NHL Off-Topic thread

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

A study done on viewer ages of various sports leagues, and NHL was abit surprising to see.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/06/05/Research-and-Ratings/Viewership-trends.aspx

Ages per the "big 4" leagues:
MLB-52 in 2000 and 2006, 57 in 2016
NFL-44 in 2000, 46 in 2006, 50 in 2016
NBA-40 in 2000 and 2006,42 in 2016
NHL-33 in 2000,42 in 2006,49 in 2016

And in terms of youth viewership, NHL was 16% in 2000 and dropped to 8% in 2016(NBA,NFL,MLB COMBINED have dropped 8% since 2000).

Don't know what exactly NHL can do to get their average age down. You'd think with all the markets NHL is expanding into, they'd gain a younger fanbase. Seems more like it's just a current fanbase getting older and not really having many new young fans.

[bhurst99]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

A study done on viewer ages of various sports leagues, and NHL was abit surprising to see.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/06/05/Research-and-Ratings/Viewership-trends.aspx

Ages per the "big 4" leagues:
MLB-52 in 2000 and 2006, 57 in 2016
NFL-44 in 2000, 46 in 2006, 50 in 2016
NBA-40 in 2000 and 2006,42 in 2016
NHL-33 in 2000,42 in 2006,49 in 2016

And in terms of youth viewership, NHL was 16% in 2000 and dropped to 8% in 2016(NBA,NFL,MLB COMBINED have dropped 8% since 2000).

Don't know what exactly NHL can do to get their average age down. You'd think with all the markets NHL is expanding into, they'd gain a younger fanbase. Seems more like it's just a current fanbase getting older and not really having many new young fans.

But thats just tv viewers. Not sure how relevant those numbers are when people watch games through so many other devices.

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[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

That's why I compared other sports leagues too. All of them are increasing in age, however NHLs seems to be increasing much more. And their younger viewers are declining more than other leagues too.

So unless NHL somehow does a better job at getting younger people to watch on their phones/computers than other sports leagues, their overall age is increasing more than others.

[Money99]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Youth love loud personalities and offense.
The NHL has neither.

Get Off My Lawn Guy loves 2-1 games and Jonathan Toews cliches.

Which is probably why the average age is increasing.

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[TracerBullet]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Lotta stuff happening in Seattle at the moment

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray will announce Wednesday that he has selected the Oak View Group to redevelop KeyArena.

The group, led by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff, will spearhead a $564 million gut remodel of the facility on the Seattle Center campus. They are also bringing some blockbuster power with them – two prospective NHL owners.

A source close to the project says Leiweke will announce that his Seattle effort will be joined by Boston Celtics Minority Owner David Bonderman, a billionaire and University of Washington grad, and Jerry Bruckheimer, the Hollywood action movie mogul, who most recently pioneered the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.

Both Bonderman and Bruckheimer are expected to announce soon their intention to attract an NHL expansion franchise to be an anchor tenant in the facility, according to a source close to the project.

When Murray makes the announcement Wednesday, Leiweke and Azoff are expected to be by his side. At least two NHL leaders are expected to be in attendance, including Vancouver Canucks Chairman Francesco Aquilini and Florida Panthers Chairman Peter Luukko, who is one of Leiweke’s current partners in the Oak View Group.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Been pulling for Seattle to get a team for years now, I hope this can finally lead to something instead of just more talk.

Canucks would be interested probably for territorial rights or something. I think Canucks are most popular team in pacific northwest(according to some "fave team by state" map I saw). But Panthers chairman going there...move Panthers to Seattle! Helps NHL balance out the conferences, and moves struggling team to new western market.

Seems too good to happen. Panthers move to Seattle(turns struggling east franchise into a new thriving western one), QC gets expansion team($500M for the NHL,and conferences are at 16-16), and Tampa can fully take over all of Florida(Panthers moving meaning whatever fans their team has most likely just goes and follows the Lightning. I don't see them just stop watching hockey altogether)

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Get Off My Lawn Guy loves 2-1 games and Jonathan Toews cliches.

Which is probably why the average age is increasing.

Doesn't really make sense, though. When did the "Get Off My Lawn" people start watching hockey? What era are they idolizing? The 1950s and 1960s?

