Ways to give the Devils more exposure in NJ

It seems to me that, aside from the obvious things like being the red-headed stepchild of a team in a pretty saturated market and hockey simply just not being as popular as the other sports in the area, the next biggest hurdle the team faces to drawing new fans is the stigma that they are boring.

It is perpetuated by sports writers, play-by-play callers and their color commentators, bloggers and amateur internet writers everywhere and, most of all, fans of just about every other team (especially those within the division).

If someone new to hockey or looking for a team heard how boring the Devils were, I imagine most would just assume that were the case and move on without actually doing any research.

How does the organization combat that long-standing misconception? If I had the answer, I’d be in marketing. And working for the Devils. And rich.

Kevin Smith is a more big-time Devils fan than Wyshnyski (big-time meaning his reputation is larger and that he’s more noticeable). Other than that, your intentions are very promising.

I think the area around the Rock is showing some signs of life for pre/post game activities. I think it will just take some time for things to develop, you can’t recover from that type of decay in two or three years. That will help a little bit.

Lots of pieces to this puzzle. But at least the team showed the committment by building a world class arena. That is a solid foundation to start from.

The ideas from this post and the attendance post are great. Though, some of these ideas (including some of my own) are pointed towards getting new fans. It seems from the statistics shown that Devils fans are ample around the state/metro area. I was actually a little shocked seeing an average annual attendance of 17k/16k at CAA in the late 90s. TV ratings have been increasing (last year 15%), and more importantly, ratings for the 3 other local teams aren’t close to as good as the Devils (Rangers and Islanders decrease and Flyers increase of around 1%). I think the job of getting new fans is succeeding, but it obviously never hurts.

The “new NHL” and the stigma of the style of play the Devils present on the ice I feel was a factor. Sutter did help with this (as much as I don’t want to admit it). Many thought Lemaire would bring it back, but where are these people now???

In the early 00s, I always heard the excuse “I’m not driving to the Meadowlands, paying for tolls, parking, tickets, etc” from friends and family. During that time, a newspaper had an article (either the Ledger or the APP). The Devils had the most expensive arena prices. They accumulated the price of 4 tickets (cheapest seats), 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas, with parking and easiest means of getting there (the turnpike). I know they sucked then, but it was cheaper to go to a Ranger game than a Devil game for someone in Point Pleasant, NJ if they took the train(non peak was $15-20 round trip??) to the Garden instead of driving to CAA (gas, tolls, parking was $45-50). The Rock has solved this, but let the people know. Just saying the train is available doesn’t help. Explain why. Think $$$ and booze.

I think the Newark Stigma is the new adverse. “It’s getting better” should really be the city’s motto. Seeing billboards that say “Stop the Killings in Newark” isn’t going to attract people to the city. I went onto Newark’s official site to see the Prudential Center in the Residents section and not the Visitors section. WRONG. The city and the organization need to get together and create a mission in attracting New Jersey residents to the city. The only remedy to this seems to be time for any (re)growing city.

Overall, their mission’s end result should be: “hey let’s go to Newark for the day. We can check out the museum, the Ironbound, grab a bite to eat, and hey, the Devils are in town, let’s catch the game.”

I would be interested in joining a Street Team, helping out with videos (I got some film buddies who would be interested), or just helping with ideas and brainstorming.

is that giant LED billboard on the NJ Turnpike north just before you reach Newark. If that thing isn’t causing accidents yet I am quite surprised…can it get any brighter? I am sure aliens in the skies above Newark are now aware of the NJ Devils via that monstrosity of an advert.

The Devils have/had(?) a Facebook group going where they were posting highlights, updates, game previews, contests, etc. earlier this year…I loved seeing that show up on my wall, but I haven’t seen it for a few weeks now…

I think it would be great if they kept that going throughout the year to help bring fans together, provide updates and game reminders, etc., and overall keep everyone in the loop with the Devils.

Great thoughts guys,

Perhaps I’ll start a meetup group and post the link here, (as long as our worthy editor decides that it is not plugging anything and all in good faith). Perhaps I need some more posts to earn his trust.

Regardless, I am going to get a Devils’ flag for my window and hang it up for every game day and tell all of my friends to do the same. That is where we could start. People who live off turnpike and parkway exits/ other major interstates are especially prime territory. I live near a key left turn without a light and the least I can do is make driver’s look at our colors before they turn.

On the Kevin Smith idea, it’s good. I have a couple artist friends, some graphic/ some old school and see if they could create something. However, I’m sorry – I can just picture “Chico Eats” on skateboards and surfer’s cars. It is truly golden.

And finally, for those of you who think small efforts like this won’t amount to much – well they won’t if you’re gonna take that attitude! Keep the heads up! ;)

Now this post will most likely get buried because of the AMAZING SHUTOUT by Marty agains the defending champions! It will not affect my desire to pump up the advertising, but for now I’m celebrating – GO MARTY! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!!

Now if we could only get this blog out to a larger audience. I love the flag idea, every Sunday I see an inflatable ‘Giant’ on a neighbor’s front lawn and think “oh, what time is the game on today?” It works. The stigma of Newark is real. I lived in Queens for many years yet still did not want to travel to Newark out of fear of having my car stolen. It is so much different now in the general area. Give it a few years and the Devils still winning, and our ‘secondary audience’ will continue to grow. Ive been to Philly, and their setup is excellent for ‘pregame’ activities. Chickie and Pete’s having a bar INSIDE the arena that ANYONE can go to is HUGE. NO Goal Bar, or Fire & Ice bars, that’s elitist and that’s NOT Devils fans. That’s something for Ranger fans, not us. Make PreGame a priority and watch the ‘casual’ fan become more engaged. Also, ticket prices, of course…

The devils should try to appeal to south jersey, It is still New Jersey and with the Flyers playing like crap some fans might want to see whats up the turnpike. Also apealing to the nets market isnt a bad idea, because it would be a nice transition watching the worst team in basketball to the best team in hockey in the same state. Its lonely being the only Devils fan I know in south jersey.