[sportscurmudgeon]

Daseal:

Here is one more data point for you. I think this will show you that the NHL will not compete seriously with the NFL or the NBA or MLB or even NASCAR for TV ratings any time soon.


Last year the Stanley Cup FINAL SERIES averaged a 2.2 rating on ESPN and ABC. (Those networks each did games; they're both owned by Disney so some games were on network and others were on cable.) That is the average for the whole series. The highest rated game was 2.8.


Last year - and then again this year - the Westminster Dog Show on cable (USA Network) averaged a 2.9 rating for its programs.


When the FINALS can't draw more people than a dog show, it will be a LOONG time before you can get revenues and popularity anywhere near the other major sports.