The team with the most fans in the city.While you are probably right that they are Bruins fans, where do you draw the line for combining markets? Cleveland is minutes from being equal distance from Pittsburgh and Columbus. Who gets to claim them?
Except their ratings are strong every year, and this is a middling rating conpared to previous years. As much as you would like the world to revolve around the Leafs, it sadly does notI would guess that the Buffalo ratings have more to do with the Leafs being in the playoffs and a lot of Toronto fans living just across the border? I think this is more likely the case than Sabres fans tuning in...
The reason why hockey is a niche sport in a America is primarilly due to climate.
Expense is a factor, but I still say climate is the primary reason. Russia is a relatively poor country. There's lots of sports that aren't popular that are cheap to play.That's a factor, but as another poster pointed out, the cost of equipment is also a major factor.
It doesn't cost much at all for a basketball or a football. Even a baseball, glove and bat can be relatively inexpensive. Hockey equipment costs an arm and a leg, unfortunately.
Not many people move from Toronto to live in Buffalo.
I have trouble paying attention to hockey when my team isn't playing. I may tune in the third period. I still flip the channels even during the playoffs. Stanley cup finals seems better but the league does a poor job overall.
The league fails to mArket its star players. The game needs to change if they expect to attract more than just the average fan.
The lack of scoring and fighting limits the appeal to the novice viewer.
NHL IS A niche sport.
They don't even talk hockey on the Sports radio stations in many U.S. citirs.
When they do that team must be in the playoffs.
And cities that don't have hockey teams get no mention.
One of the most popular American teams, most championships by a US based team, arguably the strongest traveling fan base of a US based team, several of the greatest players in hockey history spent their entire (or the majority of) careers in Detroit, take your pick.
Buffalo has always been a good market, but it's definitely not better than Original 6 cities like Detroit or the other five.
Surprised that the LOS ANGELES-ANAHEIM market didn't make the Top 10.
Its not a niche sport in Buffalo...they have hockey talk on the radio all the time and have a year round hockey talk show featuring Andrew Peters, Craig Rivet and Marty Biron on year round called "The instigators" from 10am-noon every weekday. The afternoon "Schopp and the Bulldog" show which runs form 3pm-7pm and then "The Nightcap" from 7pm-9pm have a lot of hockey related stuff too...
We love hockey, no two ways about it.
surprised providence is almost even with Boston. It’s like a fifth the population.
Well, and cost. Playing hockey is f***ing expensive.The reason why hockey is a niche sport in a America is primarilly due to climate.
Surprised that the LOS ANGELES-ANAHEIM market didn't make the Top 10.
The reason why hockey is a niche sport in a America is primarilly due to climate.
Or they are Sabers fans that hate the Leafs and want to see them lose.I would guess that the Buffalo ratings have more to do with the Leafs being in the playoffs and a lot of Toronto fans living just across the border? I think this is more likely the case than Sabres fans tuning in...
He is responding to an article in the Denver Post which crapped all over the city of Nashville, the Predators organization, fans, and team. The hack reporter is hated by Avs fans also.Hey look, a Nashville fan attempting to take a shot at the city that their team is playing. Thats not too predictable.
Don't be that guy. There are a lot of good hockey markets not on that list. You don't need to hamfist an insult in every post you make.
Surprised with Boston at 4...could be a lot of their fans are tuning in to the NESN broadcast w/ Edwards?
Yea, exactly. I completely missed Providence in that list lol. Boston's market in general is huge, you can't just look within Boston like you state.That’s what I’ve been doing, I’m sure many are
Bruins are also a New England team, they are just as big in many surrounding states as they are in Boston itself. The Boston TV market only includes Boston and I believe part of southern NH. Vermont, Hartford, Providence, Maine, western MA, etc are all different markets by TV standards
Surprised with Boston at 4...could be a lot of their fans are tuning in to the NESN broadcast w/ Edwards?
2 Florida cities in the top 10.
Hmmm.
I can't tell if you're joking or not.Nah, it's because Bettman and co only have one strategy for promoting it: expansion and hope. No marketing acumen, no knowledge of setting rules to increase offense/point totals/records/drama.
High end equipment is expensive period. I play hockey so I know the cost there. My son plays baseball, 3 bats, one composite, one alloy (for the colder weather games) and one Old Hickory wood bat. The composite was $449 (Easton Ghost X), the alloy (DeMarini Voodoo balanced) $299, and the Old Hickory was $145. He pitches and plays 1st base, so he needs 2 different mits, $250 each both are Rawlings HOH. The bats will last atleast 2 years now before he outgrows them, except the wood, which of course can break. The gloves should last atleast 2 years.That's a factor, but as another poster pointed out, the cost of equipment is also a major factor.
It doesn't cost much at all for a basketball or a football. Even a baseball, glove and bat can be relatively inexpensive. Hockey equipment costs an arm and a leg, unfortunately.
I think you have to include the Providence numbers into the Boston media market.... those have to be mostly Bruins fans.
Surprised with Boston at 4...could be a lot of their fans are tuning in to the NESN broadcast w/ Edwards?