[blueandwhite]

He says the NHL has an inferiority complex when it comes to the US.
he was at the game on saturday - he's a big fan of Don Cherry, called him the DC - and a CBC reporter asked him about buying the Penguins, again - he said mario's taken the team off the market and he respects that.
He also says people in the states underestimate hockey - that they should be promoting the NHL's combined TV viewership in both Canada and the US. call it a North American audience and then it's pretty stunning numbers.
For example: The NBA on TNT on Thursday night averages about 1 million households in the US.
Hockey Night In canada on saturday night averages about 1.27 million. Combine that with the US viewership (it's not much-160,000 households) but the whole number looks good.
His point is, make people see how much hockey is watched and compare it to basketball numbers, whcih proves that ALOT of people watch hockey on this continent.
Whether it seems silly or he makes a good point, it's good to have a fan like him to chat hockey up in the States - gives it a bigger profile. Unless people just think he's nuts. But he's a rich nut.

[EmpireWF]

He's smart when it comes to marketing. Frankly, the NHL should be interested in anything that makes their brand seem more popular.

I'd consider myself a mild NHL fan (I vaguely follow the regular season, but watch a lot of the post-season), but it's frustrating how the NHL doesn't seem to care about getting people to talk about them. Whomever are their PR people, they should be fired.

[blueandwhite]

I didn't realize that was the case in the States. I thought people just didn't care about it. if the NHL isn't pushing it hard down there, they should be, for the sake of smaller teams that struggle like nashville, phoenix, florida.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I didn't realize that was the case in the States. I thought people just didn't care about it. if the NHL isn't pushing it hard down there, they should be, for the sake of smaller teams that struggle like nashville, phoenix, florida.

Blue is right. Besides a few places, people don't care about it here.

It's got nothing to do with marketing. You can market a sport all you want - but nobody watches the sports for gimmicks. They watch because they like the sport.

Personally, I love hockey. And I think NY hockey fans are great fans - but the fact remains that any other sport gets better ratings when they're on at the same time.

[blueandwhite]

so even in new York? i wonder about Buffalo or detroit.

[MJHMarc]

The Buffalo Sabres get plenty of attention. They're the best team in the NHL for crying out loud!

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Blue is right. Besides a few places, people don't care about it here.

It's got nothing to do with marketing. You can market a sport all you want - but nobody watches the sports for gimmicks. They watch because they like the sport.

Personally, I love hockey. And I think NY hockey fans are great fans - but the fact remains that any other sport gets better ratings when they're on at the same time.

Come on man... I have seen worst product hit big with the right marketing campaign...and they should aim part of it at the women's market...I know more women who would go to a hockey game over an NBA game any day of the week.

[blueandwhite]

Yeah MJHMarc, I know Buffalo rocks this season, but what i meant was, are there still more buffalonians watching football and basketball?

and GDK, maybe they do miss out on the female market - those cheerleaders down there in carolina and Tampa bay? Scratch them. That's just embarrassing. And these tight shirts they are bringing out? Is not the way to go either.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

Yeah MJHMarc, I know Buffalo rocks this season, but what i meant was, are there still more buffalonians watching football and basketball?

and GDK, maybe they do miss out on the female market - those cheerleaders down there in carolina and Tampa bay? Scratch them. That's just embarrassing. And these tight shirts they are bringing out? Is not the way to go either.

Tampa has cheerleaders?...really?...huh?...better go research this...

[blueandwhite]

Right. Typical.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

Right. Typical.

Okay, found it....The Professional Cheerleader Blog...

I am not impressed...very generic looking...why the light blue?...Tampa has a darker blue to them?...Yep, bad marketing... ...research complete now blueandwhite girl.

[blueandwhite]

now I'm not sure if she's a cheerleader, or one of those fixing the ice attendants. Either way, that is just embarrassing. I am stunned sometimes at what women will do.
as credit to Denis - he seems to remain focused.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

now I'm not sure if she's a cheerleader, or one of those fixing the ice attendants. Either way, that is just embarrassing. I am stunned sometimes at what women will do.
as credit to Denis - he seems to remain focused.

Ice fixing girls?...huh?...that's a seperate research category all together...why are you stunned at what women would do though?...are they any worse than men in general?...I am sure my gender can match yours stupidity for stupidity...

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

so even in new York? i wonder about Buffalo or detroit.

The Rangers and Islanders always get lower ratings than all other major sports here. If the Rangers are on ABC, they'll score a 1 rating, while even the Knicks will draw more viewers.

Don't get me wrong - the ones who are fans are great and passionate. When the teams are winning, both buildings sell out. But the majority of people in the whole metro area, do not care about hockey.

My best friend loves the Yankees,Knicks and Giants but doesn't care about hockey. My dad, who is a big sports fan and grew up a marginal Ranger fan, has the least interest in hockey. I don't know why. I love it.

While my friends and I growing up never played ice hockey, we played a TON of street hockey. A friend of mine lived on a dead end so we bought ply wood and had our own mini-rink. We played all the time. We bought nets, gloves, sticks, a hockey "ball," goalie equipment, used to have pretend fights,...occasional real ones. Ah the good old days of childhood.

[azrael492]

There is never any mention of the sport around here. I don't have a team I can really follow. ESPN used to show games and I would catch one now and again. I just don't have the access and am not a big enough fan to pay for the center ice package with my cable company. If I had somebody to root for I would probably follow a team.