by Simon, SimonOnSports
Epic Carnival has been up for just over two months and since it's inception there has been a glaring absence of a single sport's coverage. Over these months and 800+ posts there have been two exactly two posts regarding the NHL, one of which regarded the #1 pick being a bitch while the other being about a NHL player setting up a Fight Camp. In other words two posts that were mostly about humorous stories that just so happen to have involved the NHL. Surely part of the issue is that it's the middle of the summer and no one is particularly thinking about but it just further notes the lack of importance Hockey has on America Culture.
Last year I questioned myself just how irrelevant the NHL is in America and whether or when the NHL will die out. They're ratings are miserable, they have spread their product too thin, the Lockout soured many of their fans, there is evidence of its demise everywhere. Eventually I brought forth a few redeeming qualities I personally came to the conclusion that the NHL will stay around but will remain somewhat of a Niche sport.
Today I bring up another question. How long before the NHL relinquishes its Global Rule as the most important Hockey League? The NHL contracts have diminished since the lockout, the leagues profitability is obviously marginal, and interest in Hockey in the United States does not compare to that in Eastern European and Nordic Nations. During the Lockout many players had no problem heading over to countries like Switzerland to suit up in their Hockey Leagues and make a pretty penny for the time being. At one point in time will the money available for players in European Leagues surpass the money available in the NHL. In essence will the NHL become the MLS, a league thats talent does not compare to other global entities.
So over the next 10 months while the dreadfully long hockey season is going on, give a few thoughts about this. Will you actually mind if the NHL dies off or becomes a shadow of its former self? Will you mind if another American based league is one of the weaker leagues in the world? Or will you simply continue to devote all of your attention to other sports ignoring the fact that Hockey needs every single one of you if it is to survive these upcoming grievous years.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
WHEN WILL THE BEST PLAYERS MOVE ON?
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3 comment(s):
Apparently the NHL owners don't care either if you look at the prices for walk up tix throughout the league.
This post is ridiculous.
I'll tell you the main reason why NHL is not as popular in the states as it used to be: ESPN. They are blackballing the league because they do not have the rights to broadcast it, and therefore do not run a highlight or story from it until very late in their broadcasts.
Look at Nascar. Can you honestly say Nascar is more exciting than NHL? But they're starting to get popular up in the northern states. Do you know why? ESPN rams it down their viewers throats constantly for the sole reason they have such huge contracts with them.
And you are a stunned cunt if you think european leagues, such as the swiss and swedish elite leagues, giver their players more than the NHL does. One or two players on a team may make more over there, but the average salary in the NHL is considerably higher, and always will be, than their european counterparts.
You write as if you haven't the faintest idea about the NHL and therefore should stick to your non-niche sports such as Nascar and MMA.
It was a theoretical possibility. I'm not saying it will happen I'm saying that it could happen.
The fact is not whether I think Hockey is more exciting than NASCAR, I like Hockey and hate NASCAR. It's the fact that it's wildly more popular in the United States than Hockey, if you deny this then you are highly uninformed.
TV Ratings on NBC for the Hockey Playoffs were amongst the lowest in the history of the broadcasting entity.
ESPN dumped ship on the NHL because it could get better ratings showing the NBA, Poker, more baseball games. Just about anything other than Hockey makes the network more money including NASCAR. They aren't blackballing Hockey because they don't like it, they're blackballing Hockey cause 99% of the country doesn't care.
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