fans were generally apathetic. Hockey is a niche sport. It's always amusing to see how some just can't grasp that the vast majority of sports fans don't care about your favorite sport.
Also, who has "no hockey?" I play twice a week. I coach my son's bantam team which practices twice a week and has 2-3 games a week. I have season tickets for a Division 1, Big 10 hockey program and live close enough to Rockford to see a few games a year there. Also have the Janesville Jets junior team not too far away although I've only ever seen them once.
Sure, I'll miss out on a few of the Hawks games this season that I otherwise would have gotten to, but there will be games and when there are, I'll go. Silver lining - Centre Ice should be prorated if the season is shorter!
There's been too many stoppages in all sports in my lifetime for me to get worked up over them anymore. I can wait. Again, once they cancelled a SEASON, they lost their ability to get me overly worked up. Baseball did it too.
I also never said that I'd "care more" if the Hawks were contenders. I said I'd be more anxious for the season to start. Big difference, even if a true hardcore fan like yourself can't see it.
Tell you what, I'll cede the title of "More Hardcore" to you. Wear it well. I'll sleep just fine tonight...
Whatever. Your original post started out with I barely care about the lockout and ended with and I quote,
Quote:
PS - Now if I thought we were poised for another Cup, I might feel differently, but we're not. We're the same team as last year and that's not gonna get it done
That's what I had to work with. I highly doubt anyone here is losing sleep over the lockout. This is a hockey forum though and people are going to ***** about it. It's cool that you have a take or leave it attitude.
The NBA received more coverage period. Not just on ESPN.
Whatever. Your original post started out with I barely care about the lockout and ended with and I quote,
That's what I had to work with. I highly doubt anyone here is losing sleep over the lockout. This is a hockey forum though and people are going to ***** about it. It's cool that you have a take or leave it attitude.
The NBA received more coverage period. Not just on ESPN.
I haven't changed my take from that first post.
The NBA got more coverage because it is far FAR more popular than the NHL and basketball is far FAR more popular and played than hockey.
Fans didn't care though like they did about the NFL.
The NBA got more coverage because it is far FAR more popular than the NHL and basketball is far FAR more popular and played than hockey.
Fans didn't care though like they did about the NFL.
How do you know this? Just because there are more of them doesn't mean they cared more or less than NHL fans. Maybe you cared more about that lockout than this one. You can not definitively say one fan base is more impacted than the other, excluding the pure number of fans in the U.S. Many posters here are outside the U.S.
I have friends that definitely are pissed about this lockout and could care less about the NBA/NFL lockouts a year ago. I have more friends that are just the opposite. I also know people that watch every sport like a maniac and typically have fantasy teams too. MLB, College, NFL, NBA, NHL, UFC... I just can't seem to keep up. I put my eggs in a couple of baskets. Let's not forget the fans in Canada and worldwide.
Last edited by HawksFan74: 10-04-2012 at 11:19 PM.
How do you know this? Just because there are more of them doesn't mean they cared more or less than NHL fans. Maybe you cared more about that lockout than this one. You can not definitively say one fan base is more impacted than the other, excluding the pure number of fans in the U.S. Many posters here are outside the U.S.
Cared about which lockout more than this one?
The NBA? Nope - really don't follow the NBA.
The NFL? Nope - I knew they'd be back and sooner rather than later and I had college football to get me through until they did.
Fan apathy towards the NBA lockout as compared to the NFL lockout was widely reported and discussed at the time. Look it up.
Before the cancelled season, the NHL was considered one of the Big 4 sports leagues. Since then, there are only a Big 3. The NHL has never gotten back to where it was in terms of national awareness or stature.
You asked why no one in the U.S. was covering this? It's because not enough people in this country care or even know about it. What would you have them report?
Niche sport.
If you want coverage, check out TSN. It's not a niche sport in Canada and they're covering it wall to wall.
The NFL? Nope - I knew they'd be back and sooner rather than later and I had college football to get me through until they did.
Fan apathy towards the NBA lockout as compared to the NFL lockout was widely reported and discussed at the time. Look it up.
Before the cancelled season, the NHL was considered one of the Big 4 sports leagues. Since then, there are only a Big 3. The NHL has never gotten back to where it was in terms of national awareness or stature.
