(05-31-2013 10:06 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 08:47 AM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  Hockey gaining ground on basketball quickly.

Maybe in your part of the country. Hockey continues to be a novelty in my neck of the woods that depends on Dollar Beer nights to keep people entertained.

Here are the attendances between the two leagues-
The Mavs average more than the Stars
The Suns average more than the Coyotes
The Heat average more than the Panthers

Even in hockeyfriendly cities,
The Bulls average more than the Blackhawks
The Celtics average more than the Bruins
The Nuggets average more than the Avs

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance

Check out Bruins TV ratings vs. Celtics TV ratings though. If I'm not mistaken the Bruins actually edge them on that. Bruins tickets are also more expensive than Celtics tickets. The other thing you'll note is that the Garden feels like a Bruins home facility that the Celtics just rent. That also happens to be the case.

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(05-31-2013 06:40 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 10:06 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 08:47 AM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  Hockey gaining ground on basketball quickly.

Maybe in your part of the country. Hockey continues to be a novelty in my neck of the woods that depends on Dollar Beer nights to keep people entertained.

Here are the attendances between the two leagues-
The Mavs average more than the Stars
The Suns average more than the Coyotes
The Heat average more than the Panthers

Even in hockeyfriendly cities,
The Bulls average more than the Blackhawks
The Celtics average more than the Bruins
The Nuggets average more than the Avs

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance

The Bulls and Blackhawks have pretty much the same attendance.

And the Redwings average more than the Pistons do.

(05-31-2013 10:15 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  So one of the lowest tier bowl games starting late out west gets nearly as good a rating as a game 7 in prime time in 2nd round of playoff in hockey. Hockey's not a threat to anything. Not if it's on NBCsports anyway.

It was on a little known channel.

(05-31-2013 05:29 PM)Minutemen429 Wrote:  For the hockey cities the basketball and hockey play in the same arena usually but basketball can hold about 1,000 more seats on the floor. The Bruins and Celtics both sold out pretty much every game but the Celts averaged more.

In the United Center there is room for 20,917 with at least 23,129 standing room only for basketball. For hockey it can hold 19,717 with at least 22,428 standing room only. So, like you said, even though the Bulls averaged more people, the Blackhawks were filled more past capacity 110.4% to 104.6%.

Well then all they have to do is get their hockey games on ABC, NBC or CBS instead of a channel that no one has.

"And the Redwings average more than the Pistons do." Red Wings sell out almost every home game, Pistons barely fill the lower sections. I think the popularity of Hockey vs Basketball is all based on area of the country you live in and the history of the sport in the area. In most of the Northern Midwest/Great Lakes states Hockey is more popular.

(05-31-2013 08:55 PM)DexterDevil Wrote:  "And the Redwings average more than the Pistons do." Red Wings sell out almost every home game, Pistons barely fill the lower sections. I think the popularity of Hockey vs Basketball is all based on area of the country you live in and the history of the sport in the area. In most of the Northern Midwest/Great Lakes states Hockey is more popular.

And in the NE even if hockey isn't the more popular sport it can be very close per game.


I read an article which explained what one hockey specific problem (compared to the other big 4 sports). Hockey is very regional. We all know this but most of us don't consider what that means. We tend to think that is a barrier from creating fans but what I am talking about is different. For instance NY will tune in for the Rangers in numbers but once the rangers are out only the die hard hockey fans continue to watch. All those other fans may like hockey a lot but do not watch other teams at all. Contrast this with football. Even after Giants get knocked out New Yorkers will still tune in to watch pro football with no NY teams playing. Hockey still wants to capture that, fans that want to watch hockey even when your team is not involved at all.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoo...fault.aspx

America's favorite sports 2012 (Harris poll)

1. Pro football 34% (+10 from 1985)
2. Baseball 16% (-10)
3. College football 11% (+1)
4. Auto racing 8% (+3)
5. Pro basketball 7% (+1)
6. Hockey 5% (+3)
7. College basketball 3% (-3)
8. Men's golf 2% (-1)
8. Men's soccer 2% (-1)
8. Men's tennis 2% (-3)
8. Swimming 2%
12. Boxing, Horse racing, Track & Field, Bowling, Women's tennis, Women's college basketball at 1%
2% not sure.


Combining all levels of play, that is...
Football 45%
Baseball 16%
Basketball 11%
Auto racing 8%
Hockey 5%
Tennis 3%
Golf, soccer, and swimming at 2%
Boxing, horse racing, T&F and bowling at 1%

It is interesting that college basketball was more popular than college football in this poll from 1989 to 1994.

Pardon me for asking, but isn't this a college football board?

(06-01-2013 12:26 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  Pardon me for asking, but isn't this a college football board?

Actually it is not. Its thw "College SPORTS and conference realignment" board.

(05-31-2013 06:59 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 06:40 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 10:06 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  Maybe in your part of the country. Hockey continues to be a novelty in my neck of the woods that depends on Dollar Beer nights to keep people entertained.

Here are the attendances between the two leagues-
The Mavs average more than the Stars
The Suns average more than the Coyotes
The Heat average more than the Panthers

Even in hockeyfriendly cities,
The Bulls average more than the Blackhawks
The Celtics average more than the Bruins
The Nuggets average more than the Avs

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance

The Bulls and Blackhawks have pretty much the same attendance.

And the Redwings average more than the Pistons do.

(05-31-2013 10:15 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  So one of the lowest tier bowl games starting late out west gets nearly as good a rating as a game 7 in prime time in 2nd round of playoff in hockey. Hockey's not a threat to anything. Not if it's on NBCsports anyway.

It was on a little known channel.

