A major setback has just hit Gary Bettman and it's quite embarrassing
In the last few minutes, significant numbers have been revealed painting a very unflattering picture for Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League.
Even if there were absolutely no other major sports event at the same time, no NBA or anything, we just learned that the fifth game of the Stanley Cup final series, between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers, was the least-watched final game in history.
Wow. That's obviously a slap in the face for Commissioner Gary Bettman, who nevertheless described Las Vegas as a 'real' hockey city.
Imagine the ratings if the Montreal Canadiens were involved in the Stanley Cup final. (or another Canadian team like the Toronto Maple Leafs)
A blow that lands on Bettman and the NHL
Obviously, this is not good news for the league's contracts and finances. In fact, the numbers are downright embarrassing.
The majority of hockey fans did not watch Vegas win.
The last game of the season was the least watched since they started tracking viewer data (since at least 1980).
For the entire series, views fell by a record 43% between last year's final and this year's, dropping from an average of 4.3 million viewers to 2.6.
The series couldn't surpass the 2020 'bubble' final between Dallas and Tampa Bay, which had set a benchmark for poor stats.
With an average of 2.47 million viewers, it was not just the least-watched cup ever seen, it was also the lowest viewed game 5 in 30 years. - NHL Breakers, via Instagram
The last game of the season was the least watched since they started tracking viewer data (since at least 1980).
For the entire series, views fell by a record 43% between last year's final and this year's, dropping from an average of 4.3 million viewers to 2.6.
The series couldn't surpass the 2020 'bubble' final between Dallas and Tampa Bay, which had set a benchmark for poor stats.
With an average of 2.47 million viewers, it was not just the least-watched cup ever seen, it was also the lowest viewed game 5 in 30 years. - NHL Breakers, via Instagram
Bettman will have to act. A drop of 43% is a disaster.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 15 | 1892 ANSWERS A major setback has just hit Gary Bettman and it's quite embarrassing How many games of the 2023 Stanley Cup final did you watch? | ||
| 0 | 763 | 40.3 % |
| 1-2 | 466 | 24.6 % |
| 3-4 | 245 | 12.9 % |
| I watched all of them | 418 | 22.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team United States at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531078.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team United States at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531009.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530954.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530884.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530730.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images")
TRENDING NOW
