OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - What would place a league in the top echelon of sports?

canadiancreed · 10-28-2009, 09:51 AM

jax's link of comparing NBA to NHL ratings is a good one (nice data here IMO, heres the link to it.) It's not a complete comparison (as unlike the NBA, the NHL has roughly 20% of their marketplace outside this study area focus....not that it would matter since only Toronto would be added.), but it'll work for what we're after.

The numbers that I"m seeing are pretty much on par with what I'd expect. Her'es an analysis.

Atlanta - NBA - NO surprise there. THe Thrashers have been **** for their entire existance.
BOston - NBA - I'd place this mainly on the Celtics winning the championship recently. Both teams have 2.+ ratings.
CHicago - NBA - In these stats the Bulls are kicking ass of the Blackhawks. However these stats are almsot a year old, and the situation n 'Hawk nation is radically different (aka they have an owner that gives a ****, and not driving fans away.) I'd place money that these ratings are a lot closer together if they were taken at this time next year.
Dallas - NBA - New market + slumping team = lower ratings. Surprised they're that low for the Stars though. The Mavericks aren't doing much better, barely getting over the 1.x mark.
Denver - NBA - GUess winning the big prize != better ratings than an average basketball team. .5 seperate the two.
Detroit - Tie - The NBA does lead here, but by .2, that coudl fluctuate with a playoff run one way or the other. Highest ratings yet for both sports with 3.9 and 3.7 respectively.
Miami - NBA - NO surprise here. NBA team with big names vs. expansion team that outside of 1996 has sucked ass for years . ANother poster child of the 90's expansion craze.
Los Angelas - NBA - The Lakers are Gods of the LA winter sports scene. Nuff said. Sucks that the two NHL teams get support on par with the Clippers. Then again in an area that has that many people, that's not as bad. Or so we'll tell ourselves. Lakers have the highest ratings of our list for the NBA at 4.2
Minnesota - NHL - Are we really surprised?
New York - Tie - The old guard (Knicks and Rangers) and the newer guard (Nets and Devils/Islanders) are pretty much square here, although the Islanders are slumping badly.
Philadelphia - NHL - Flyers pretty much own the winter scene in Philly. As one Philadelphian stated, they couldn't even name any players on the 76'ers right now.
Phoenix - NBA - Successful basketball franicase that has had free regin of the winter sports scene in Arizona, vs transplanted team that has to be managed by the league due to gross incompetence and general apathy. Ya I think we can guess who folsk would be tuning in to watch.
San Francisco - Tie - Apaprently the Warriors play here (was wondering where GOlden State was), but the Sharks have carved themselves out a nice niche here and if they coudl ever get past the first round, could probably take a decent lead.
Washington - Tie - Ovechkin. There's your reason for anyone in Washington even bothering to turn on the TV once the Redskins are out of the playoffs for the rest of the winter.

Also I'm not too familiar with the Neilson rating scale, but I'm guessing anything less then 2.x is not a good percentage. If so, both leagues have some serious issues, and half the markets here aren't meeting that percentage regardless of sport. Those that are:

NBA - Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Los Angelas, Phoenix
NHL - Boston, CHicago(*), Detroit, Minnesota, Philadephila

* - I really think that this year will show a marked improvement here to valut them over 2.x. If not, then I will freely admit my error.

So seven vs five, and the NHL doesn't have an American based major network (although from the memories of what ESPN, NBC and ABC have brought us, I"m wondering if that's not a good thing *shiver*), and even with that handicap, it's not a whitewash. Not too shabby. It flows more towards the NBA's favour when the cutoff for 2.x is removed, but then the ratings usually pludge into the 1.x area solidly.

Also to answer the statement about NBA fans being msotly watching from TV instead of attending, the NHL fits there as well. Hell trying to get a ticket for say a Leafs game? Might as well get in line for Packers tickets, they're just as easy to acquire. Same with other markets.

10-28-2009, 09:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,022 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 462 Thanked 115x in 84 posts	jax's link of comparing NBA to NHL ratings is a good one (nice data here IMO, heres the link to it.) It's not a complete comparison (as unlike the NBA, the NHL has roughly 20% of their marketplace outside this study area focus....not that it would matter since only Toronto would be added.), but it'll work for what we're after. The numbers that I"m seeing are pretty much on par with what I'd expect. Her'es an analysis. Atlanta - NBA - NO surprise there. THe Thrashers have been ** for their entire existance. BOston - NBA - I'd place this mainly on the Celtics winning the championship recently. Both teams have 2.+ ratings. CHicago - NBA - In these stats the Bulls are kicking ass of the Blackhawks. However these stats are almsot a year old, and the situation n 'Hawk nation is radically different (aka they have an owner that gives a *, and not driving fans away.) I'd place money that these ratings are a lot closer together if they were taken at this time next year. Dallas - NBA - New market + slumping team = lower ratings. Surprised they're that low for the Stars though. The Mavericks aren't doing much better, barely getting over the 1.x mark. Denver - NBA - GUess winning the big prize != better ratings than an average basketball team. .5 seperate the two. Detroit - Tie - The NBA does lead here, but by .2, that coudl fluctuate with a playoff run one way or the other. Highest ratings yet for both sports with 3.9 and 3.7 respectively. Miami - NBA - NO surprise here. NBA team with big names vs. expansion team that outside of 1996 has sucked ass for years . ANother poster child of the 90's expansion craze. Los Angelas - NBA - The Lakers are Gods of the LA winter sports scene. Nuff said. Sucks that the two NHL teams get support on par with the Clippers. Then again in an area that has that many people, that's not as bad. Or so we'll tell ourselves. Lakers have the highest ratings of our list for the NBA at 4.2 Minnesota - NHL - Are we really surprised? New York - Tie - The old guard (Knicks and Rangers) and the newer guard (Nets and Devils/Islanders) are pretty much square here, although the Islanders are slumping badly. Philadelphia - NHL - Flyers pretty much own the winter scene in Philly. As one Philadelphian stated, they couldn't even name any players on the 76'ers right now. Phoenix - NBA - Successful basketball franicase that has had free regin of the winter sports scene in Arizona, vs transplanted team that has to be managed by the league due to gross incompetence and general apathy. Ya I think we can guess who folsk would be tuning in to watch. San Francisco - Tie - Apaprently the Warriors play here (was wondering where GOlden State was), but the Sharks have carved themselves out a nice niche here and if they coudl ever get past the first round, could probably take a decent lead. Washington - Tie - Ovechkin. There's your reason for anyone in Washington even bothering to turn on the TV once the Redskins are out of the playoffs for the rest of the winter. Also I'm not too familiar with the Neilson rating scale, but I'm guessing anything less then 2.x is not a good percentage. If so, both leagues have some serious issues, and half the markets here aren't meeting that percentage regardless of sport. Those that are: NBA - Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Los Angelas, Phoenix NHL - Boston, CHicago(), Detroit, Minnesota, Philadephila * - I really think that this year will show a marked improvement here to valut them over 2.x. If not, then I will freely admit my error. So seven vs five, and the NHL doesn't have an American based major network (although from the memories of what ESPN, NBC and ABC have brought us, I"m wondering if that's not a good thing shiver), and even with that handicap, it's not a whitewash. Not too shabby. It flows more towards the NBA's favour when the cutoff for 2.x is removed, but then the ratings usually pludge into the 1.x area solidly. Also to answer the statement about NBA fans being msotly watching from TV instead of attending, the NHL fits there as well. Hell trying to get a ticket for say a Leafs game? Might as well get in line for Packers tickets, they're just as easy to acquire. Same with other markets.