The Devils Lack of Popularity

I know the devils attendance is discussed here constantly but this is not my question. I am doing a report for one of my classes and I am trying to figure out why a perennial Stanley Cup challenging team with numerous high profiled players has such a lack of popularity. The lack of popularity is not only league wide in relation to lack of fans and poor media coverage, but also here in NJ and in the metropolitan area. I would just like to hear some of your opinions. Is it as simple as the market being oversaturated with teams in the area, or something more complicated? Whatever your views may be I would love to get some devils fans opinion on the matter.

We were thrown between two huge fan bases (Flyers / Rags), and play 15 minutes from the largest U.S. hockey franchise. It amazes me that we're even still around, considering NJ has no other major professional sports teams, and hockey is one of the less popular sports in the U.S. Before the Devils, anyone in North Jersey was probably a Rags fan, and South Jersey, Flyers fans. I think it would look very different if all 3 teams were introduced at once.

We averaged 17k plus before the ticket price raise, we will average 16k this season. I dont know why its as discussed as it is, alot more teams have more serious problems when it comes to the gate and revenue.
The NJ Devils will be fine, we dont have the luxury of having a 100 year old established fan base.

Your team resides in RANGER country!

Its as simple as that.

Do the Devils still pay the Rangers $$$ to play on their turf?

The tem has only been around since 82...That gives it really just one or two generations of solid fans. I think that most people who were hockey fans in NJ before hte Devils got there probably already chose a favorite team Rangers, Islanders, Flyers or Pens. I would think that the Devils will only get mroe fans as time passes, especially now with the new arena.

Your team resides in RANGER country!

Its as simple as that.

Do the Devils still pay the Rangers $$$ to play on their turf?

No, it's the other way around now.

Actually, considering we were put between Philly and NYC, also during the dynasty years on Long Island, it gets really annoying hearing bs about attendance and what not, when the fact that we're even still in Jersey is a pretty big accomplishment in itself (not to mention a certain trophy).

By the way this is not a stab at the devils, seeing that I am a devils fan. Just seems like teams that have had recent success, the avs for example, have much more of a following in state but also have more popularity around the league.

We were thrown between two huge fan bases (Flyers / Rags), and play 15 minutes from the largest U.S. hockey franchise. It amazes me that we're even still around, considering NJ has no other major professional sports teams, and hockey is one of the less popular sports in the U.S. Before the Devils, anyone in North Jersey was probably a Rags fan, and South Jersey, Flyers fans. I think it would look very different if all 3 teams were introduced at once.

The Nets aren't a major professional sports franchise?

The Nets aren't a major professional sports franchise?

Woops haha

I dunno. After the Rockies moved I followed the Devils for a while before giving up on the notion, but you'd think I'd still have a soft spot somewhere in my heart for them. Not so. I don't hate NJ or anything, but there's something about them that just turns me off. I've never been able to put my finger on it. They haven't had any players I've particularly disliked, and while the trap certainly didn't make me like them more it had nothing to with my feelings. Also, I've felt as I have long before the Cup finals in '01, so there's not some sort of rivalry issue.

I suspect if you ask a lot of fans around the league why they're ambivalent towards the Devils you'd get similar answers. For some reason they just don't inspire any sort of passion or excitement to many people outside of their (crowded) market. Why that is, I cannot say.

Hire strippers for games...that will get people in the crowd.

Hire strippers for games...that will get people in the crowd.

..and into the ice, jail, prison, court, blah, blah, blah.

Actually, considering we were put between Philly and NYC, also during the dynasty years on Long Island, it gets really annoying hearing bs about attendance and what not, when the fact that we're even still in Jersey is a pretty big accomplishment in itself (not to mention a certain trophy).
I think that's exactly it. We probably have the youngest fanbase, because most people who were already hockey fans before the Devils moved here remained Rangers/Flyers/Islanders fans. Look at this board alone, I bet the vast majority of Devils posters here are between the ages of 15 and 25. Part of that is probably a function of the internet and that age group being the most tech-savvy, but part of it is also because we're the fans that were born after the Devils moved here, so we grew up rooting for them.

