NHL Popularity: 5 Reasons Hockey Wins If There Is No NFL Season

Everyone knows about the unfortunate situation going on in the NFL. A continuous disagreement between the owners and the players of the league is making it seem more and more likely that there is not going to be a 2011 football season.

The NHL and its fans know how a lockout feels. The NHL lost many fans after their own lockout in 2005. However, if there is a NFL lockout this season, there is a huge possibility the NHL regains the fans and popularity that this great sport once had.

Here are five reasons why the NHL wins if there is a NFL lockout.

More Fans

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VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 04: A fan of the Vancouver Canucks holds a sign up that reads 'Burrows You Can Bite Me Anytime!!' during Game Two against the Boston Bruins in the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 4, 2011 in Vancouver, British Colum

The NFL is arguably this country's favorite sport. NFL fans have the reputation of being some of the most passionate fans in all of sports.

If there is an NFL lockout, what will these fans do?

The Arena Football League is no where close to what the NFL is, while the Canadian Football league lacks the superstars. 

NFL fans will be forced to find the next hard-hitting sport in line and flock to the NHL.

Almost half of the teams in the NHL, 12 teams out of 30, sold out every home game this season. If NFL fans can not pack stadiums next season, you can bet that tickets will be harder to find in certain cities, and hockey arenas in other cities will gradually fill up. 

More National Coverage

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: A TV cameraman works the game between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jonathan Klein/Getty Images)

During what would be the NFL season, what will ESPN show every Monday night? What will FOX decide to show each Sunday instead of a day's worth of football?

During football season, football takes over more then half of the program time on SportsCenter. Will there still be the NFL Live television show?

If there is no football next season, there are going to be a ton of available TV slots that the NHL could fill up. Versus is great for hockey, but more coverage of the NHL couldn't hurt.

With the NHL having more national coverage, it's an obvious win-win situation that more people will tune into hockey.

More Sales

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: A fan of the Washington Captials wears an 'Ovechkin' jersey while walking alongside a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins wearing a 'Crosby' jersey prior to the start of the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic at Heinz Field on Ja

More fans means more sales. 

This means more jerseys off stores' shelves and more tickets sold at the box office. 

With the many "new" hockey fans, NHL apparel sales will skyrocket and many more games will sell out.

More Revenue

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 28: Vancouver Canucks fans wave their white rally towels during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

When sales increase, so will the revenue for NHL teams.

When NHL teams have more money, they can pay for better players and more things for the fans. 

The NHL for sure wins by making a ton more money if there is not an NFL season.

More Fun

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BOSTON, MA - JUNE 08: Boston Bruins fans cheer during Game Four against the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 8, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Everyone knows that NHL games are 10 times as fun when the arena is filled. 

Everyone loves the feeling of knowing your favorite team is playing on national television.

If the NFL is locked out, hockey games all over the country immediately become a whole lot more fun.