From: farenebt@craft.camp.clarkson.edu (Bri Farenell)
Subject: Re: Which Team is More Popular:NBA or NHL?!
Organization: Clarkson University
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 13:57:04 GMT

MLINDROOS@finabo.abo.fi (Marcus Lindroos INF) writes:

>I was wondering about cities that have both basketball and hockey teams.
>Looks like the NHL teams had better fan support in the past but the NBA
>has been catching up. Here's what I have found: 

>-In NEW YORK, the Rangers have traditionally outsold the Knicks. The basketball
>team, however, got a boost when Pat Ewing signed in 1985 and now they're about
>even. The Islanders had excellent fan support throughout the 1970s and 80's.
>In contrast, the Nets had to move to New Jersey because of lack of fan interest
>in 1978. A draw?

>-In NEW JERSEY, both the Devils and the Nets have been so-so both on the
>ice/court and at the box office. Another draw?

No way. The Devils didn't draw well till recently but any NHL team would 
slaughter the 5000-6000 crowds the Nets drew regularly until this year.

>-In CHICAGO, the Blackhawks (excluding a few mean years in the late 70s)
>are extremely popular and sell out most of their home games. The poor Bulls
>were averaging 6000 fans before Michael Jordan joined them in 1984. Today, the
>Bulls have sold out every home game since 1987. Advantage Bulls.

>-In DETROIT, both the Pistons and the Red Wings were in trouble ten years ago.
>The Pistons won two NBA championships in the late 1980s while the Red Wings
>were revived by new owner Mike Ilitch. Today, both teams sell out most of their
>games but the basketball team has a larger arena. Basketball takes this one.

I don't think that you can use just arena size to determine who's more
popular...especially since they both sell out. Maybe there are more Wings
fans who can into the Joe than Pistons fans who can't get into the Palace.
Besides, Auburn Hills is an hour away from Detroit while the Joe is in downtown.

>-In BOSTON, the Celtics weren't popular despite winning championship after
>championship. The Bruins were the kings of the winter despite winning only
>two championships with Bobby Orr in the lineup. People whispered there were
>"racial reasons" for it, and what happens? After snow-white Larry Bird joins
>the Celts in 1979, the basketball team started winning again - this time with
>a predominatly Caucasian lineup and all home games are sellouts. The Bruins,
>now contenders again, have been closing the gap in recent years. Basketball
>again.

>-In WASHINGTON, the Bullets have had difficulty drawing fans during the last
>few seasons. Meanwhile, the Capitals have been contenders (if inconsistent)
>since the mid-1980s and have done well at the gate. Racism again? WASHINGTON
>POST once claimed that the Caps are the team for Washington's white population,
>they even urge their fans to wear white when attending their home games! All
>this in a city that's predominantly black (70%). Hockey takes this one.

Racism, yeah, right. A) Hockey has a Canadian heritage and they are much
fewer blacks north of the border than here in the States. B) The "wear
white" thing might have something to do with one of the teams colors. Teams
in Vancouver and Winnipeg and other cities have white-clad fans who aren't
called racist. Besides, how many blacks play hockey anyways (esp. vs the NBA)
		
>-In MINNESOTA, people were sick and tired of the North Stars by the time the
>expansion Timberwolves came to town. The Wolves have sold out every game
>despite a mediocre record in their first three seasons. The Stars almost left
>for San Jose, then suddenly reached the Stanley Cup finals and the fans 
>returned. But the NBA is still the #1 show.  

Also look at how popular the Stars were this year. Also look at how popular
hockey is in Minnesota. Basketball in Minnesota is about as popular as ice-
fishing in Florida.

If loyalty has any part in this, hockey fans in NYR, Boston and Chicago
certainly kill their basketball counterparts. You, yourself, even said
that the hoops teams didn't draw well until they started winning (in all
3 cases) while the hockey team drew well, win or lose.

>Marcus Lindroos                             Internet:     mlindroos@abo.fi

Is your name a combo of Eric Lindros and Per Djoos? 8^)
	
--------------------------------------------------------------------
BRI FARENELL			    "Hockey must be a great game to survive 
CLARKSON '95			           what the NHL has done to it."
FARENEBT@CRAFT.CAMP.CLARKSON.EDU	---Howard Baldwin, Penguins owner

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