Pantokrator
Who's the clown?
Back to the OP, I have lived right south of Philly, in Raleigh NC, and now in Mobile Alabama. The reason people in general don't watch hockey is that they do not know the game. Down here in Alabama, the people are not opposed to Hockey. They just tell me they don't know anything about the game. I teach some students that got into it marginally from playing EA Sports hockey.
When I lived in Raleigh/Wake Forest, the Canes came to town. I played in a street hockey league that came about after the Canes came and due to the many northern transplants in the area, the leauge worked out OK. The Carolina natives who came to play out of curiosity were quickly hooked and began to support the Canes. It was an appreciation for the game due to familiarity that sold the game. Going to the CUp in 2002 raised awareness, as did the 2006 Cup victory. Good pro hockey teams will also bring about support in the local fan base (like the Kings with Gretzky did).
The reason the game doesn't sell in many areas is due to a lack of familiarity due to the inability to play the game. I have never met anyone in Alabama who owns a hockey stick. Obviously, they are not going to play a game they have no knowledge of, nor are they likely to watch a game they have no knowledge of.
If the NHL really wanted to promote the game, they would give each public school in the non-traditional markets a bunch of street hockey equipment to use in gym class. If my theory is correct, the familiarity would result in at least marginal interest in the game. Then they'd need a local team to support to harness the interest.
When I lived in Raleigh/Wake Forest, the Canes came to town. I played in a street hockey league that came about after the Canes came and due to the many northern transplants in the area, the leauge worked out OK. The Carolina natives who came to play out of curiosity were quickly hooked and began to support the Canes. It was an appreciation for the game due to familiarity that sold the game. Going to the CUp in 2002 raised awareness, as did the 2006 Cup victory. Good pro hockey teams will also bring about support in the local fan base (like the Kings with Gretzky did).
The reason the game doesn't sell in many areas is due to a lack of familiarity due to the inability to play the game. I have never met anyone in Alabama who owns a hockey stick. Obviously, they are not going to play a game they have no knowledge of, nor are they likely to watch a game they have no knowledge of.
If the NHL really wanted to promote the game, they would give each public school in the non-traditional markets a bunch of street hockey equipment to use in gym class. If my theory is correct, the familiarity would result in at least marginal interest in the game. Then they'd need a local team to support to harness the interest.