Quote:
Originally Posted by BsFaninCGY
Why do women's sports (for the most part) seem to struggle so much? I know I grew up in a province with no professional sports teams and HNIC was my first regular exposure to pro sports. As I got older the Jays won a few World Series and I became a fan. I played a lot of H.O.R.S.E growing up and even tried out for a basketball team, but never became a fan outside of a few years where I like to gamble on it. I've never had a favorite team in football, but I've gone to 4 NFL games over the years and always enjoyed it. I also used to really like gambling on it.
Every other sport has been very minor in my life. Played soccer for 7 years but can't stand watching it. Never seen a lacrosse game. Ringette? Field hockey? Arena football? None of those interest me. Same for women's versions of the male games I enjoy. Why is that? Is it because I can only fit so many hours of fandom in my life and I don't want to replace what I know and like already?
I knew about the Clarkson Cup a few days before it happened, but that was because I watch Sportsnet and listen to sports radio. I felt the talk after the game seemed to be even more amped up than before though, and that was really strange. I get that when you're a league operating on such small budgets that marketing can be tough - but when people are talking about a league who's season is over, how does that help get butts in the seats next year?
It's gotta be really tough. I have no doubt the women's game has a ton of talented athletes, and the sport likely has it's quirks that could make it more enjoyable in some facets than the mens game. But how they crack the code to get people to support them I don't know. Maybe they need to incorporate some gimmicks. Let the players paint their helmets and show some more personality. Try some XFL-style stunts like nicknames on the jerseys? I am a firm believer in that we are equal on this planet and I'm sure the women on these teams just want to be treated the same as mens hockey and just play a game they love without the gimmicks - but maybe the only way to succeed is to be different. I hope someone figures it out. I attended Wickfest in a professional manner a few years back and was so proud to see what Haley is doing for women's hockey. I wish there was a clear answer on how to have it succeed more.
|
Women's hockey, as a league is fairly un marketable and un profitable. It is the equivalent of Bantam AAA/ Midget AA, not the greatest hockey. The travel costs are going to kill any type of profit for the teams or income for the players. It's not the same game as Junior hockey nor the NHL.