As far back as January people were talking about how the Pistons may have passed the Red Wings in terms of popularity in Metro Detroit. The Detroit News re-visited the topic today, comparing local television ratings:
Ratings trends indicate the Pistons have surpassed the Wings. Up until the lockout season in 2004-05, the Wings traditionally outdrew the Pistons on FSN Detroit. The disparity was often large, as many as four ratings points in favor of the Wings.
Now, the Pistons are averaging 6.0 for the regular season, while the Wings are at 4.7.
Granted, I’ve never been much of a fan of televised hockey, but I’m actually surprised the disparity is so small. I hear the Red Wings are in first, but I couldn’t tell you with any degree of certainty if that means first in the division, conference or league. Are there any DBB readers out there who are still hard-core hockey fans?
A Palace coup for Pistons: Their TV ratings top Wings [Detroit News]
I’m not a hardcore hockey fan, but come playoff time I’m just as pumped for the Red Wings as I am for the Pistons.
I haven’t watched a hockey game on TV since the mid 90s at least. I know the Red wings are in first, but I could really care less. I was disappointed the NHL didn’t just fold.
I’ll admit to being a bit ambivalent about hockey as well, a bit less so when the playoffs roll around. I’ve always been interested in the rivalry that exists between Wings fans and Piston fans though, especially given the demographics of each sport.
I have no idea if these rivalries exist in larger cities during times of prosperity in both sports, but it would be interesting to know if Detroit is an anomaly.
The wings are currently in first in the nhl but I admit I was a hardcore wings fan until right before the lockout when I got into the pistons. Then I become full pistons fan once the lockout hit. But another reason that I dont watch the pistons is b/c I live in Windsor and I cant get fsn but I get wb20.
FYI-I heard that Tony Kornheiser wrote an article saying that hockey is dead (”He shoots, he scores, America snores”)- specifically in D.C., but also in general. I think there is still interest in our area, but as the ratings reflect, interest has dipped a bit (I even heard that attendance is down). If the Wings win this year, or even go to the finals, I think interest will increase again.
Like Fadel, I too get pumped for Red Wing PLAYOFF hockey. Red Wings season has been almost as impressive as the Pistons, the Wings currently are 1st place in all the NHL by about the same margin as Blue. I don’t really understand the rivalry as I’ve always been a fan of all Detroit sports. Having said that, I did bet my father in law on who would go further the Wings or Pistons. I of course put my money on the boys in blue.
what happens in the bet if they both win the championship?
We buy eachother a cigar and puff away!
Could not have said it better, Deho.
The Wings own the State. The Pistons fan base comes primarily from the city of Detroit.
Enjoy your little ratings coup; but owning the State is a hell of a lot more impressive than winning a TV audience by a percentage point.
RWGR: City of Detroit? Surely you mean at least Metro Detroit, if not all of Southeast Michigan. I can’t talk about the popularity of either team anywhere else but in SE Michigan, but I can say that the difference between the two as far as ratings are concerned is pretty significant: 6.0 to 4.7 on FSN (which is statewide), plus a 9.6 on WB20 (which is local). Are Wings games broadcast on any other channel but FSN? OLN, I hear, but I really wouldn’t know of any others…
I doubt it’s a flash in the pan, either: the NHL is dying. Everything I’ve read indicates that hockey is behind the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and golf. Can Arena Football be that far behind? I doubt it — it’s a hell of a lot more exciting to watch on TV.
I consider hockey games like fireworks — awesome to see in person, a huge let-down on TV. I’d love to see actual numbers which suggest the Wings still “own” the state.
I like both teams, but your question is a joke. The Wings sell out the Joe every game. You are obviously a major Pistons fan —and who the hell are the primary readers of a Pistons’ blog???DUH . The only pertinent response is the one regarding the Red Wings owning the State. I live outstate (Trav. City). Interest in the Pistons is lukewarm.
I have my biases, which I don’t hide, and I admittedly phrased the question in a way to elicit responses from those that feel strongly on either side of the argument. I know the Wings still have fans — I even know a couple — but it’s hard to deny how much hockey has lost it’s national appeal. It’s big in Michigan, and it’ll stay big in Michigan for a while, much like how Canadians still get up for curling and folks in Williamsport, PA get excited for the Little League World Series, but it’s quickly becoming a regional attraction.
There’s no doubt that basketball has become one of the state’s most popular sports — and I’ll even credit MSU hoops for helping spur that along (which, if you know me, is really saying something). But the Pistons have led the NBA in attendance four years in a row, and their lead in the TV ratings over the Wings this year is quite a bit significant. I know the Joe sells out — as it should, viewing a professional hockey game in person is a sight to behold — but I think it’s obvious that they’re still playing second fiddle to the Pistons in SE Michigan, be it in coverage on local TV, newspapers, talk radio, and even overheard conversations in sports bars.
I don’t know if this argument can actually be “won.” But until/unless someone blows me away with some brand new statistic or angle I haven’t yet considered, I’m going to hang my hat on a fact no one can deny: the Pistons have had more fans watch games in person and on television than the Red Wings have this year. Any other discussion about one team “owning” the state is purely anecdotal — and almost certainly wrong, since I think we’ll all agree the Lions own the state, and the Pistons and Wings just play in it.
At this point, I feel like kicking the Wings out of the state. What a horrible way to see Yzerman go.
The NHL regular season in my opinion is way too long and boring so i usually only catch the red wings in the post season, which only seems to last a couple weeks for them anymore. Thank goodness the Pistons dont choke in the playoffs every year.
I live in the Pacific Northwest, but hail from within the hallowed borders of Detroit itself, not a suburb, but the actual split personality, part ghetto, part modern urban dwelling, city. I was around when Joe Dumars, Vinnie ” The Microwave” Johnson, Isaiah “Zeke” Thomas, and Dennis “The Worm” Rodman fought battles against Boston, Chicago, and the Lakers to gaiin their titles in the late 80’s. I was there when they named this small team the “Bad Boys”. I also was there when Steve Yzerman and the”Russian Five” were beaten and brusied by Edmington, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and of course St Louis. I don’t care how you look at it, both teams are permanent fixtures in the 313. Out in Seattleland, we hear more about the Pistons as Seattle does not have a pro hockey team, but that diminishes the Wings very little in my book. Ratings wise, looking solely on MI for analysis of the fan base in merely a start. As a whole, basketball is primarily more popular than hockey, especially with less interruptions due to strikes, but truly, the state of MI is one of those states who presently benefits from the superb playing of two classy, hard working teams and rightfully deserves the treat of a possible double title. Time for the Lions to catch up ya think :).