Jrb1979 Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 I have often wondered why hockey and the NHL is not more popular in the U.S. The more I think about the more I think it has to do with the fast pace of hockey. The other 3 top major sports in the U.S. are all slow paced. You can turn away from the action and not miss a thing. Hockey you have to be engaged into the game the whole time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 7 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said: I have often wondered why hockey and the NHL is not more popular in the U.S. The more I think about the more I think it has to do with the fast pace of hockey. The other 3 top major sports in the U.S. are all slow paced. You can turn away from the action and not miss a thing. Hockey you have to be engaged into the game the whole time. There's a few different factors, but this is one of them. Being a hockey fan in the south, this is the conclusion I've come to. People down here didn't grow up where ice hockey could be played frequently. So the organic growth that started about 100+ years ago up north, never happened. Every small town in WNY has an ice rink. I live in the greater Houston area. Much larger population, I know of three ice rinks around. I've personally never actually played ice hockey, but I've played street hockey, and went to watch my cousin play ice hockey, so I grew up around the game. Also grew up with hockey video games. Not to mention obviously, watching Sabres games. The rules of the game are simple enough. The only complexities while watching a game with someone who didn't grow up around it, are explaining offsides, icing, powerplays etc. But the idea of shoot the puck into the net, is simple enough to grasp. But because of how fast paced it is, it's not just that you have to be paying attention. You have to have your eyes trained. Know who they can pass it to, know when it is and isn't an opportune time to shoot. Just being able to follow the puck is a "skill" within itself. The problem with it is, that's not something you can really teach someone. It's just something that comes with watching the game and going with past experiences. So it can get overwhelming and turn people off to the game unless they're patient enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrb1979 Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 Just now, The Real Buffalo Joe said: There's a few different factors, but this is one of them. Being a hockey fan in the south, this is the conclusion I've come to. People down here didn't grow up where ice hockey could be played frequently. So the organic growth that started about 100+ years ago up north, never happened. Every small town in WNY has an ice rink. I live in the greater Houston area. Much larger population, I know of three ice rinks around. I've personally never actually played ice hockey, but I've played street hockey, and went to watch my cousin play ice hockey, so I grew up around the game. Also grew up with hockey video games. Not to mention obviously, watching Sabres games. The rules of the game are simple enough. The only complexities while watching a game with someone who didn't grow up around it, are explaining offsides, icing, powerplays etc. But the idea of shoot the puck into the net, is simple enough to grasp. But because of how fast paced it is, it's not just that you have to be paying attention. You have to have your eyes trained. Know who they can pass it to, know when it is and isn't an opportune time to shoot. Just being able to follow the puck is a "skill" within itself. The problem with it is, that's not something you can really teach someone. It's just something that comes with watching the game and going with past experiences. So it can get overwhelming and turn people off to the game unless they're patient enough. I have heard from quite a few people that have taken a person to their first game that they love it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 2 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said: I have heard from quite a few people that have taken a person to their first game that they love it. I've talked to a bunch of people who said they've been to hockey games and had a fun time. But watching it on TV they get bored and/or confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrb1979 Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 How anyone gets board watching hockey is beyond me. Watching basketball and going up and down the court over and over is boring to me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 2 minutes ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said: I've talked to a bunch of people who said they've been to hockey games and had a fun time. But watching it on TV they get bored and/or confused. I find it a fun time but hard to keep track of things. At least on my TV I can pause and rewind and slow mo to see where the puck actually flew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Just now, Jrb1979 said: How anyone gets board watching hockey is beyond me. Watching basketball and going up and down the court over and over is boring to me. I can see how. It's simply a lack of understanding of the game. Feel the same way about baseball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Egg Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 If one ever has the good fortune to sit in the first 5 rows behind a goal at an NHL, or even an AHL game, they will have a better/fond appreciation of the sport. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 56 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said: I have often wondered why hockey and the NHL is not more popular in the U.S. The more I think about the more I think it has to do with the fast pace of hockey. The other 3 top major sports in the U.S. are all slow paced. You can turn away from the action and not miss a thing. Hockey you have to be engaged into the game the whole time. This is exactly what I concluded a few years ago. I follow the Sabres, but I just don't watch them very much. With basketball, you can pop in watch some, and really watch the end of the game to get 90% of what happened. Baseball is so great on the radio. I can be doing work and totally following a game at the same time. Football is kind of in between. But, hockey - unless you commit yourself to sitting there and watching the entire game, you really aren't getting it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 25 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said: How anyone gets board watching hockey is beyond me. Watching basketball and going up and down the court over and over is boring to me. Yeah, basketball you can tune into the last couple minutes and basically catch the game. The entire game sees lead changes all game and just goes back and forth scoring. At least with hockey they go back and forth but they dont score every time. I can see how that can bore some people. You would think soccer would be different, but unlike hockey, I find it even more boring cause the field is so much bigger and it's even less likely you will see a goal scored. Baseball, like football, is slower because theres more strategy to the game. Baseball has more matchup play and is just slower pace on general. And I think the reason for hockey not having a big American following is because it's a cold weather sport, and half the country isnt in a climate that is needed to play it. In almost all of Canada, winter are cold and snowy and most sports cant be played in those conditions, in the south you dont see much ice or snow so you can still play other sports later in the year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 1 minute ago, apuszczalowski said: You would think soccer would be different, but unlike hockey, I find it even more boring cause the field is so much bigger and it's even less likely you will see a goal scored. This is true. With the size of the field, there's more running than any sort of shooting or passing. I respect the hell out of their athelticism, and it actually seems like it might be fun to play. But to watch it, is quite boring. I used to like to going to Blizzard games at HSBC. That was fun because they basically played on a hockey rink with AstroTurf. So there was less running, more passing, more shooting, and higher scoring games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 You have to learn a whole new method of transportation to play hockey. I always get the feeling that this turns people away. People like to watch the games that they can play. Learning to skate is something that a lot of people either don't have access to or don't want to put in the effort. