row_33 Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 less blood is spilled with the reduction in fighting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 9 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said: 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. 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.. i was about to say the exact same thing , Hockey is also one of the most expensive sports to play, not counting registration fees for a league and facilities to play it Just the equipment alone can costs hundreds of dollars buying second hand, to be the goalie you can almost double that. Growing up it was usually the wealthier families that had their kids playing hockey cause it just wasn't affordable for an average family to have a child in. Soccer is cheap, Only one ball is required, and if you wanted to go high end, some shin pads and cleats are your equipment. Baseball still isnt that expensive, A glove will cost a bit for a really good one, but its something that doesn't need to be replaced often, and can get better the more worn it gets (they mentioned during the playoffs one year Tulowitzki on the Jays, his glove is extremely old and keeps getting repaired all the time, he has used the same one almost his entire career). Bats in some leagues are typically supplied to teams, or you can get your own. Batting gloves and cleats are probably your biggest expenses. Also its true that Ice Hockey requires an additional skill of having to know how to skate, and skate well to play. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 18 hours 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. I think this is a valid point. I also think a lack of understanding of the game is a major factor. I don't watch hockey and if I ever do, it's a playoff elimination game when there's nothing else on TV. I don't get the game. I get the basics, but not the intricacies. It's the same reason many people think baseball is boring. I love watching baseball. I love listening to it on the radio. It's the strategic/cerebral part of the game that I enjoy most. I'm sure there's a strategic/cerebral part of hockey; but all I know is you need to get the puck into the net, icing and you can't hit someone with your stick. So it bores me. Same with soccer. And honestly, I never cared to try to learn more about those sports. Baseball and football are plenty for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 I think if the college game was a bit more accessible around the US, you would get more people into it. The smaller arenas combined with a fairly high skill level makes it very friendly. You're generally right on top of the game and can get immersed pretty easily. I haven't been out to any of the arenas out west which are larger, but I'd have to imagine it's similar out there. It's not going to happen though, unfortunately as there's only so much talent to go around. Still, fan interest at that level would then funnel into the NHL level. And that leads to another big reason for why it isn't as popular. College hockey has grown a ton in recent years, but still, the average American does not have any access to the main feeders for the NHL. So there is zero familiarity with these players as they break into the pro game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 23 hours ago, Jrb1979 said: You can turn away from the action and not miss a thing. Hockey you have to be engaged into the game the whole time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 18 hours ago, K-9 said: Maybe we we need to go back k to the old Fox Sports Puck Tracker to help all those southerners with slow eyes. I was never a fan of the old blue flash in hockey (and HD TV really helps!) but I really like the ball tracker in golf. Same technology, I guess. Not that I watch a ton of golf, but when I do it helps. I can’t sit and watch baseball for very long. As my son said when he gave it up “half the guys are standing around, and the other half are sitting!” I’ll certainly watch hockey before baseball. Went to a couple Pred’s games in Nashville last year, and it was a BLAST! My parents didn’t love me enough as a teenager to get me to hockey practice at 4:30am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 4 minutes ago, Augie said: I was never a fan of the old blue flash in hockey (and HD TV really helps!) but I really like the ball tracker in golf. Same technology, I guess. Not that I watch a ton of golf, but when I do it helps. I don't mind those kinds of things on replays. But other than the LOS and first down line in football, I don't like seeing those things during the live game. I hated watching playoffs this year with the strike zone on the screen. Maybe because I used to be an umpire, but I always enjoyed deciding for myself if it was a ball or a strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 5 minutes ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said: I don't mind those kinds of things on replays. But other than the LOS and first down line in football, I don't like seeing those things during the live game. I hated watching playoffs this year with the strike zone on the screen. Maybe because I used to be an umpire, but I always enjoyed deciding for myself if it was a ball or a strike. Nothing personal, but I always thought guys like you with your own, well.......personal strike zone should be replaced. I don’t like the arbitrary nature of that, or the MLB umps who seemed to thumb their noses at consistency. But then, I’m NOT a baseball guy....so take it for what it’s worth. Nothing. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 The yellow, blue or whatever line at base of boards I think exists because of TV. It's so the viewer can differentiate between ice and boards... For the players too. See the puck. On another note. They should get rid of advertising on boards. Go back to the clean old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 35 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said: The yellow, blue or whatever line at base of boards I think exists because of TV. It's so the viewer can differentiate between ice and boards... For the players too. See the puck. On another note. They should get rid of advertising on boards. Go back to the clean old days. Our first taste of hockey boards advertising was from Communist countries in the 1960s for international hockey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GETTOTHE50 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 Interesting points all around. I do think hockey is the most intense sport to watch. Especially come playoff time. There’s no breaks. My butthole is always clenched. I don’t find it tough to follow the puck at all. Does that mean I’m like a cat that gets easily distracted by a laser pointer? Probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Augie said: I was never a fan of the old blue flash in hockey (and HD TV really helps!) but I really like the ball tracker in golf. Same technology, I guess. Not that I watch a ton of golf, but when I do it helps. I can’t sit and watch baseball for very long. As my son said when he gave it up “half the guys are standing around, and the other half are sitting!” I’ll certainly watch hockey before baseball. Went to a couple Pred’s games in Nashville last year, and it was a BLAST! My parents didn’t love me enough as a teenager to get me to hockey practice at 4:30am. I was never a fan of the puck tracker, either. My post was completely tongue in cheek. Interesting observation by your son regarding baseball. It was funny and brought to mind coaching my son’s team when he was a little guy. They were more interested in playing with the dirt and catching bugs than concentrating on the game. Anybody I know that’s been to Nashville for a game says the same thing. Have to put that on my bucket list. And hockey parents are a special breed. And can we ever really love our children enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seregil42 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 On 11/7/2018 at 12:19 PM, 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. This would be me(bored, not confused). I love going to Amerks games (the few times a year I get to go), but I'm bored if I'm watching it on TV. Same with baseball for me. I'll watch golf on TV though. Probably has a lot to do with what I've played and can appreciate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 3 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said: On another note. They should get rid of advertising on boards. Go back to the clean old days. Dear rich people, You should eliminate a major source of revenue. Love, EII I wonder if they'll respond to your letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 3 hours ago, shrader said: Dear rich people, You should eliminate a major source of revenue. Love, EII I wonder if they'll respond to your letter. The rich people are the players. How did the League make ends meet 40 years ago? Oh yeah... My tickets behind the Sabres bench were 20 bucks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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