Hockey fans everywhere owe something of a debt of gratitude to Peter Nussbaum, one of the three friends behind the NBA blog Supersonics Soul. Last Friday, Nussbaum managed to kick up a whole lot of dust when he posted a very simple graph that compared average attendance numbers from the NBA and the NHL over the past few years. As you can see above, the NBA has experienced something of a precipitous drop over the past few years.
So why do I say that hockey fans owe Nussbaum a debt of gratitude? Because after years of seeing hockey get bashed in the media, we're finally seeing some evidence come to light that all the folks who are so desperate to turn a shovel of dirt on the sport we love might very well have overlooked some numbers that prove that it's actually their favorite sport that's experiencing some difficulties.
Reading the comments over at Supersonic Soul are pretty instructive. There are all sorts of folks accusing Nussbaum of attacking the league simply because his team, the Sonics, were moved lock, stock and barrel to Oklahoma City. There are others who have repeated over and over again that he didn't reference any source material, even though he's repeated over and over again that his numbers come directly from ESPN (click here and here). Still, the trend is as clear as day: something has happened to the NBA fan base and it happened well in advance of the current economic distress the nation and the world are experiencing.
Is the NHL without its own problems? Of course not. Then again, it's impossible not to notice that when it comes to all of the major media markets in the U.S., hockey is clearly ascendant. Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago are all packed with talent, while Los Angeles has a young roster that's poised to make a run for the playoffs. Put it all together, and it points to a nice upswing for the NHL.
I can't help but enjoy seeing the hoops crowd on the hot seat for once. Enjoy the spotlight; here's hoping you don't melt.
(HT: Puck Daddy)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-24-2008 @ 10:16AM
CDS said...
The NBA is boring and the officiating is terrible...so much so that you can't be 100% sure that the game is on the level.
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11-24-2008 @ 12:38PM
V said...
While some of this summer's signings were a little ridiculous, hockey is still a working-class game. We here in the US (I can't speak for our dear Canadian neighbors) are struggling right now in a way I have not witnessed before as an adult. But I can still go to a hockey game and sit in the cheap seats for less than $20 and have the best view of the ice. And often get huge deals on hotdogs and popcorn, to boot. And how many hockey players in the NHL right now are playing injured, but playing anyway? Passion. It's not so much about flash and scoring eleventy billion points in hockey, it's about work.
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11-24-2008 @ 12:39PM
Craig said...
The bottom line (Forbes list of Franchise Values):
Los Angeles Lakers $447 million
New York Knicks $401 million
Dallas Mavericks $338 million
Philadelphia 76ers $328 million
Boston Celtics $290 million
Detroit Pistons $284 million
San Antonio Spurs $283 million
Phoenix Suns $283 million
Indiana Pacers $280 million
Houston Rockets $278 million
Sacramento Kings $275 million
Washington Wizards $274 million
Portland Trail Blazers $272 million
Detroit Red Wings $266 million
Call me when Hockey is back on network TV or ESPN or even on a cable network NOT in the 500's.
Signed,
Reality
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11-24-2008 @ 2:01PM
OlandoFred said...
None of the games are televised in our market anymore.
After awhile you kind of forget the NBA even exists.
Since you can't see or here anything about your local team without getting raped by the NBA for some crazy Premium Cable Package that could pay my kids way through college.
I haven't been able to watch a single game on TV for 3 years now.
So Screw em. I hope they go down.
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11-24-2008 @ 2:02PM
Zilla05 said...
Those franchise figures are largely based on the NBA's television contract, something that certainly will be scaled back once the latest sagging numbers of the economy are factored in.
Besides, as Supersonic Soul later pointed out, the Flyers were outdrawing the No. 4 on that list by about 2,000 per game through six games this season - despite the Flyers not winning a single game.
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11-24-2008 @ 2:02PM
Ollie said...
Anybody who pays their hard earned money to watch the NBA is a fool. The fans need to tell the owners to get the salaries down, get the ticket prices down so people can afford to go to the games.
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11-24-2008 @ 2:02PM
Skapanza said...
Dear Reality,
When you are paying your players that much and you're drawing worse crowds than teams like the Flyers that will be way, way down on that list, maybe it's time to re-evaluate your position.
Love,
Reality with analysis
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11-24-2008 @ 4:00PM
brad said...
one reason is you can thank the chicago blackhawks fans for the attendence upturn. they have gone from about 12000 last year to over 21,000 a game this year.
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11-24-2008 @ 8:31PM
EMD said...
Hey reality, I am betting you believed that your home was worth what an appraisor said it was...I mean, it's right there in black and white, it must be true.
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11-26-2008 @ 9:56PM
onsense said...
Sorry Craig (Reality)- big mistake on the valuations of NHL teams. Check out Forbes NHL Team Valuations http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/31/biz_07nhl_NHL-Team-Valuations_Rank.html
Toronto Maple Leafs $413 million
New York Rangers $365 million
Detroit Red Wings $293 million
Montreal Canadiens $283 million
Dallas Stars $254 million
Philadelphia Flyers $244 million
Boston Bruins $243 million
Colorado Avalanche $214 million
Vancouver Canucks $211 million
Los Angeles Kings $209 million
Tampa Bay Lightning $199 million
Anaheim Ducks $197 million
New Jersey Devils $195 million
Anyway, if I were a buying man, I would look at the yearly profits vs. valuation price.
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