Americans - Your Thoughts on NHL
 

Dear American Sports Fans,

As a Canadian, you would correctly assume that I love hockey. I live it, breathe it, eat it, sleep it. Therefore you would correctly assume that I am a very happy man knowing that the NHL is coming back. I know the new rules are going to change the game a bit, but I'm okay with that.

The bottom line is I am going to watch NHL hockey when it starts again.

But, are you?

The impression that I get is that most Americans have totally fallen out of love with hockey. I think that the labour stoppage might have been the death knell for hockey in the US. Do you agree?

I suppose this poll taken at SI.com is a pretty clear indication. Another one was that there wasn't even a news story on the lockout on the SI page, that I could see. Only a story about Jack Nicklaus.

While I am not a big sports fan, my husband is. He is very excited that NHL will be back. Maybe this will give him the push to set up the new TV stand and tv downstairs so he can watch the games.

i'm going to watch. i can't wait for them to get back on the ice.

I'm a die hard Redwings fan.

I'm pissed at the whole lockout thing and I think it did irreparable damage to the sport. There will be fans that will not return, but, I'm here to stay.

Luckily I live close enough to the border to get CBC on my local cable. I hate to say it, but I think I missed Don Cherry as much as anything.

My interest has been waning in recent years but I think that is largely due to me moving to Arizona and away from the Bruins. The Coyotes just don't do it for me and the only games I get to see are Coyotes' or the typical litany of ESPN Red Wings-Avalanche-Stars games.

I'll probably watch but not with the intensity I carry with baseball and football.

I voted no. I would have voted "I never watched it before, I still won't. I LOVE NASCAR!", but I don't watch NASCAR either. For sports, I only watch (American) football. And Battlebots, but they don't show that anymore.

Having lived in Canada long ago, I had been a diehard Calgary fan for a long time and followed the sport even when the Flames sucked. When they didn't get the Cup last time, I was pretty pissed off and after this lockout I just don't feel up for hockey anymore. I may tune in for a Flames game if they're ever on, but I probably won't watch anything else.

i just saw on tv that the dallas stars are slashing all of their ticket prices and are going to have many $10 seats for each game. that's huge for dallas. the cheapest tickets for the last season were $30-35. maybe other teams will do the same and try and reclaim the normal, everyday fan and not price them out of attending a hockey game.

well i think with the combo of lowered ticket prices(maybe) and shootouts(should be interesting) i think i will probably watch..but who knows it might get ugly early in the season, im just thinking back to the last nba lockout where the season came back and 45% of the players were out of shape or had gained like 30+ pounds...

but defnitly should be interesting right away to see the fan responce

I enjoy hockey in person, but it doesn't translate well to TV.

Nothing like a year off to make me realize how little I missed it.

Damn straight I'm gonna watch! I got stuck only going to the local ECHL team (Toledo Storm) games. They were a filler. Their areana is 180 x 50, so it's smaller, and the game is only okay. Can't wait to be back at the Joe.

I heard that Dallas was the first to announce they are cutting ticket prices. I think in the smaller markets that's what they'll do to get people back, but cities like Toronto, Detroit, Philly, Chi-town, St. Louis, Montreal, NY, Denver, they won't need to do that. Those stadiums are packed every game.

the stars sellout every game as well. i don't think they are doing it because they have to in order to get people to go. i think they are doing it because it will help get the casual fan back. you're right, hockeytown does not need to do it, but it would be nice if they did. remember, it's the little things that count!

Toledo Storm. Do they play in the same arena as the old Toledo Golddiggers?

I remember going down there in 1985 to watch the Flint Generals beat them for the Turner Cup.

Ahh, the good old days of the IHL.

Hooray...the Sharks in San Jose are going to be biting in da Tank! Go Sharks!!

In truth, it IS way more fun live, as is Baseball and Basketball in my opinion.

Hockey? I stepped in some hockey once.
Never watched it much, never have been able to get excited about it. The only vestiges of sports fanaticism I have is a mildly pleasant feeling I have when the New York Football Giants are winning. As you can imagine, I don't watch much by way of sports any more.

Still a big fan of the Hurricanes. I'm up for catching all the hell when it comes to Canadians vs. the American South. You guys love your stereotypes.

I will still watch Hockey as its one of my favorite sports but the hold out did take away some interest.

Exactly--that last clause forced me to the "no" where "I never watched it before, I still won't" was closer to what I feel. The lockout has no effect on my decision. In fact, I'm personally sorry they are coming back; the poker and college baseball that filled the time the NHL would have had was more interesting to me.

Not only am I an American, I am a American from the South. Hockey is an exotic to me, as is the concept of snow and ice. I know from my friends in the North that the lock out was happening. They were distraught about the lose. It was like hearing about a loss of lacrosse, another of those sports played in the North.
As long as I have my football/ soccer, I'm happy *grins*

Hell yes! This is going to be the start of a very good era for me as a hockey fan. I live in Pittsburgh but I've always been a Ranger fan, so I get to enjoy the local team and my favorite team shape up with the new cba. The Pens won't have to put a third rate high school team on the ice this season and the Rangers will have to scrap their policy of buying all-stars that don't understand how to play as a team.

As long as they lower ticket prices at the igloo enough to make the mid-range seats affordable (sections c-d no more than $20-$25), I'll be going to a lot games. I'm hopeful that the new cba will somehow lower nacho prices as well, $5.50 for 20 chips and some cheese is well above market level.

Yes, I will be watching hockey again.

But not much on TV. We all know hockey on TV is almost not even hockey.

I've got season tickets for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the thrill of hockey has not died down in this town. Probably has something to do with keeping the Stanley Cup for two years instead of one :)

Looking forward to raising the championship banner and getting started again. Actually, hockey has gotten more press than it would have in a non-strike year. Talk about negotiations, payrolls, attendance, is certainly in the papers and other media. Usually in the summer it's like hockey doesn't even exist.

never did, still won't, never will, and I HATE NASCAR

blackhawk games are not televised. so i guess my answer should have been no.

Go Habs Go

Even though our beloved Sharks made it to the Western Conference Finals last season (2 seasons ago?) I doubt I will be going to any games. I might watch them on TV but I will not give any of my money to the NHL. No more season tickets for me.

I still love hockey, though. It is just the NHL and NHLPA that I no longer care for. Besides, I much prefer playing than watching any day.

I'll watch. It's one of the few sports I find palatable.

A few rock radio stations in Ontario started a petition stating that the signees would boycott a new game for every cancelled one. It actually received a fair number of signatures. However, I imagine their solidarity will crumble once the NHL is rolling again.

Not a traditional fan of ice hockey but I remember seeing a couple of games on TV but I can't make out the puck, is this only for newbies?