Hire strippers for games...that will get people in the crowd.
Male strippers? :naughty:

I think that's exactly it. We probably have the youngest fanbase, because most people who were already hockey fans before the Devils moved here remained Rangers/Flyers/Islanders fans. Look at this board alone, I bet the vast majority of Devils posters here are between the ages of 15 and 25. Part of that is probably a function of the internet and that age group being the most tech-savvy, but part of it is also because we're the fans that were born after the Devils moved here, so we grew up rooting for them.

Thats very true. Those of us Devils fans who are older like me (40) were fans of other hockey teams before the Devils. I was a Rangers fan before the Devils showed up. I was fed on Yankees and Rangers before then. I'm still a Yankees fan but I converted to the Devils when they moved to NJ cause they weren't alot of other sports teams in NJ that I felt really belonged to NJ besides the Nets. I hated Basketball so that was that. I guess I'm still a Giants fan, but they really aren't a NJ team even though they play in NJ. I'm not particularly fond of Football either.

Here are some key points in my opinion:

1. New York market is a baseball/football market hockey is less popular to state obvious

2. The devils compete w/ 3 other NHL teams for support

3. Hockey is least marketable to media for several reasons:
A. the sports media wants a story...hockey players are more reserved compared to say a terrel owens or jeremy shockey type, the u.s. is a pop culture and it translates into our sports. the media wants the big story more than the acual competition on the field or ice, hockey provides that least of all major sports hence less media coverage

4. Hockey is not a good T.V. sport its too hard to follow for the average joe on T.V. and not enough down time to show the replays of great saves,hits etc.

5. ticket prices are too high, and it's not americas sport and it will always take a back seat in the long run.

good luck w/ your report

The Nets aren't a major professional sports franchise?

Ugh... The NBA is falling faster than meteor. Still certainly more popular than the NHL, but the spread has closed the last few years.

Devils are doing very well financially right now by averaging over 15,000..By owning the new arena the Devils are MUCh more profitable than in years past..We do need to be at 16,000 + to have people stop talking about attendance as an issue..

Bottom line, why is no one talking about the Islanders? They had 8000 people in the stands last night and I see NO mention of it anywhere in the media? If the devils did that. they would be crucified..

Also, 12,000 season ticket holders (full + partials) is a HUGE step in the right direction for the Devils..KEEP IT UP!!

Also, 12,000 season ticket holders (full + partials) is a HUGE step in the right direction for the Devils..KEEP IT UP!!

Where did you get that number, I wasnt aware they officially provided a breakout? If so, do you know the Full STH number, as that's the really important one to key on. I'm guessing it's about 9,500 total seats, but have no true idea as I havent seen a published number.

Where did you get that number, I wasnt aware they officially provided a breakout? If so, do you know the Full STH number, as that's the really important one to key on. I'm guessing it's about 9,500 total seats, but have no true idea as I havent seen a published number.

According to Mike Gilfillan (Devils owner) on WFAN, the total number of full + partials (which have to total a full to be counted) is 12,000.

Here are some key points in my opinion:
3. Hockey is least marketable to media for several reasons:
A. the sports media wants a story...hockey players are more reserved compared to say a terrel owens or jeremy shockey type, the u.s. is a pop culture and it translates into our sports. the media wants the big story more than the acual competition on the field or ice, hockey provides that least of all major sports hence less media coverage

4. Hockey is not a good T.V. sport its too hard to follow for the average joe on T.V. and not enough down time to show the replays of great saves,hits etc.


I disagree with points 3 and 4. I think Hockey is very marketable. Its just depends on how you market it. We can very easily do a human interest story on Brodeur's personal life or a reality show that follows the team as it goes through a season. We don't. I don't know who's fault that is, but theres so much more you can do for media presence.

As for not good tv sport, it was very popular in the 70s and 80s. I remember it being a very good TV sport and people used to watch alot of it. What happened to kill that? Cable. When hockey was no longer available on broadcast television, alot of common people stopped being able to watch it. That put a big dent on its popularity and alot of the newer generation never grew up watching hockey as a kid. I think they need to put hockey back on tv and educate the american public on its rules etc so they can grow up with it again.

The reason hockey is so popular in Canada is because they grow up with it on TV since they were kids.

We do not have a lack of fans, but outrageous ticket prices have priced out a lot of them and the corporations have not jumped on board as much as the Devils have hope in the lower level.

We always have lots of fans in away arenas and we did average over 17k per game in the late 90's. We have the fans, but the prices need to be lowered.

