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Post by castletonsnob on Jan 23, 2018 19:08:46 GMT -5
Why isn't hockey popular in the south?
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Post by sfvega on Jan 23, 2018 21:51:42 GMT -5
I often wonder why hockey isn't more popular in general in the US. There are some great markets, but as a whole it seems like it doesn't catch casual fans, which is weird. The game is super fast, very physical, lots of skill, and fights. In the South particularly, a lot of teams are expansions with short history in certain cities. Some just are very bad markets for the sport, which isn't just exclusive to the south. The Panthers, Atlanta, and Arizona were just total dumpster fires. Carolina though should have caught on better, and maybe their new ownership will bring them back to relevance (though probably elsewhere).
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Post by Toilet Paper Roll on Jan 23, 2018 22:16:01 GMT -5
It's easier to play when it's cold.
It's a newer thing down there. Honestly it takes a couple of generations to warm to a sport. Northern cities have a 50+ year head start on much of the south.
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Mochi Lone Wolf
Fry's dog Seymour
Development through Destruction.
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Post by Mochi Lone Wolf on Jan 23, 2018 22:24:55 GMT -5
It's easier to play when it's cold. It's a newer thing down there. Honestly it takes a couple of generations to warm to a sport. Northern cities have a 50+ year head start on much of the south. And people will point out Tampa but don't forget, there are a ton of people from up north who live there. Hockey pretty much migrated south with them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2018 23:19:30 GMT -5
The SPHL carved a nice niche, at least.
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Post by Beebs is the Final Girl on Jan 24, 2018 2:39:07 GMT -5
I have hope that my Hurricanes will become a bigger deal. Some changes need to be made but I'm generally happy with my team. I make it to a few games a year. Depends on who they're playing.
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Post by RadcapRadsley on Jan 24, 2018 4:33:37 GMT -5
I often wonder why hockey isn't more popular in general in the US. There are some great markets, but as a whole it seems like it doesn't catch casual fans, which is weird. The game is super fast, very physical, lots of skill, and fights. In the South particularly, a lot of teams are expansions with short history in certain cities. Some just are very bad markets for the sport, which isn't just exclusive to the south. The Panthers, Atlanta, and Arizona were just total dumpster fires. Carolina though should have caught on better, and maybe their new ownership will bring them back to relevance (though probably elsewhere). Same reason beach valleyball is less popular outside of places with beaches. It's hard to really get into a sport you don't grow up playing,for people who grow up in places like the southwest,deep south,hawaii, west coast etc you don't get outdoor hockey weather. And the cost for indoor hockey in those places is not economically viable for most people even if their was actual interest for a kid to play
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Post by sfvega on Jan 24, 2018 6:44:56 GMT -5
I often wonder why hockey isn't more popular in general in the US. There are some great markets, but as a whole it seems like it doesn't catch casual fans, which is weird. The game is super fast, very physical, lots of skill, and fights. In the South particularly, a lot of teams are expansions with short history in certain cities. Some just are very bad markets for the sport, which isn't just exclusive to the south. The Panthers, Atlanta, and Arizona were just total dumpster fires. Carolina though should have caught on better, and maybe their new ownership will bring them back to relevance (though probably elsewhere). Same reason beach valleyball is less popular outside of places with beaches. It's hard to really get into a sport you don't grow up playing,for people who grow up in places like the southwest,deep south,hawaii, west coast etc you don't get outdoor hockey weather. And the cost for indoor hockey in those places is not economically viable for most people even if their was actual interest for a kid to play See, I don't really agree with that. It took forever for soccer to catch on in this country, and little league-HS soccer is among the most played sports in the country. MMA hit a huge boom the last 15 years and most people don't even take an intro karate or boxing class. I do think there is something to the lack of emotional connection to teams. In Boston or Detroit or NY, chances are your grandpa loves the Bruins or the Wings or the Rangers, your dad loves em, you grew up with them and you like 'em and you occasionally go to games or have some of their merch. Not everyone, but I think that rings true to a lot of fanbases.
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Post by The Barber on Jan 24, 2018 8:05:25 GMT -5
Three quarters instead of four.
No cheerleaders.
Complicated rules.
Boring to watch.