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadingpain Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) I'm a long time hockey fan and player. The brand of hockey we now have in the NHL regular season is incredibly boring to me. There's no intensity in the games anymore and it's rare to find physical play. Most games have the atmosphere of a pre-season scrimmage. Playoffs are a different matter. As a sports fan viewing on TV, soccer is by far the best. It has the strategy/mental component to the game that baseball does, while retaining the fluidity and action of hockey. Zero commercials too, a brief halftime, and you know just how long it will take, more or less, to play the game...and it's not all freaking afternoon. 4 hour + baseball games these days are common. That's absurd. Football games are way too long and are literally a 3 + hour commercial that is interrupted, briefly, now and again, by the game of football. Edited November 7, 2018 by Fadingpain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) I think it's cost prohibitive... The way the game is played today. I am not saying that is a thing in placed like Canada, where the infrastructure (rinks, etc...) have been in place for long time. Anyway... It's a very expensive game for youths, getting rink time, etc... It's a skill the average person doesn't acquire, skating that is. SO, if you don't skate, have ever played... You show no interest, well most don't. Now factor in the $$$$. The safety and equipment that is mandatory nowadays... And you have a niche game. Soccer... A foot and a ball. Basically the same orther games. Baseball, is getting there with cost. Yet, like hockey in Canada, the baseball infrastructure is here in the US. 6 minutes ago, Fadingpain said: I'm a long time hockey fan and player. The brand of hockey we now have in the NHL regular season is incredibly boring to me. There's no intensity in the games anymore and it's rare to find physical play. Most games have the atmosphere of a pre-season scrimmage. Playoffs are a different matter. As a sports fan viewing on TV, soccer is by far the best. It has the strategy/mental component to the game that baseball does, while retaining the fluidity and action of hockey. Zero commercials too, a brief halftime, and you know just how long it will take, more or less, to play the game...and it's not all freaking afternoon. 4 hour + baseball games these days are common. That's absurd. Football games are way too long and are literally a 3 + hour commercial that is interrupted, briefly, now and again, by the game of football. Soccer is absolute worst. Snooze-fest. To watch a 0-0 game. Maybe we will catch somebody scoring 3 games from now. But it's cheap... 3rd World loves that and the drone Europeans. Maybe they come out for the tailgate... Oh wait, party to kill their boring existence with 90 minutes of filler. But... It's a set 90 minutes. LoL.. Edited November 7, 2018 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 11 minutes ago, shrader said: People like to watch the games that they can play. Learning to skate is something that a lot of people either don't have access to or don't want to put in the effort. That a big part of it, IMO. I played right through freshman year of college when I tore up my knee and hung up the skates. Watching games with that kind of perspective is easy and enjoyable for me. I usually look at guys without the puck, the goalie's positioning and anticipate/recognize situations even when the puck's not visible. I've tried to instill that knowledge and love of the game to my son, who never played, and he just sort of shrugs and smiles. He'll watch games, but he doesn't 'see' them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Primary complaint is that people can't see the puck and find the rules difficult to understand. These issues are compounded by the speed of the game. Also every kid in the US is exposed to rec soccer, backyard football, playground basketball, and rec baseball. Unless you live in Canada, Minnesota, or Siberia you aren't growing up playing pickup hockey on a frozen pond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBud Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 The development of high definition tv has made watching hockey on tv so much better than back in the 70's / 80's. So much easier to follow the puck on the ice. I remember watching the Sabres / Leafs / Habs over the air (Hockey Night in Canada) and the only way you knew where the puck was by the movement of the camera. I do think is it a bit of an acquired sport to follow. Or, where you grew up. Rules wise its a bit of a mash up of soccer and basketball. Baseball on tv is like being put to a slow death to me. I'd rather watch it in person - fresh air, etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 When I lived in Connecticut for awhile (a NE state where hockey is not popular), I spoke to a number of people about this. Basically, it boils down to the fact that they didnt really grow up with the sport, and never really played it, and thus cannot identify with watching it. They arent emotionally invested in anything, so they don't really care. Going to a game and/or watching it with hockey fans is cool... but no urge at all to start following or going out of the way to watch/attend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Problems with watching: It's hard to follow the actual flight of the puck, unless it hits the back of the net, veteran hockey watchers take this for granted, FOX went a bit overboard with the blue streak but they did have a point from talking to new viewers... the whole length of the ice view for the game is not the best, a Leafs preseason was in a minor league rink and they didn't have this view so they showed from the back of the net in-close and you could watch the path of the puck on a shot from the blue line, and the full effect of a deflection or tip in front of the net, more of this please.... it's almost impossible to tell which player is which on a team except for superstars, it was easier back when they didn't wear helmets it's a tribal fanbase situation, fans only care about watching their team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Maybe we we need to go back k to the old Fox Sports Puck Tracker to help all those southerners with slow eyes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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