NBA vs. NHL: Attendance and Ratings In Markets Where Teams Compete
April 22, 2010 5 Comments
Editor’s Note: A lot of posts have been done as far as local ratings and comparing teams in markets. We’re going to look at ratings and attendance (in terms of %capacity filled) in markets where two or more teams compete. For our purposes, New Jersey will be separated from New York, though New Jersey operates under the New York television market. Capacity is different from attendance, so take it with a grain of salt.
New York
Ratings
Knicks – 0.95
Rangers – 0.89
Attendance
Rangers – 99.3% Capacity
Knicks – 98.7% Capacity
New Jersey
Ratings
Devils – 0.58
Nets – 0.29
Attendance
Devils – 88.2% capacity
Nets – 69.1% capacity
Los Angeles
Ratings
Lakers – 3.54
Kings – 0.48
Clippers – 0.44
Attendance
Lakers – 99.7% capacity
Kings – 93.6% capacity
Clippers – 85.7% capacity
Chicago
Ratings
Blackhawks – 2.45
Bulls – 2.35
Attendance
Blackhawks – 108.3% capacity
Bulls – 99.1% capacity
Philadelphia
Ratings
Flyers – 2.18
76ers – 1.24
Attendance
Flyers – 100.2% capacity
76ers – 70.0% capacity
Dallas
Ratings
Mavericks – 2.41
Stars – 0.74
Attendance
Mavericks – 104.1% capacity
Stars – 92.9% capacity
Bay Area
Ratings
Warriors – 1.35
Sharks – 1.11
Attendance
Sharks – 100.4%
Warriors – 92.0%
Boston
Ratings
Celtics – 3.11
Bruins – 2.18
Attendance
Bruins – 99.0%
Celtics – 97.6%
Atlanta
Ratings
Hawks – 1.93/1.66
Thrashers – 0.33
Attendance
Hawks – 88.3% capacity
Thrashers – 73.4% capacity
Washington
Ratings
Capitals – 1.60
Wizards – 1.18
Attendance
Capitals – 100.0%
Wizards – 80.3%
Detroit
Ratings
Red Wings – 4.21
Pistons – 1.98
Attendance
Red Wings – 97.4% capacity
Pistons – 84.9% capacity
Phoenix
Ratings
Suns – 3.18
Coyotes – 0.62
Attendance
Suns – 95.8% capacity
Coyotes – 68.5% capacity
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Ratings
Wild – 1.67
Timberwolves – 0.75
Attendance
Wild – 101.9% capacity
Timberwolves – 78.0% capacity
Denver
Ratings
Nuggets – 2.78
Avalanche – 1.56
Attendance
Nuggets – 93.9% capacity
Avalanche – 77.5% capacity
Miami
Ratings
Heat – 2.48
Panthers – 0.25
Attendance
Heat – 90.5%
Panthers – 78.7%
Markets Where Hockey Defeats Basketball
Ratings: 6
Attendance: 9
Both: 6
About Steve Lepore
I think you are overdoing it with the NBA vs NHL stuff. Honestly, I could care less about basketball or who watches it. That goes for most of the other sports as well. It’s not like they are going to hand out a gold medal if the NHL beats the NBA or whoever. There are more BB fans than hockey fans. That is just a fact of life…or a fact of nature more like. I can live with it
A couple points:
– I can’t help but wonder if the shift of the Sharks from CSN-Bay Area to CSN-California this year hurt the ratings a bit. From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s one of those situations where the channel isn’t available for some or is off in the stratosphere of channels, meaning (like with Versus on some systems) people aren’t channel surfing and finding and stopping on the games.
– One thing about the comparison between basketball vs. hockey audiences is that hockey fans, on average, have higher incomes than basketball fans (and baseball or football for that matter), which would give hockey a bump in terms of advertising, I’d think.
Shorter version: almost no black people like hockey.
a lot of stories from SportsMediawatch…eh…
Interesting article, thanks for posting. Shows the NHL is larger than most people think.