The ice is back! But just in time for the summer, which means one thing: it’s hockey season!
The sport has returned bigger and better than ever before, with the World Cup currently underway and the regular season just begun. With the NHL and NBA both on hiatus and the MLB season still a few weeks away, it’s the perfect time to dust off that old hockey shirt and get ready for the season. But where in the country does hockey resonate most strongly? How many people claim to be hockey fans, but really just follow the sport because it’s popular where they live? Let’s dive into the numbers and find out.
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The Most Loved Game
The NHL used to be known for having the most vibrant hockey scene in the world. Over the years, however, the sport has shifted its focus to the US, especially after the NHL merged with the USA Hockey organization. The result is that hockey is now the most popular sport in the country, accounting for 24.5% of all sports tickets bought in the United States. For reference, the MLB, NBA, and NFL – collectively known as the Big 4 – account for 23.3% of all sporting tickets, and the percentage of people who said they followed soccer last year (prior to the return of the World Cup) was 17.4%.
But while hockey is hugely popular, it’s not necessarily a unifying sporting passion. A 2019 Gallup Poll found that while 74% of Americans said they were interested in MLB, golf, and tennis, only 3% said they were passionate about all three sports. The same goes for hockey. Only 2% of respondents said they were extremely passionate about the sport, while 13% were somewhat passionate and 85% were very interested in hockey. This was even more evident when looking at respondents in the 18-29 age bracket. Only 1% had a very high level of interest in hockey, while 7% were somewhat interested, and 92% were very interested in other sports. This is a generation that grew up following the NHL during the prime viewing season and have since settled into life in the US. It’s a generation that doesn’t necessarily see the appeal in playing in Europe during the offseason.
The Most Loved Team
The results of the 2019 NHL Dress Code Survey were released in early June and are certainly interesting. 80% of respondents said they’d like to see the return of the classic red, white, and blue, while only 14% said they’d prefer to see the Colorado Avalanche change their colors. The survey also asked about interest in different NHL teams and the results were similarly interesting. The majority (62%) of respondents would like to see the Chicago Blackhawks change their colors, while only 14% said they wanted the Arizona Coyotes to keep their black, white, and red identity and 12% were interested in neither alternative. These are certainly stark differences when compared to previous years, when more people would like to see the Blackhawks change their colors (36%), whereas only 13% said they didn’t want them to remain in black, white, and red and 23% were unsure.
But one team’s popularity doesn’t necessarily translate to worldwide appeal. The 2019 NHL Dress Code Survey also asked about interest in the various World Cup countries. The results were rather unsurprising: 82% of respondents said they were interested in Germany, while 77% were keen on France. 80% of people also said they’d like to see Russia host the next World Cup. Interestingly, respondents in the US were most interested in France’s hosting of the tournament (55%) and least interested in Germany’s hosting of the event (7%). It seems that while some people in the US grew up watching and loving the World Cup, it hasn’t necessarily expanded their interests to other countries – with the exception of Russia, of course.
Which City Is Hockey’s New Home?
With the increasing popularity of the sport in the US and Canada, more people are playing on teams, looking online for advice, and following games and tournaments from afar. The growth of Hockey Life in the 21st century means that fans can now follow the game wherever they want, whenever they want. But which city is hockey’s new home?
You might be surprised to learn that over the last year, the answer has changed. From a town known for its large bear population to a place that prides itself on its literary culture, hockey’s new home seems to be moving regional to regional. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest cities where hockey truly takes root:
Colorado
Located in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, Colorado is one of the largest states in the country. It’s also one of the most important states when it comes to hockey. The Denver Nuggets (NBA) and Colorado Avalanche (NHL) are both popular teams there, and considering how big the state is, it’s not hard to see why. There are 19 major sports teams in total, 19 of whom play hockey. In 2019 alone, over 250,000 fans came to watch the Avalanche play at home – not bad for a team that only won 11 games!
To celebrate the start of the 2019-20 season, the city of Denver will host an outdoor hockey game between the Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild. The game is set to take place on October 19th and will be played in front of a sellout crowd at Chase Plaza – one of the largest hockey venues in the US. This is a huge event for hockey in Colorado. The state has never had an NHL team, but with the NHL lockout over, more and more people will get the chance to see the sport live and in person.
Los Angeles
Located in southern California, LA is the center of the American movie and music industries. It also has a very vibrant hockey community. The most popular team in LA is the Los Angeles Kings. The franchise was established in 1967 and over the years has become a symbol of American popularity in the city. The team had its most famous player when it won the 1978 Stanley Cup – Jimmy Carter. It’s currently one of the most recognizable teams in the NHL, due mostly to its color scheme and logo, which incorporates the Hollywood sign. The franchise has also won 4 MLB World Series (1970, 1972, 1974, and 2019) and one NBA Championship (2003).
But it’s not just the Kings who are putting on a show in LA. The Raptors are also a prominent team, having qualified for the playoffs for the last five seasons and making it to the conference finals in 2019. The franchise plays at the Rogers Center – named after Tim Rogers, the center’s founder – where it has been hosting its first round of playoffs for the last five years. As for the Coyotes, they have not been to the playoffs since relocating from Arizona in 2005. But with a young core and a high draft pick last year, the franchise looks likely to return to the postseason soon.