I disagree with points 3 and 4. I think Hockey is very marketable. Its just depends on how you market it. We can very easily do a human interest story on Brodeur's personal life or a reality show that follows the team as it goes through a season. We don't. I don't know who's fault that is, but theres so much more you can do for media presence.

As for not good tv sport, it was very popular in the 70s and 80s. I remember it being a very good TV sport and people used to watch alot of it. What happened to kill that? Cable. When hockey was no longer available on broadcast television, alot of common people stopped being able to watch it. That put a big dent on its popularity and alot of the newer generation never grew up watching hockey as a kid. I think they need to put hockey back on tv and educate the american public on its rules etc so they can grow up with it again.

The reason hockey is so popular in Canada is because they grow up with it on TV since they were kids.

you proved my point with broduers personal life. The most interesting thing to people was his divorce and affair with his sister in law not his on ice accomplishments, people are more interested in what showboat athletes have to say like terrell owens or more interested in the scandals surrounding barry bonds etc. most hockey players are more regular type guys who do not surround themselves with all the b.s. that many NFL and MLB stars do. It's not about the game it's about the circus that surrounds these sports. that is my point.

Please don't try and convince me that hockey is a good T.V sport, unless you are watching on 50' high def plasma T.V. you can barely see the puck and the action moves far too quick for people to digest. I love hockey but I admit it is a terrible t.v. sport

Please don't try and convince me that hockey is a good T.V sport, unless you are watching on 50' high def plasma T.V.

That's exactly how I do watch it. It's life altering! :yo:

Please don't try and convince me that hockey is a good T.V sport, unless you are watching on 50' high def plasma T.V. you can barely see the puck and the action moves far too quick for people to digest. I love hockey but I admit it is a terrible t.v. sport

Thats odd, I have never had a problem following the puck. Guess its highly visible on my 38" LCD tv (used to be 43" DLP but the damn thing broke).

Hockey was a highly visible sport back in the 80s believe me, thats all my friends talked about mostly other than baseball. Surprisingly football was not one of the bigger topics and Basketball talk was even rarer back then. Granted it was all about the Rangers, Islanders and Flyers back then, but still it was popular.

Cable really killed that, nowadays most kids have never grew up watching hockey and its a shame cause I think its more entertaining than boring football and basketball and loads more interesting than baseball. But hey, even Golf is popular now, and that would have gotten you laughs back in the 80s if you claimed it was a fun sport to watch.

Anything is a good TV "sport" if you properly market it. Go home tonight and flip through the stations, you'll find poker on at least 2 stations. People will watch anything the TV tells them to, it's maddening the NHL doesn't step up and try to market their product.

Why do I not see those NHL commercials I see on the NHL Network on other stations. I'm a hockey fan already, which is why I'm watching, no need to plug your product to me anymore. Go over to ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX, TNT, during basketball, football, baseball, POKER!!

This is a problem league wide and especially with the Devils. Aside from the recent onslaught of ads for The Rock up and down our highways, do you see the New Jersey Devils being actively marketed? Nope.

When I was in Chapel Hill, North Carolina last spring, I walked into a Kohl's. You know what they had on the racks? Loads of Hurricanes gear. When I turned on the TV, I saw ads for Hurricanes Hockey. When I walked into Sheetz (the southern version of WaWa or 7-11), right next to the Carolina Panther coffee mugs and car flags and various other fan merch, were Carolina Hurricane mugs, hats, flags etc. You go anywhere in the country, you'll find stuff like that. Do you see that here? Nope.

Last year and the year prior, Modell's had an offer - buy 50 bucks worth of hockey gear or Devil's merch and you'd get a free pair of tickets to a Devil's game. I went to The "Devil's" Modell's on Route 3. It took me 20 minutes to find something that said Devil's on it that wasn't a jersey. They had 3 hats, 2 t-shirts , a few folders/calendars/random office things and one windbreaker. Meanwhile in the corner, you could have your pick of every New York Yankee player in home or away jersey, or T-shirt and about half the New York Mets. The Devil's jerseys were blanks and they had maybe 5 of them.

The Kohl's in North Carolina had more 'Canes gear than the "Official Sporting Goods Store of the New Jersey Devils" had Devil's gear. That's pathetic.

