Why do you think hockey is not popular in the United States?

May 23, 2020 | Guava Cheese Puff

[GuavaCheesePuff]

The only hockey players most Americans can name from the top of their heads are Gretzky, Howe, Messier, and Lemieux.

I would rate hockey at the lowest of the 4 big sports.

Why doesn't it get much attention?

[DoodleBob]

A little data is always helpful.

Per a Harris poll from 2016 (before all the kneeling), hockey ranked as the 6th most popular sport in the USA, with just 5% of respondents claiming hockey was their favorite, with Pro Football at the top of the pile:

But that doesn't means that people who love football also don't like hockey. Further, there are undoubtedly demographic reasons (hockey isn't as popular in Houston as it is in Philadelphia) and even physical reasons - kids only need a ball or a ball and bat and glove to play football or baseball or basketball but you need two kids with a pair of pads and a few nets to play a pickup game of hockey.

All that said, the best sports movie of all time is still Slap Shot.

[GuavaCheesePuff]

I forgot Orr as well.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

1. Because most Americans do not know or understand the rules of hockey.

2. Because hockey matches are typically low scoring affairs.

I’m not certain this is universal, but I have a hard time following the puck on TV. I think that was a problem even when I went to a pro game in person . . .

I would think that would be fixable on TV, by the expedient of putting a cursor of some kind on the puck. Use AI or something to keep the puck highlighted.

[steve86]

” The only hockey players most Americans can name from the top of their heads are Gretzky, Howe, Messier, and Lemieux. “

Gretzky and maybe Howe are the only names I even recognize. Couldn’t have named any from recall. Game has never appealed to me although I’ve lived in B.C. and Washington State where we have a local team.

[dakine]

Putting on the foil..!!!

Say that to my wife when I have to mask up to go in stores...

[Lib-Lickers 2]

the answer to the question is because 98% of Americans have never played hockey even as children.. the more a sport is played in a country the more popular it is even with people who have never played it.. pretty simple

[mass55th]

Several years ago I learned that NHL Hall of Famer Tim Horton, of the Buffalo Sabres was a cousin of mine, but of course that was after he had already died. I was doing research in Prince Edward County in Ontario, where my mother was born. On one of my trips there, I met a cousin I never knew before, and she took me to a Tim Horton’s restaurant, and told me of the family connection. I’d never heard of them before as there weren’t any in central New York State at the time. I believe we shared great-grandparents.

[Eccl 10:2]

And the answer is:

It’s hard to follow that little black puck on television.

No TV, no money. No money, no fans.

[Texas Eagle]

I have no idea what that means. I’m assuming Tukka Rask is that machine they use between periods to smooth the ice?

[A_Former_Democrat]

Baseball needs a pitching clock

Football is better. More watchable with the technology.

Agree on nba. Basketball is a great game but not the way the pros have ruined it

[DoodleBob]

You almost made me pass lunch through my nose. That's Spectacular.

Rarely, but sometimes, I'll randomly announce that "I am placing a personal bounty on the head of Tim McCracken." People ask "who?" "what"? And then I move on.

[shanover]

I don’t accept the premise. It is actually very popular but has a niche base and I would say it needs to retract.

[lefty-lie-spy]

It’s better than *bleeping* soccer; I’ll give it that.

[dfwgator]

Agree on nba. Basketball is a great game but not the way the pros have ruined it

The 3-Point Shot ruined basketball.

[Fightin Whitey]

Why do you think hockey is not popular in the United States?

The country/media is overrun with and managed by gay blades?

[Gay State Conservative]

Tukka Rask

[PA Engineer]

A goal in hockey is like Bigfoot. People claim to have seen one but there's never been any actual evidence of one.

Great. You made me laugh today. I think you will understand this. As a western PA resident, why did it have to be Crosby scoring the winning goal for the Canadians?

[blueunicorn6]

No.

That is the xeroxaroni.

[Don Corleone]

It is actually very popular but has a niche base

Yup, from the original 6 to over 20 teams and cities.

Boston, New York,Chicago,Toronto, Montreal,and Detroit.

[Fightin Whitey]

Simple, it just soccer on ice... faster paced, but same fundamental game.

Hardly.

There's no crying in hockey.

Or pansy fakery either.