Is the NHL back to being one of the "4 Major Sports" in the US

[lynx]

In terms of popularity, we all know hockey suffered a great deal after the lockout, both in Canada and the U.S.

Subsequently afterwards, it has been referred to as a "niche sport", a "regional sport", etc. But in the last couple of years though, it seems the NHL has become front page sports news again (albeit definitely #4 out of 4).

The Winter Classic and the Blackhawks/Flyers TV ratings were steller and now this new TV deal comes along. Even US talk radio shows like Mad Dog and ESPN seem to mention hockey much more now. Also, anytime anyone talks about "money makers in sports", "worst fans", "best logos", etc, the NHL is always in the equation with the other three.

Has the NHL made it's way back to "The Big Four" again?

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[gifted88]

US "big 4" are - MLB, NBA, NFL, and NASCAR.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The idea that it ever fell off was mainly due to ESPN pushing its hot new replacement programming. Since then, those "sports" (NASCAR, WNBA, card games) have fallen much farther off the map than the NHL ever did.

The NHL remains one of the 4 major pro team sports in North America.

 

[Fataldogg]

US "big 4" are - MLB, NBA, NFL, and NASCAR.

NASCAR isn't a sport. Driving is not a "sport." It's no more of a sport than poker is.

And NASCAR wouldn't even be in the equation if it wasn't for the south. If you include NASCAR, you can debate that it is bigger than the other three you mentioned b/c down south they follow that more than anything else.

 

[Murphy9]

How is NASCAR so popular?I never hear anyone talk about it. I dont know anyone who watches it. Not to mention its just boring and stupid

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

I believe NASCAR's popularity has fallen faster and further than any other sport.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I don't recall it ever NOT being in the "Big 4". It's always been 4 out of 4, but I don't think it's ever been replaced by anything else.

Unless we go way back, in which case, boxing probably held a spot for a while.

 

[GilmourClarkScores]

NASCAR isn't a sport. Driving is not a "sport." It's no more of a sport than poker is.

Hey - Come on now. Lots of people can't turn left. Ask Zoolander.

 

[Bathcat]

I believe NASCAR's popularity has fallen faster and further than any other sport.

Poker has fallen off big time.

It was more of a fad than a sport though. Like pogs.

 

[tarheelhockey]

And NASCAR wouldn't even be in the equation if it wasn't for the south. If you include NASCAR, you can debate that it is bigger than the other three you mentioned b/c down south they follow that more than anything else.

1) NASCAR has a huge fanbase in the Rust Belt. Michigan is just as big a racing state as anywhere in the South.

2) Where in the world did you get the idea that NASCAR is the #1 sport down here? Football and basketball are easily more popular. The margin isn't small either.

 

[Epsilon]

The only way to measure such a thing would be in terms of total revenue accrued. Despite what ESPN and its fanboys would tell you, they don't determine some sort of hierarchy of sports leagues.

It also depends on what you mean by "4 major sports" - are you talking about sports, or about leagues/affiliations? Because NCAA football is much bigger than the NHL, and arguably everything but the NFL.

 

[mja]

If you want to talk about a regional "sport", look no further than NASCAR.

In another thread recently, some soccer enthusiasts mistook me and thought I was disparaging their fine sport. I was not. It isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I know enough to give it the respect it deserves.

I will gladly disparage NASCAR, however. A bunch of rednecks driving around in a circle 200 times is not a sport.

If driving a car is an athletic endeavor, then why aren't I in better shape?

In THIS region, hockey is arguably more popular than basketball, and NASCAR isn't even in the conversation.

 

[End of Line]

NASCAR's popularity has taken a big hit in attendance. Seems like almost every race (except Daytona, Richmond, and Bristol) are half empty most of the time.

 

[Stevonidas]

NASCAR isn't a sport. Driving is not a "sport." It's no more of a sport than poker is.

And NASCAR wouldn't even be in the equation if it wasn't for the south. If you include NASCAR, you can debate that it is bigger than the other three you mentioned b/c down south they follow that more than anything else.

Wow, just... wow.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I believe NASCAR's popularity has fallen faster and further than any other sport.

Yeah it has seen major drop in recent years

 

[Made Dan]

US "big 4" are - MLB, NBA, NFL, and NASCAR.

Nope.

 

[Stevonidas]

If driving a car is an athletic endeavor, then why aren't I in better shape?

Because your fat ass doesn't do it at 200 MPH for 3 hours wearing a flame suit without A/C at multiple Gs.

Ever seen a fat NASCAR driver? That's why.

 

[Claimed Off Waivers]

Where does PGA golf rank? I'd imagine it's alot more popular than the NHL in the US.

 

[Epsilon]

People's misconceptions about NASCAR and the South are pretty funny. The South is college football country, everything else (including NASCAR) is way behind.

 

[Angels for Everyone]

NASCAR's popularity has taken a big hit in attendance. Seems like almost every race (except Daytona, Richmond, and Bristol) are half empty most of the time.

not only that but some of the big name drivers have had a lot of trouble finding sponsors

 

[TCNorthstars]

NASCAR isn't a sport. Driving is not a "sport." It's no more of a sport than poker is.

The definition of the term "sport" disagrees with you.

An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others

an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sport

 

[tarheelhockey]

NASCAR's popularity has taken a big hit in attendance. Seems like almost every race (except Daytona, Richmond, and Bristol) are half empty most of the time.

What people failed to understand was that NASCAR wasn't just a "regional sport", it was very much a "cultural sport". Until very recently nobody ever attempted to expand it out of its very narrow demographic niche. 30% of the South is African-American -- do you ever see black NASCAR fans? Likewise, auto racing is very much a blue collar sport, yet it was being sold to a middle/upper class audience who saw it as a trendy companion to their Hummer and their John Deere riding lawnmower. It's not a surprise at all that as soon as the ticket prices went up and the drivers started seeming a little "Hollywood", the whole operation took a giant nosedive. It was a crazy idea to take it mainstream, like trying to make yachting the next big thing on Sportscenter.

 

[metalan2]

It never left. NASCAR is just a joke as well.

 

[ChiTownHawks]

We can split hairs here, but I think when people talk about professional sports the only people who include NASCAR are NASCAR fans. I guess it is a sport, but certainly not in the traditional sense.

The reason they are all thin is because the drive a moving sauna in a snowsuit, not because they are doing something overly athletic. I would agree that what they do is strenous and difficult, but I still dont call it a sport. Plus it is boring as **** to watch.

 

[TrollololBoyle]

The definition of the term "sport" disagrees with you.

An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others

an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sport

Any type of racing is a sport, be it on foot, or in a vehicle. Fataldogg could have the fastest car in the world and still loss to professional drivers. It's all the same skill, just used in a different way.

I wonder what he thinks about horseback riding, surely it's the horse doing all the work right?

Cheerleading too