(05-31-2013 05:29 PM)Minutemen429 Wrote:  For the hockey cities the basketball and hockey play in the same arena usually but basketball can hold about 1,000 more seats on the floor. The Bruins and Celtics both sold out pretty much every game but the Celts averaged more.

In the United Center there is room for 20,917 with at least 23,129 standing room only for basketball. For hockey it can hold 19,717 with at least 22,428 standing room only. So, like you said, even though the Bulls averaged more people, the Blackhawks were filled more past capacity 110.4% to 104.6%.

Well then all they have to do is get their hockey games on ABC, NBC or CBS instead of a channel that no one has.

NBC could have put it on their main channel, at least in the Detroit and Chicago television markets.

(05-31-2013 08:55 PM)DexterDevil Wrote:  "And the Redwings average more than the Pistons do." Red Wings sell out almost every home game, Pistons barely fill the lower sections. I think the popularity of Hockey vs Basketball is all based on area of the country you live in and the history of the sport in the area. In most of the Northern Midwest/Great Lakes states Hockey is more popular.

What states would those be?

(06-01-2013 06:18 AM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 06:59 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 06:40 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 10:06 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  Maybe in your part of the country. Hockey continues to be a novelty in my neck of the woods that depends on Dollar Beer nights to keep people entertained.

Here are the attendances between the two leagues-
The Mavs average more than the Stars
The Suns average more than the Coyotes
The Heat average more than the Panthers

Even in hockeyfriendly cities,
The Bulls average more than the Blackhawks
The Celtics average more than the Bruins
The Nuggets average more than the Avs

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance

The Bulls and Blackhawks have pretty much the same attendance.

And the Redwings average more than the Pistons do.

(05-31-2013 10:15 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  So one of the lowest tier bowl games starting late out west gets nearly as good a rating as a game 7 in prime time in 2nd round of playoff in hockey. Hockey's not a threat to anything. Not if it's on NBCsports anyway.

It was on a little known channel.

(05-31-2013 05:29 PM)Minutemen429 Wrote:  For the hockey cities the basketball and hockey play in the same arena usually but basketball can hold about 1,000 more seats on the floor. The Bruins and Celtics both sold out pretty much every game but the Celts averaged more.

In the United Center there is room for 20,917 with at least 23,129 standing room only for basketball. For hockey it can hold 19,717 with at least 22,428 standing room only. So, like you said, even though the Bulls averaged more people, the Blackhawks were filled more past capacity 110.4% to 104.6%.

Well then all they have to do is get their hockey games on ABC, NBC or CBS instead of a channel that no one has.

NBC could have put it on their main channel, at least in the Detroit and Chicago television markets.

(05-31-2013 08:55 PM)DexterDevil Wrote:  "And the Redwings average more than the Pistons do." Red Wings sell out almost every home game, Pistons barely fill the lower sections. I think the popularity of Hockey vs Basketball is all based on area of the country you live in and the history of the sport in the area. In most of the Northern Midwest/Great Lakes states Hockey is more popular.

What states would those be?

Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and it's still pretty popular in Chicago/Illinois, Pittsburg and Ohio.

(06-01-2013 05:27 AM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(06-01-2013 12:26 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  Pardon me for asking, but isn't this a college football board?

Actually it is not. Its thw "College SPORTS and conference realignment" board.

Small print.... the NHL is not a college sport but go ahead...

(06-01-2013 10:01 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(06-01-2013 05:27 AM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(06-01-2013 12:26 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  Pardon me for asking, but isn't this a college football board?

Actually it is not. Its thw "College SPORTS and conference realignment" board.

Small print.... the NHL is not a college sport but go ahead...

You got me there.

(05-31-2013 10:06 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(05-31-2013 08:47 AM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  Hockey gaining ground on basketball quickly.

Maybe in your part of the country. Hockey continues to be a novelty in my neck of the woods that depends on Dollar Beer nights to keep people entertained.

Here are the attendances between the two leagues-
The Mavs average more than the Stars
The Suns average more than the Coyotes
The Heat average more than the Panthers

Even in hockeyfriendly cities,
The Bulls average more than the Blackhawks
The Celtics average more than the Bruins
The Nuggets average more than the Avs

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance

IN the last season that both leagues played their entire regular season:

NHL had 4 teams over 20 K
7 over 19K
14 over 18K
18 over 17.5K
22 over 16K
25 over 15k and 28 over 14K

NBA in yr 2011-12 had
3 over 20 K
7 over 19K
13 over 18K
16 over 17k
18 OVER 16.7k
18 OVER 16k
24 OVER 15k
29 OVER 14k

NHL has2 more teams drawing above 17.5K and 4 more drawing above 16K NBA 1 fewer team below 14K

The median attendance for the NHL was 17563 and NBA was 17259 (took the average attendance for teams 15 and 16 for each league) Really pretty solid for both leagues.

The real shock is how close some NHL/NBA franchises are drawing compared to the MLB teams in their respective markets.

Maple Leafs aren't far behind the Blue Jays
Lightening draw even with the DRays which is a damn shame because the DRays have strung several good years together
Penguins aren't far behind the Pirates
Sharks aren't far behind the A's who have strung several good seasons together in Oakland including a Division title last year
Panthers are #22 in NHL attendance but very competitive with the Marlins who are the only other NL team besides the Cardinals to win 2 WS in the last 15 years.

For those who believe that there are few hockey fans in cities where there is no NHL team have not seen the numbers for Minor League Hockey and Junior A Hockey which is a level below minor league and above amateur hockey.

http://www.mib.org/~lennier/hockey/leagueatt.cgi

Chicago has an AHL team that draws 8300 per game, Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston & Charlotte draw from just below 7K to a little over 7.7K
Portland & Spokane have Jr A teams that draw 6.9K and 6.2K respectively.