You asked why no one in the U.S. was covering this? It's because not enough people in this country care or even know about it. What would you have them report?
Niche sport.
If you want coverage, check out TSN. It's not a niche sport in Canada and they're covering it wall to wall.
You completely missed my point and spouted out a ton of dribble. My post has nothing to do with how YOU feel.
Follow along. You said fans did not care like they did about the NFL lockout. None of what you posted clears up whether NHL fans care more or less than any other sports fans about their respective lock outs. We all know that hockey is behind the other three in the U.S. We all know it is covered less in the U.S. You're making no sense to back up your broad generalizations.
Last edited by HawksFan74: 10-05-2012 at 12:44 AM.
You completely missed my point and spouted out a ton of dribble. My post has nothing to do with how YOU feel.
Follow along. You said fans did not care like they did about the NFL lockout. None of what you posted clears up whether NHL fans care more or less than any other sports fans about their respective lock outs. We all know that hockey is behind the other three in the U.S. We all know it is covered less in the U.S. You're making no sense to back up your broad generalizations.
You asked why it isn't being covered more by national media. It isn't being covered more because not enough general sports fans and casual sports fans give a crap. I will restate - General sports fans do not care even 5% as much about this lockout as they did about the NFL's.
"NHL fans" and how they feel is irrelevant to how much it's being covered by national sports media. NHL fans can get their coverage on the NHL Network.
Locally, I can't remember more than even a passing mention of it on The Score. Even Chicago sports media doesn't care. Why? Da Bears!
And 30 other subjects that they'd rather talk about and general sports fans would rather hear about.
You asked why it isn't being covered more by national media. It isn't being covered more because not enough general sports fans and casual sports fans give a crap. I will restate - General sports fans do not care even 5% as much about this lockout as they did about the NFL's.
"NHL fans" and how they feel is irrelevant to how much it's being covered by national sports media. NHL fans can get their coverage on the NHL Network.
Locally, I can't remember more than even a passing mention of it on The Score. Even Chicago sports media doesn't care. Why? Da Bears!
And 30 other subjects that they'd rather talk about and general sports fans would rather hear about.
What in your post is news to anyone that lives in Chicago? Can you read? I never asked a question as to why the lockout is not being covered by the national media. Please find a quote that indicates that. You throw in other topics to avoid the ones you back yourself in to a corner on. In three posts you still have yet to answer my initial question. Do NHL fans care more or less about the lockout than fans of other sports? It has absolutely nothing to do with media coverage in the U.S.
Last edited by HawksFan74: 10-05-2012 at 11:22 AM.
What in your post is news to anyone that lives in Chicago? Can you read? I never asked a question as to why the lockout is not being covered by the national media. Please find a quote that indicates that. You throw in other topics to avoid the ones you back yourself in to a corner on. In three posts you still have yet to answer my initial question. Do NHL fans care more or less about the lockout than fans of other sports? It has absolutely nothing to do with media coverage in the U.S.
What exactly did you mean then when you said:
"What sucks is nobody seems to care except hard core fans. When the NFL was at this point last year there was external pressure in the U.S. to get a deal done, Obama even spoke out. I wish the government would threaten them with anit-trust to get both sides moving."
And I guess you technically didn't ask, but you said this:
"The NBA got far more coverage in the U.S. in regards to the lockout. A decent amount of the population doesn't even know there is a lockout in the NHL."
Again, it doesn't matter how much NHL fans care about this in terms of Obama speaking out, external pressure in the US or anything else that you think should or wish would happen. It only matters if it's a big enough interest to enough people and it's not.
I never said that NHL fans weren't as gripped about this as NFL fans were about theirs. I said that the general sports watching/following public was actually concerned and upset about the NFL lockout, hence the coverage, Obama, etc. The general sports watching/following public obviously doesn't care about the NHL lockout, hence the absence of coverage, lack of Obama getting involved, etc.
Niche sport.
Keep pointing out how I'm wrong or double talking or backing into a corner though. My point has not wavered.
Yeah, the play was brutal. Ovechkin you could tell was just out there to collect a check, at least from when I was watching. The play was just really sloppy, and not entertaining to watch at all.
Still doesn't make sense but to each their own I guess. 
