I wonder how many will test positive from being there, and mess up their seasons even more? Just have them stay home, rest up and have them play NHL22 online and broadcast it.
- bluelineenforcer
It’s actually not a bad thought. Maybe not for the All Star game. I’m all for scrapping that this year. But if you want to attract a younger fan base to keep the sport going into further generations, you gotta throw bait into their pond. Consider a combo event of the real game and the virtual.
Some of these gamers draw massive followings. Huge. Discord, Twitch, YouTube, etc bring in millions of viewers. Some make hockey player type salaries, and they can’t legally have a beer yet.
If the NHL wanted to take a step, they could have some of the more charismatic players team up with some of these streamers and get a lot of hits. Kids can see how fun hockey really is.
Have it for charity! Viewers tip constantly during those streams. Plus, streamers looooove the publicity.
I mean, let’s face it, the NHL might be huge in Canada, but it’s still a niche sport in the States. I grew up playing it, so I’ve always loved the game, but I have quite a few friends who started their fandom with hockey playing Nintendo’s version with the skinnies, middies, and fatties. Or even NHLPA 93/ NHL 94 which were wildly entertaining. The latter being better because it actually had the players attached.
The more the NHL does events like this, yes it’ll seem lame to the old school crowd, but you’ll draw more interest of Zoomers and maybe even Alphas if they hold tournaments like that every so often. Kids are becoming more disenfranchised with sports, so combine it with something they actually follow.
And here’s the beauty of it. It doesn’t cost you much. What’s your overhead? Advertising? You don’t even have to do much of that. The NHL would just be advertising to the fans they already have. Let the kids do it. If there is one thing these vapid hucksters can do well, it’s self promotion. They’ll take care of their own audience.
You’ll get younger viewers, an new audience, a couple bucks for charity, new advertising revenue, and I’m sure your players won’t mind playing a few rounds of video games. After all, it’ll get their social media outlets more hits, too.