Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle
Point being, is its that kind of exposure the NHL was looking for. The whole US sporting world watches the Olympics, not just the already converted hard core hockey fan, and it was that unique opportunity to sell and showcase the game to potential brand new fans in Salt Lake is the reason why the NHL went to the Olympics in the first place, not something the World Cup of hockey can create.
|
Canadians overestimate how big the Winter Olympics are in the U.S. and most of the rest of the world. They get a fraction of the viewership of the Summer Olympics. In the U.S., a small proportion of the female TV audience will tune in to watch the figure skating, and a fraction of the male audience will tune in to watch hockey. And as you note yourself, they tuned in back in 1980 when there weren't NHLers playing. They'll tune in again when it's not NHL players. In fact, most TV viewers in the U.S. won't know the difference - they'll just cheer for some guys wearing the a U.S. uniform, the same way they cheer for a volleyball team wearing a U.S. uniform.
So I don't think the audience of casual fans who will turn away from Olympic hockey with no NHLers is all that large. And the hardcore fans will tune in to a World Cup.