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Speaking of loud personalities, Brian Burke was exchanging insults with Calgary season ticket holders and threatening to move the Flames without a new taxpayer-funded arena. I guess the early 90s are coming back in style.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/flames-president-brian-burke-calgary-next-1.4150420

Burke (referring to taxpayer-funded arenas): "Most intelligent people get this argument."
Flames season ticket holder: "Most intelligent people know how to tie a tie."

[Money99]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Doesn't really make sense, though. When did the "Get Off My Lawn" people start watching hockey? What era are they idolizing? The 1950s and 1960s?

In that article it shows that the average viewer was 33 in 2000 - knee deep in the Dead Puck Era.
In 2016, the average viewer is 49.
So basically that group is what's carrying the viewership.

The NHL has the largest percentage of fans that have never played the sport.
So who knows when that group actually began watching the game?

I worked in Detroit for a decade and most Wings fans didn't start watching until the late 90's, when Dead Puck hockey began to rev up.

The point is moot though as those stats clearly show that younger people are not watching the game as much as they used to.
Watch how fast the NBA would lose fans if it's best players started averaging 15 points per game.

Sent from my LG-K210 using Operation Sports mobile app

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

In that article it shows that the average viewer was 33 in 2000 - knee deep in the Dead Puck Era.
In 2016, the average viewer is 49.
So basically that group is what's carrying the viewership.

The NHL has the largest percentage of fans that have never played the sport.
So who knows when that group actually began watching the game?

I worked in Detroit for a decade and most Wings fans didn't start watching until the late 90's, when Dead Puck hockey began to rev up.

Just seems that there are a lot of conflicting narratives out there. My guess is that lack of national exposure (ie, ESPN) had more to do with the NHL failing to attract new American TV viewers than the product on the ice.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I'm sure kids not playing hockey growing up is another factor that'd hurt too. Harder for them to get into it when they don't get to be as involved in it.

That's why I like baseball as much as I do. Despite people saying how boring it is and everything, the appreciation of the game you have when you actually play it, regardless if it's just little league, playing varsity level, or beyond, is something non-players won't develop as easily.

Outside of ice hockey, they should try pushing street hockey too. Especially in warmer countries. Either just play in your shoes or get roller blades and set up a game somewhere. If kids in the Dominican and other countries can play baseball with a broomstick and a bottlecap, I'm sure those same countries can play hockey with a broom and tennis ball.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Hearing some stuff on TV today from I believe it was a Seattle sports writer who was talking about everything going on with the arena and getting a NHL/NBA team there with the arena. Sounds like 2020 could be realistic time a team could start playing there. NHL wise, seems like expansion makes the most sense.

Jackets/Wild were awarded franchises in 97, began play in 2000.

Maybe if all works out, next offseason we could see NHL award Seattle an expansion franchise to begin play in 20-21. And then with the guarantee of a 16th western team, someone like Florida or Carolina relocates to QC for 19-20 season.

Speaking of loud personalities, Brian Burke was exchanging insults with Calgary season ticket holders and threatening to move the Flames without a new taxpayer-funded arena. I guess the early 90s are coming back in style.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/flames-president-brian-burke-calgary-next-1.4150420

Burke (referring to taxpayer-funded arenas): "Most intelligent people get this argument."
Flames season ticket holder: "Most intelligent people know how to tie a tie."

I'm sure everything that's going on eventually leads to a new arena. No way they move the Flames. And their mayor seems to have one of the best reps out there that a modern politician can have. For all that he's done, if the Flames were to move while he is mayor there, that completely overshadows everything he's ever done. I believe there's an election coming up in Calgary this year. So you can bet the Flames arena will be a hot topic(no pun intended) for that.

[rdnk]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Griffins win the Calder Cup in a rematch of 2012-13. I wonder if Blashill gets off to a slow start, if they'll can him and move Todd Nelson into the HC role. I always felt like Nelson got the short end of the stick in Edmonton.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

If Seattle gets a team, they already have a fan.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

If Seattle gets a team, they already have a fan.

I've said it before, if they get a team, I don't see them having a shortage of fans and especially rivals. Arena is all they're missing. Sucks it's taken this long and still might not get done until the 20s.