IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Ratings for US-Canada game very strong in South Florida...
Ratings for US-Canada game very strong in South Florida...
-- TV ratings were huge nationally and very strong in South Florida -- a TV market which had been dead last in viewership for the winter games.
"It reinforces that this is a hockey market and there are a lot of passionate hockey fans here,'' DeBoer said. "You couldn't have gotten two better teams or a closer game. It was a great night.
"I don't know how you could turn that game off last night and not be a hockey fan.''
I wonder where retired Canadians go to vacation/live during the winter. hmmmmm.
Im only half sarcastic here. Good news but I wonder how much of this is due to the above.
I'm sure plenty, but I have friends and family who were calling me like crazy about the game. They like the Panthers, love hockey, but want to see a competitive product on the ice.
Still, found it interesting that the whole of the Olympics went dead last, but that game was heavily watched.
So what is right. Growing the sport is getting people involved, not just watching every four years.
It means more people not accustomed to watching hockey will think hey this is a damn good sport. Means buying merchandise? Watching more which increases ratings? Going to hockey games? Supporting local farm teams? Skys the limit. It may probably go back to where it is now but ratings have been the strongest in the US since the mid 90's. So it's definitely growing
I went to the vending machine for a soda in the intermission, and a lot of my neighbors had the game on. (It's been a little chilly, so people have windows open instead of the AC.) Some of my neighbors are Canadian, but far from the majority of all who were watching are snow birds.
Exact same thing happened with the first USA - Can game, actually. Laus is right in what he says. People are tired of watching their team lose and play for nothing. Even though I watch every Panthers game, it is tiring and sometimes almost like a chore... it's been refreshing rooting for a team that can win and stands some kind of a chance. I'll miss this.
It means more people not accustomed to watching hockey will think hey this is a damn good sport. Means buying merchandise? Watching more which increases ratings? Going to hockey games? Supporting local farm teams? Skys the limit. It may probably go back to where it is now but ratings have been the strongest in the US since the mid 90's. So it's definitely growing
I honestly suspect it's nothing more than people who get excited about short track speed skating or snowboarding every four years and pay no attention to them between Olympics.
I honestly suspect it's nothing more than people who get excited about short track speed skating or snowboarding every four years and pay no attention to them between Olympics.
Thats the issue. I watched a lot of sports I never watch outside of the Olympics this past few weeks. Am I a hardcore short track skating fan now? hell no.
This is good news for sure but its something to build on, if the NHL wants to. Right now they are busy discounting participating in the next Olympics! Great help that is.
This wasnt just a hockey game. It became an event.
The bandwagon is fully loaded. Lets see how many jump off.
As soon as the patriotism fades away, people realize the game in the Olympics is not the game played in the NHL and that it just was an all-star tournament.
Thats the issue. I watched a lot of sports I never watch outside of the Olympics this past few weeks. Am I a hardcore short track skating fan now? hell no.
This is good news for sure but its something to build on, if the NHL wants to. Right now they are busy discounting participating in the next Olympics! Great help that is.
So, what should the NHL be doing to make these watchers NHL fans?
Or from another point of view, what could be done to make you a regular fan of the sports you only watch during the Olympics?
Some more media coverage would help. Team sports are king in North America though. Try finding news about anything else save for golf and some tennis. Chicken and egg issue, though.
I will probably try to keep up with freestyle skiing and snowboarding more now though. Also going to the events when they come to Vancouver and Whistler.
Hopefully the people who watched USA-Canada go check out local hockey games.
-- TV ratings were huge nationally and very strong in South Florida -- a TV market which had been dead last in viewership for the winter games.
"It reinforces that this is a hockey market and there are a lot of passionate hockey fans here,'' DeBoer said. "You couldn't have gotten two better teams or a closer game. It was a great night.
"I don't know how you could turn that game off last night and not be a hockey fan.''
So, what should the NHL be doing to make these watchers NHL fans?
Or from another point of view, what could be done to make you a regular fan of the sports you only watch during the Olympics?
For me, very little for most of the individual sports. Watching person x skate fast to beat person y gets tiring after awhile for me.
Prior to these olympics, i only watched curling in the olympics but now i'm planning to watch the the smaller scale tournaments. it might also be due to the fact that i enjoy playing curling once in awhile, but i'd imagine the olympics made some people bigger fans of sports they already were aware of.
I honestly suspect it's nothing more than people who get excited about short track speed skating or snowboarding every four years and pay no attention to them between Olympics.
30 million plus people dont turn in to watch those events...
diminish it all you like, but this was a huge rating, and many positives will come from this, though not overnight.
more and more people now have a better understanding of the game, and more people can actually talk about hockey in the US then ever before. Nothing but good things can come from this...
...and dont forget about the kids, because that is what actually grows the game. the more kids that want to be the next Parise or Kane, the more kids will give hockey a try....and that means many more kids playing this great game and spreading it to their families and friends as well. USA Hockey is smiling right now.
I wonder where retired Canadians go to vacation/live during the winter. hmmmmm.
Im only half sarcastic here. Good news but I wonder how much of this is due to the above.
You should be fully sarcastic. South Florida is one of the largest population bases in the United States, any visiting Canadians would have minimal impact on any viewership. Ratings are done by percentage watching the game.
Sadly the problem with keeping the momentum going is that a normal NHL game is not officiated the same way as that game and people will be disappointed how many stops there are. Not to mention confused when officials call a hooking penalty roughing.
