How can hockey become a more popular sport?

I play the sport and it seems like most others who play absolutely love it, yet games aren't even shown on ESPN or the major networks until the playoffs for both college and the NHL. The only thing that seems to work are the outdoor games played in football stadiums. Players as incredible as Gretzky also attract attention. In your opinion how can hockey become more popular?|||1st, you get rid of bettman. then you get a well liked person to PROMOTE the game, not RAPE it.





ESPN really, really is a football station. you need a hockey station, and a hockey day, like HNIC for the U.S., where they have "sunday night football".|||They need to have better coverage of the NHL in the United States, especially in the Southern markets. Also they should try having more hockey rinks and arenas in places where hockey is not the norm. If you grow up playing it and seeing it around you, your more likely to watch it. Hockey camps would also be a good idea, or having really famous NHL players visit in schools to spread interest. Providing skates, jerseys, nets etc in contests to kids who can't afford it. There's a lot of things they can do. |||Somebody needs to go into the last month (possibly Malkin) with 75 goals and the possibility of chalenging Gretzkys record. It is alot to ask but would definitely ignite the sport.|||Make everyone attend the high school hockey playoffs in Minnesota. That will turn anyone into a hockey fan.|||4 letters:





ESPN|||Glow puck.|||If you lived in Europe, you wouldn't be asking this question.





Trying to transplant a winter sport, to places that are semi tropical, like Florida, or California, has been hard to do.. Fans are born and grow up watching a sport, mainly due to their Dad's influence, at home. If Dad was a baseball fan, or a basketball fan, you are probably NOT going to be a hockey fan.





A second factor is .......how easy is it to PLAY that sport, in your home town ? If you live in Orlando, or San Bernadino, how many ice rinks are there, for kids to play hockey on ? May be one ?





Now ask that same question in Oslo, or Munich, or Prague, or Moscow, or Toronto ? Lots.





A further problem is the way in which hockey has been marketed in the southern USA. The minor league teams have stupid names, that glorify fighting and vilolence. The owners do stupid things like having dead chickens, for the fans to throw out on the ice. Cheerleaders ? That is so lame.





No one takes the time to TEACH the rules to the new fans, and to educate new fans about the skills that are important in the game, like skating, and shooting the puck. I would make NHL team practices a free admission event, for any one hwo wants to come out and learn about the game, with actual on ice time, with a chance to skate and or handle the puck.





The arena announcers could tell the fans why a penalty was called, in a brief two line explanation. Between periods amateur players could demonstrate skills and demonstrate proper ways to do, for instance, a change on the fly, or properly do a shot block ..





Fans need to be made to feel welcome, and to be entertained, but also to be educated about the finer points of this great game.





Jim B. Toronto.





Still playing at 62.|||theres only one reason why its not popular today....its crap