I take the Hudson-Bergen County Light Rail to and from work every day. There's a train that has a HUGE NY Rangers and Knicks logo on the side of it. In New Jersey. New York teams, on New Jersey trains.

You only need to look around to see the problem - we couldn't sell a cup of ice water to man lost in the Sahara.

Its not entirely the same league wide. Over here on comcast sports network, you get the stupid washington caps commercials every 10 mins.

Lots of people in the metropolitan area are extremely busy trying to earn a living, that to me is number one reason.

Its not entirely the same league wide. Over here on comcast sports network, you get the stupid washington caps commercials every 10 mins.

But the Caps are on CSN right? On MSG/FSNY which are the Devils home networks we see the Prudential Center/Devils commercials all the time too but they need to go beyond that and win over other sports fans. Pony up the money for some local ad time on Fox during Giants games, TNT during the NBA game of the week, ABC during golf on Saturday, ESPN during poker and talkshows and that abomination they call Monday Night Football.

But the Caps are on CSN right? On MSG/FSNY which are the Devils home networks we see the Prudential Center/Devils commercials all the time too but they need to go beyond that and win over other sports fans. Pony up the money for some local ad time on Fox during Giants games, TNT during the NBA game of the week, ABC during golf on Saturday, ESPN during poker and talkshows and that abomination they call Monday Night Football.

There was an ad last night for the Devils/Pru Center on Monday Night Football on espn at 11.00. I was shocked to see it..

There was an ad last night for the Devils/Pru Center on Monday Night Football on espn at 11.00. I was shocked to see it..

Wow really? I watched that entire game too, I was probably up getting a beer or something, I will keep it in mind to keep an eye out for next Monday night though.

Maybe I've gotten used to the idea or whatever, but in all honesty, I just don't care anymore. I like them and no one can ever erase their names from winning three Stanley cups. Plus, I love the way Lou Lamoriello handles his team. Although, he's had a few off years, but I expect him to rebound and hiring Sutter was an excellent start.

Thats odd, I have never had a problem following the puck. Guess its highly visible on my 38" LCD tv (used to be 43" DLP but the damn thing broke).

Hockey was a highly visible sport back in the 80s believe me, thats all my friends talked about mostly other than baseball. Surprisingly football was not one of the bigger topics and Basketball talk was even rarer back then. Granted it was all about the Rangers, Islanders and Flyers back then, but still it was popular.

I don't currently have a problem following the puck either, but I imagine that comes with watching a sport for 20 years.

Regarding your second point, it was the same when I was in school in the early 90s as well. Hockey was a very popular topic. There was a significant divide between the Devils and Rangers fans in my HS and I even recall getting in a couple of scuffles with some Rags fans.



I think the point of being a newer team has some credence as well. If it were up to my father, I would have been a Rangers fan as he was and as he grew up as. Fortunately, I fell into the "bad" crowd at school. :D

Anyone who says hockey is a bad TV sport should get HD, its amazing.

Anyone who says hockey is a bad TV sport should get HD, its amazing.

Second only to Planet Earth, that show is nuts haha. Seriously, HD hockey is AWESOME.

Second only to Planet Earth, that show is nuts haha. Seriously, HD hockey is AWESOME.
Planet Earth is pretty sweet, I think I am getting the HD-DVD for Xmas.

Anything is a good TV "sport" if you properly market it. Go home tonight and flip through the stations, you'll find poker on at least 2 stations. People will watch anything the TV tells them to, it's maddening the NHL doesn't step up and try to market their product.

Why do I not see those NHL commercials I see on the NHL Network on other stations. I'm a hockey fan already, which is why I'm watching, no need to plug your product to me anymore. Go over to ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX, TNT, during basketball, football, baseball, POKER!!

This is a problem league wide and especially with the Devils. Aside from the recent onslaught of ads for The Rock up and down our highways, do you see the New Jersey Devils being actively marketed? Nope.

When I was in Chapel Hill, North Carolina last spring, I walked into a Kohl's. You know what they had on the racks? Loads of Hurricanes gear. When I turned on the TV, I saw ads for Hurricanes Hockey. When I walked into Sheetz (the southern version of WaWa or 7-11), right next to the Carolina Panther coffee mugs and car flags and various other fan merch, were Carolina Hurricane mugs, hats, flags etc. You go anywhere in the country, you'll find stuff like that. Do you see that here? Nope.

