Am I Alone in Feeling...

[nyisles16]

I think the NHL hurt itself by putting their games on a channel that, if you get basic cable, most people may not see. I also think also what "hurt" the sport were the relocation/creation of some franchises -- Is Carolina really a hockey hot bed? Nashville?

Luckily I live in an area where I get to see three teams play on cable, and get my XM radio coverage of the sport.

Hockey would be my second favorite sport behind baseball..

Ugh, my mind is slipping

[Unmasked]

Quote: Originally Posted by nyisles16

Hockey would be my second favorite sport behind hockey.

I like hockey. I've been around it since I was a kid. I went to minor league games regularly. As much as I love hockey, I understand why it isn't popular; it's almost impossible to find on TV, especially if you aren't looking for it. The only games I can get are the occasional "Hockey Night in Canada" games on the NHL Network, and the rare game on Versus. It's also not a sport people grow up with.

That said, Go Blues!

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Unmasked

I like hockey. I've been around it since I was a kid. I went to minor league games regularly. As much as I love hockey, I understand why it isn't popular; it's almost impossible to find on TV, especially if you aren't looking for it. The only games I can get are the occasional "Hockey Night in Canada" games on the NHL Network, and the rare game on Versus. It's also not a sport people grow up with. That said, Go Blues!

It's also a valid point that it isn't a sport that a lot of people grow up with. Rinks are scarce to non-existent in some parts of the country, ice time is expensive as hell so league registration fees are high, ice time is also hard to get at all, equipment is expensive enough to price a lot of families and demographics out of the sport as well.

That sort of stuff will always hurt how popular a sport is, when the hoops you have to jump through some major hoops just to play it. Of course there is street hockey, but even then everyone needs sticks.

[slickdtc]

I think hockey could be the most popular if it was played more. Everyone who is new to hockey that has played a little or watched a game has loved it. It's really just exposure. There's not enough of it and by now it might be too late.

[nyisles16]

I was lucky in the fact that I grew up within a block or two from the Nassau Coliseum during the Isles cup runs. That's what got me hooked.

[CS10029]

Being in Bruins territory, having a rink not so far away and the Providence team 40 minutes from where I live, really helped me get into hockey I think.

The Bruins used to be on like a WB channel or something, which probably got them some nice exposure.

Now they are on NESN, which is still pretty easy to get to.

In this area hockey is pretty big, every saturday night we have over 20 guys come down to the rink and play a pick up game.

[SPTO]

If only the live experience could be translated to TV more I think Americans would love the sport a lot more then they do. Hockey isn't my favorite sport in the world but I went to an AHL game years ago and I gotta say the game is very exciting in person.

It just seems kinda sterile on TV and I don't know why.

[kehlis]

the live experience can turn non-fans into fans quickly...My dad never liked it when I was little so we never watched it, but when we moved to Colorado we were 5 mins away from where Air Force and Colorado College played their home games and since my dad could get tickets through his work he would take my brother and I on a regular basis. Between going to those games and playing the NHL series by EA, my brother and I became huge hockey fans.

I also think it doesn't have as many fans because it is probably the hardest game to play when you are younger. It's expensive to join a team and as mentioned ice time is hard to get...Roller Hockey was what i played growing up but that still isn't as popular as it could be...It's much easier to get a group of kids together and go play football or basketball, but hockey it pretty hard to get friends together to play.

[SPTO]

Quote: Originally Posted by kehlis

I also think it doesn't have as many fans because it is probably the hardest game to play when you are younger. It's expensive to join a team and as mentioned ice time is hard to get...Roller Hockey was what i played growing up but that still isn't as popular as it could be...It's much easier to get a group of kids together and go play football or basketball, but hockey it pretty hard to get friends together to play.

I know there's the cultural difference and all but every kid in Canada has at least played pickup hockey. It's not that hard to do as long as you have hockey sticks and a couple pads for the goalies. The goal area can be makeshift. I remember sometimes we'd use loose bricks as the goalposts!

Street hockey is very popular up here and there was even an attempt at an amateur street hockey league a couple years ago.

[kehlis]

Quote: Originally Posted by SPTO

I know there's the cultural difference and all but every kid in Canada has at least played pickup hockey. It's not that hard to do as long as you have hockey sticks and a couple pads for the goalies. The goal area can be makeshift. I remember sometimes we'd use loose bricks as the goalposts! Street hockey is very popular up here and there was even an attempt at an amateur street hockey league a couple years ago.

You're right, I apologize, i guess i was just speaking solely in regards to where i grew up. I didn't have any friends that played hockey when i was younger making it a little more difficult to get into.

While I'm sure there are a good portion of people in the United States that weren't as exposed to it I'm sure there were quite a few more who were.

However, the reason for that probably goes right along with the theme of this thread, there just isn't enough exposure overall for the sport.