Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

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Impact the Olympics Will Have on NHL Popularity?

Minimal to No Change
11
33%
Cause People to Wake Up and Realize the NHL is WAY Better than the NBA
3
9%
Significant Increase in TV Ratings and Ticket/Merch Revenue
0
No votes
Sportscenter will spend 5 minutes on hockey highlights now when otherwise they would be using that time to report on Brett Favre's Bowel Movements
12
36%
Gary Bettman Will Find a Way to Eff This Exposure Up
7
21%
 
Total votes: 33

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dmiles2186
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Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by dmiles2186 »

What do you guys think? Personally, I don't think the overall change is going to be all that significant. I do believe there there were some 8-9-10 year old kids out there who decided to try out the game next time a league in their city opens. I also think that the games converted some non-believers to fans. In fact, a Facebook friend of mine who just 3 years ago said hockey was "wrestling on ice" and "figure skating with sticks" is now researching teams to follow as he is converted. So the question is, what impact will the Olympics have on the overall popularity of the league?
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WaukeeBlues
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by WaukeeBlues »

I guess a lot was made by Gary Bettman of the fact that no previous Olympics have shown spikes in interest in the NHL. If there ever was an Olympics where that would change, this would be the one.

If it doesn't happen this time, it never will. A gold medal game USA/Canada going to overtime? Bettman couldn't have written a script much different than how it actually panned out. We'll see.

I voted Sportscenter.
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by DaDitka »

I think you'll see a slight temporary spike in coverage on espn and perhaps slightly in TV ratings.

I think some will pay more attention the next time a game is on the TV in the local sports bar and maybe so may be more willing to attend a game the next time they are offered a free ticket. If they see it live, you’ll have them hooked.

What is going to KILL any momentum this built for the sport is with NFL free agency starting this week and Baseball starting up, people attention will be quickly skewed back to their traditional interests.
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by thedoc »

I think you guys are all correct. I especially agree with the young kid's statement. Even though I really really hate to admit it DaDitka is also right. There is going to be a new shiny toy for the casual sports to play with especially with baseball starting. It is a shame that people don't get more interested though. They really don't know what they are missing. These guys hit like football players, have the hand eye coordination of baseball players and the speed of and agility of basketball players and by the way they do it on ice. People are being left out. All the better though I guess they might become redwing fans.
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by dmiles2186 »

I enjoyed no commercials during game play during the Olympics. I thought that was great. I'm guessing that it is virtually impossible for the NHL to get by with something like that, but if they could, why wouldn't they?

Sure, you could take your breaks to clean the ice/goal creases. During these breaks you could have the announcers spout off sponsors like sports radio hosts do. But it would keep the game moving swiftly and play into the hands of a game that moves along at a breakneck pace. This could lead to more 'casual' viewers getting sucked in instead of changing the channel during a commercial and not coming back.

Like I said, doubt this will ever happen in today's ad-fueled age, but its an idea.
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by richtedm »

the NHL WOULD gain more viewers if they weren't on Versus. Its just not enough exposure. People will forget. I do think there will be an increase in interest, I just dont think it will be as much as there could have been.
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by WaukeeBlues »

And for the love of Christ, why doesn't the NHL start a month earlier so that the Cup Finals aren't going on in June when beaches are opening?

This is such an obvious and basic change. Yet year after year Bettman & co. b(tch about low playoffs ratings. No $hit Sherlock.

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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by STLADOGG »

Hockey doesn't mean shit to the average douchebag out there if it's not on ESPN. I don't think that is going to change so I think it was nice to see those ratings but the only thing those douches cared about was there U.S.A. jerseys and that's it.
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by philco_3 »

IT would have been better if they would have put it on NBC instead of figure skating. Hell even Curling would have been better to see than that crap.
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Re: Olympic Impact on NHL Popularity

Post by northwest dave »

Been through this before...nothing will change. Oh, there might be a slight change in ratings for awhile, but the general US citizen just doesn't get hockey.

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