Wow, that little nugget really puts into context why ESPN keeps pumping out the bowls. Obviously hockey is a niche sport, but bowls outdraw marquee CBB and NBA games as well. It really boggles the mind how popular football is in America.
I think a lot of it has to do with how many games there are in a season. People are sort of "filling up" on football games now, even some of the less prestigious bowls, because when they're done, it's a long wait until August/September.
On top of having less games, November-January is the time of year where football is really heating up, while hockey and basketball still feels early.
There are some marquee match-ups, like those Thanksgiving tournaments. However, even if, let's say, the No. 2 and No. 5 basketball teams in the country play each other, it doesn't have the same impact, because there's so many more games to be played to bounce back from for the losing team.
I think that's true for the Winter Classic, too. The outdoor experience in person is really memorable, but watching it on TV isn't the same. Outside of major hockey fans, the casual sports viewer probably thinks they can catch up with these teams many more times in the year.
Although I've long thought that the bigger problem with the Winter Classic is it's on what's typically been College Football's day. NBA has Christmas, NFL has Thanksgiving, and for so many years, Jan. 1 has been centered on bowl games, including the Rose Bowl.
I get wanting to have the Winter Classic be associated with a holiday, but I just feel like New Year's Day is already taken, it just doesn't scream NHL to me.