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fw91
Patti Mayonnaise
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Post by fw91 on Jan 24, 2018 8:08:03 GMT -5
I often wonder why hockey isn't more popular in general in the US. There are some great markets, but as a whole it seems like it doesn't catch casual fans, which is weird. The game is super fast, very physical, lots of skill, and fights. In the South particularly, a lot of teams are expansions with short history in certain cities. Some just are very bad markets for the sport, which isn't just exclusive to the south. The Panthers, Atlanta, and Arizona were just total dumpster fires. Carolina though should have caught on better, and maybe their new ownership will bring them back to relevance (though probably elsewhere). Same reason beach valleyball is less popular outside of places with beaches. It's hard to really get into a sport you don't grow up playing,for people who grow up in places like the southwest,deep south,hawaii, west coast etc you don't get outdoor hockey weather. And the cost for indoor hockey in those places is not economically viable for most people even if their was actual interest for a kid to play I think there are several reasons why it’s unpopular in America 1) Its marketed like crap compared to its “season counterpart” NBA. Lebron James is an a-list celebrity. Most kids wouldn’t recognize Sidney Crosby if he’s walking down the street. 2) American players are a minority. A casual follower probably can’t pronounce the players names and such and lose interest. Also those guys won’t have much of a fan base outside diehard fans 3) people don’t have the resources and money to play hockey. They can just go to the park with a ball and find a quick pickup game or even play by yourself 4) Culture. Hockey is predominantly a white sport. People tend to follow/admire from similar cultural backgrounds.
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fw91
Patti Mayonnaise
FAN Idol All-Star: FAN Idol Season X and *Gavel* 2x Judges' Throwdown winner
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Post by fw91 on Jan 24, 2018 8:08:24 GMT -5
Three quarters instead of four. No cheerleaders. Complicated rules. Boring to watch. Go to a game live
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Post by The Barber on Jan 24, 2018 8:41:19 GMT -5
Same reason beach valleyball is less popular outside of places with beaches. It's hard to really get into a sport you don't grow up playing,for people who grow up in places like the southwest,deep south,hawaii, west coast etc you don't get outdoor hockey weather. And the cost for indoor hockey in those places is not economically viable for most people even if their was actual interest for a kid to play 3) people don’t have the resources and money to play hockey. They can just go to the park with a ball and find a quick pickup game or even play by yourself GAME ON!!!
Three quarters instead of four. No cheerleaders. Complicated rules. Boring to watch. Go to a game live I would if I could. Besides, most sports are fun live, but are boring to watch on TV.
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Post by arrogantmodel on Jan 24, 2018 10:08:26 GMT -5
Three quarters instead of four. No cheerleaders. Complicated rules. Boring to watch. Three periods. Periods. Not quarters.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 16:16:26 GMT -5
I hate hockey played in warm weather cities. It just seems wrong. It should only be in Canada and the North in the US.
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Post by Cyno on Jan 24, 2018 22:20:09 GMT -5
I'd say the Preds do pretty well for themselves. As it turns out, having a successful team with a charismatic star player like PK Subban can help a lot in making your team popular.
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Post by "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik on Jan 25, 2018 13:08:59 GMT -5
I'd say the Preds do pretty well for themselves. As it turns out, having a successful team with a charismatic star player like PK Subban can help a lot in making your team popular. It's a really well run organization and has been doing well for a while. Obviously there is something to be said for teams being more likely to succeed in colder cities rather than warmer cities. However, a ton of it also has to do with the team and the way it's run. The Predators slowly built themselves properly and put a ton of effort into marketing and educating the community on hockey. They also focused heavily on community service to develop a relationship with Nashville. I am not saying that Arizona or Florida haven't done that but they do not have the best management around and that hurts in a lot of facets.
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Post by Cyno on Jan 25, 2018 13:57:59 GMT -5
Yeah, and trading for a guy like PK helps them out even more. He engages a LOT with the community and has really taken to Nashville as his new home. The city loves him a lot, too.
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Urethra Franklin
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When Toronto sports teams lose, Alison Brie is sad
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Post by Urethra Franklin on Jan 25, 2018 22:09:02 GMT -5
Hockey is unpopular for a couple of reasons, but mainly, it’s because unfamiliarity breeds unfamiliarity.
If there’s no tradition of hockey in a particular area, then interest won’t catch on. If the Jets stayed in Winnipeg and didn’t go to Phoenix in 1997, then I doubt there’d be an Auston Matthews right now.
The other thing, too, is that hockey is insanely expensive. The equipment alone is stupid expensive and then you have outrageous league fees and, likely, a lot of travel, which means a ton of gas money.
If you’re not affluent, you’re probably not playing hockey unless your parents don’t mind taking an incredible hit on their disposable income.
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Post by corndog on Jan 26, 2018 17:54:54 GMT -5
I live in a northern US city and hockey is very popular here. What I have noticed, is while there may be less NHL fans than the other major leagues, they are incredibly loyal, hardcore fans that aren't going anywhere. There are a lot more "fair weather" NFL/NBA fans. As for why it isn't popular in the south? It's a cold weather sport, really doesn't need much explaining there. Baseball and football are all year sports in many of the southern markets and have pretty much saturated the market from youth participation on up.
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Post by Giul T. on Jan 27, 2018 14:35:18 GMT -5
If they keep it up, we may see another "Nashville" in the Golden Knights.
Success builds a culture, especially if they're rallying from the shootings that happened there. Everyone loves a winner. If they keep building a culture of victory and building that fanbase it'll keep the game alive and start to spread
However complete failure will do the exact opposite.
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