How Damaged is the NHL franchise if the Season is lost? - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

How Damaged is the NHL franchise if the Season is lost? Stuck

Posted on October 25, 2012 at 04:23 PM.

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The lockout that is threatening this NHL Season will be horribly damaging to Hockey. That's an obvious statement to make, you saw a recent example of just how damaging a full season cancellation was in 04-05, as Hockey was on the brink of complete irrelevancy in any place not named Canada, Detroit, Chicago, etc.

Thanks to some smart moves, the NHL recovered these past few seasons.

Last season the NHL saw record revenues, rising attendance, and a new TV deal which was giving the league greater exposure overall.

While, NHL brass had to make bold moves after the 04-05 Lockout to save the league, they did save it and even led it to a new era of relative prosperity. If this season is lost, truly lost, then who knows where the league will be in another few years as a result. The NHL is locked into a contract with NBC Sports until 2021 -- which is a good thing to be sure. But what if the league does the dumbest thing it could do in cancelling another whole season?

There is no way the NHL TV Contract will be as valuable in 2021 as it was after negotiating this last contract. For a couple of reasons.

First, why would any TV company pay big money for a league that has a penchant for cancelling seasons, doing so twice in a decade? Second, another lockout could be the death blow to the league's popularity on a mass scale in America.

And with less fans caring about Hockey, there will be less interest in products associated with the game. While the EA Sports NHL series had a great sales start this year, thanks in part to its superior quality, it's very possible sales overall could be down when all is said and done versus last year's game. The series had a strong start thanks to good marketing and returning customers no doubt, but the more ****** fans who trickle in and really add to a series sales number over time might not be there. No hockey on TV means less people will have hockey on their minds and thus, less people who will be seeking a hockey fix from video games in these few crucial months after release.

While the theory has been pushed a couple of times that the lack of a real sport leads to a craving for it in other forms, I believe that's only true to the most hardcore fans -- and those aren't the ****** fans that'll add to a games sales numbers in masse over the course of a release season. It's a potentially very tough environment to be sure going forward for the EA Sports NHL series.

I'm worried that the lack of hockey this year could easily have a negative effect on the series long-term, especially if the season is cancelled. If sales potential is less in the years to come, as it likely would be if the entire 2012-13 season is lost, then does EA give the series less resources than it currently does? Less marketing?

What about licensing costs? Will they come down if the league is less desirable? Is it possible that hockey takes a back seat to even college basketball nationally? College basketball couldn't sustain even a single video game after all.

So many variables to consider -- so few answers right now.

Currently, I'm sitting along with the rest of the nation interested in sports waiting on a deal to be announced. Hoping one is announced. Losing the NHL season this year would mean Hockey would cement it's place in irrelevancy in any area outside of traditional NHL markets.

And as goes Hockey, so will the NHL series from EA go eventually.

Let's hope the puck drops soon.

Comments

# 1 DJ @ Oct 25

I said before release that I wouldn't buy NHL 13 until the lockout is over. I'm not supporting a sport that doesn't have the fans' best interest in mind. I've heard good things about NHL 13, so not playing the game is tough, but I figure we all have to take a stand at some point, and with me and the NHL, that means not spending my money on anything hockey-related right now.

# 2 SGMRock @ Oct 25

This game doesn't support the NHL other than the little license fees EA paid to the NHL and NHLPA. If anything you should get the game to enjoy some virtual hockey since you are missing out on the real thing.

# 3 statum71 @ Oct 25

I only watch hockey sparingly since it runs parallel to basketball. But I do wish the league was up and running.

As far as the NHL series......I'm in regardless. Great game.

# 4 Eski33 @ Oct 25

I don't think it will hurt. The game is outstanding. It will hurt the Live Moments but if EA adds more classic moments that would be sweet. I would like to see EA add classic Stanley Cup teams through DLC if the season is lost.