I think our ownership group has done a good job emphasizing a connection to the local community to get support.

Until there’s snow on the ground and ice on the ponds for at least three months out of the year, the locals won’t give a rats patoot about hockey. It’s nothing against the folks in Tennessee, it’s just a visceral matter.

If you can’t get a “feel” for what ice hocky is all about, you’re never going to be a real fan. Oh, you’ll get followers if you’ve got a winning team. They’ll see the headlines on the sports page and start “following” the team. But if you’re below the snow belt and struggling to get to that winning level, you’ll never attract enough fans to make a hockey team successful (with the obvious exception of Dallas).

Lil’ Gary has never understood that. And that’s one reason he’s the absolute worst commissioner in all of sports. Bar none!

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 11/20/08 at 11:53 PM ET

That sounds good, but I bet if you took a poll even in Detroit only a small minority of fans at any given game have actually donned skates and slapped a puck around.

I’d add Tampa to your list of exceptions, they seem to draw well, and have for quite a while.

Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 11/21/08 at 07:24 AM ET

Nashville is a minor league town. It is too small. On top of that it’s all hillbillies for the most part. They only know UT football and that’s the way they like it. These people vote for George Bush or whatever Republican is on the ballot. They don’t care if we have a recession/depression…whatever. It’s the culture of stupidity that ain’t going to change in the South. Other places like Atlanta or Florida have thousands of northern transplants so at least they have a hockey base audience. Nashville just has alot of Travis Tritt wannabees who move to town and are more interested in guitars than hockey sticks. I know..my brother was one of them. The NHL needs to relocate to places like Milwaukee, Seattle, Ontario even Winnipeg. The NBA is moving teams around. It’s time to get with it…I’m tired of this let’s go to wherever there is a new arena crap. What the hell is Nashville/Columbus going to do for the NHL? If you had a Nash/Car Stanley Cup Final the ratings would be less than zero. Put the frickin’ teams where people WANT a frickin’ team!!!!

Posted by kevin from boston on 11/21/08 at 08:59 AM ET

...I bet if you took a poll even in Detroit only a small minority of fans at any given game have actually donned skates and slapped a puck around.

I didn’t mean that hockey is popular “up north” here because so many people had actually played it. I was thinking more along the lines of hockey being a cold-weather sport and those who live in cold-weather areas are far more likely to have a “visceral” reaction to, and affinity with, that sport. It’s simply been a part of the culture here for a long time.

...it’s all hillbillies for the most part. They only know UT football and that’s the way they like it. These people vote for George Bush or whatever Republican is on the ballot. They don’t care if we have a recession/depression…whatever. It’s the culture of stupidity that ain’t going to change in the South.

It’s one thing to joke about southern hockey fans all being “inbred Bubbas” with one tooth (as happens on a regular basis over at A2Y), but it’s an entirely different matter to denigrate an entire region simply because your candidate isn’t as popular there. The hateful kinds of words you’re throwing around, Kevin, suggest that you need some help. And I have a feeling that the President-elect would agree.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 11/21/08 at 01:53 PM ET