What can hockey do to win the fans back?
by George Stinson
Now that the NHL and NHLPA are nearing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, it’s time to consider what the sport can do to win back their fans and attract new ones. The idea of rule changes has been bandied about, but that’s only one part of the solution. There are several areas in which the owners and players must reach out to the very people that make them money. Here are a few ways to ensure attendance will be anywhere from respectable to good.
Rule Changes
Some say the improvement of its on ice product is at the core of the NHL’s attempt to increase their fan base. Some rule changes that fans dearly would like to see are: shootouts to eliminate the possibility of ties, removing the red line in order to do away with offside whistles for long passes, smaller goalie pads to open up the net and no-touch icing calls. All of these ideas are excellent and each would serve as a way to get more action into the game.
Fan-friendly
Mandatory autograph sessions for the fans by players and even team management should be instituted on a regular basis. In fact, the accessibility in general needs to be improved. Team members should be made to appear in public often and should even undergo seminars on how to better interact with their fans.
Affordability
Due to their lack of television revenue, the NHL is one of the most expensive sports to attend live. They have to rectify this situation in order to attract the average person, as oppose to simply large corporations. Moreover, this sport needs to get back into the subconscious of North American fans. Therefore, the more merchandise they can get out into the public, the better. In other words, lower the prices for jerseys, souvenirs, etc... The idea is to attract more fans, not make it an elitist sport.