Last year and the year prior, Modell's had an offer - buy 50 bucks worth of hockey gear or Devil's merch and you'd get a free pair of tickets to a Devil's game. I went to The "Devil's" Modell's on Route 3. It took me 20 minutes to find something that said Devil's on it that wasn't a jersey. They had 3 hats, 2 t-shirts , a few folders/calendars/random office things and one windbreaker. Meanwhile in the corner, you could have your pick of every New York Yankee player in home or away jersey, or T-shirt and about half the New York Mets. The Devil's jerseys were blanks and they had maybe 5 of them.

The Kohl's in North Carolina had more 'Canes gear than the "Official Sporting Goods Store of the New Jersey Devils" had Devil's gear. That's pathetic.

I take the Hudson-Bergen County Light Rail to and from work every day. There's a train that has a HUGE NY Rangers and Knicks logo on the side of it. In New Jersey. New York teams, on New Jersey trains.

You only need to look around to see the problem - we couldn't sell a cup of ice water to man lost in the Sahara.
Dick's in Freehold is pushing Devils swag just as equally as Rangers swag. No Flyers, no Isles. :handclap:

Dick's in Freehold is pushing Devils swag just as equally as Rangers swag. No Flyers, no Isles. :handclap:

The big one by the Raceway mall? I knew I should've stopped in there last weekend. A few places in the mall had Devs gear but all around hockey gear was slim pickings.

Probably a good thing though - I was supposed to be getting Christmas presents, not stuff for me!

Dick's in Freehold is pushing Devils swag just as equally as Rangers swag. No Flyers, no Isles. :handclap:

I used to go to that store alot when I worked in Freehold.

With is this being said, arent the Devils in the top 15 of road attendance?

Your team resides in RANGER country!


The Devils play in Westchester County?

Queens?

Brooklyn?

NYR fans in NJ are going the way of the dinosaurs. :sarcasm:

With is this being said, arent the Devils in the top 15 of road attendance?

Philly, Pitts, MSG

Philly, Pitts, MSG

Nassau, Igloo. Two of the smallest buildings in the league.

We were thrown between two huge fan bases (Flyers / Rags), and play 15 minutes from the largest U.S. hockey franchise. It amazes me that we're even still around, considering NJ has no other major professional sports teams, and hockey is one of the less popular sports in the U.S. Before the Devils, anyone in North Jersey was probably a Rags fan, and South Jersey, Flyers fans. I think it would look very different if all 3 teams were introduced at once.

What about the NJ Nets?

What about 'em?

Hire strippers for games...that will get people in the crowd.

I can't remember, do you guys have ice girls?

Always like seeing ice girls at games.

If so, they can't be much worse than the Flyers ice girls.

Well, see for yourself.

http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=5600

Enter at your own risk.

What about the NJ Nets?

You mean the Brooklyn Nets?

I was searching for random stuff when I came across this article of the game 5 between the Stars and the Devils in 2000 during the playoffs.


The game drew the highest rating (4.2) for a hockey game in 20 years. That's about one-tenth of a Super Bowl rating but still considerably larger than what hockey normally attracts. Playoff games on ESPN this season, for example, drew about one-fourth as many viewers as this game.


http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061100/pro_061100110.shtml

Which goes to show that even non-scoring games are exciting when in the right situation.

it also shows my point about how hockey screwed itself over when it went to cable :


ABC's telecast alone almost assures Game 5 will be remembered longer than some of hockey's other who-blinks-first games, such as the five-overtime Flyers-Penguins game last month, the Stars' clinching three-overtime victory in Buffalo last spring or the four-overtime Islanders-Capitals game in 1987.

Those games were telecast on cable, unable to reach a full national audience. Game 5 was on national TV, where hockey has been nearly invisible since the 1970s, except for a handful of games the last few seasons on Fox and, now, ABC.

I can't remember, do you guys have ice girls?

Always like seeing ice girls at games.

If so, they can't be much worse than the Flyers ice girls.

Well, see for yourself.

http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=5600

Enter at your own risk.

Yikes! :amazed:

We're an exciting team with a bunch of deadbeat fans who would rather watch the game on TV than goto a game. Simple as that.