For the past few months, it has been impossible to escape the hit Crave hockey show “Heated Rivalry.” From crowd-pleasing moments to viral interviews, the show and its cast have made a huge impact in just six episodes.
No one really expected a low-budget Canadian TV show purchased by HBO about secret gay hockey players to take over the world. And while the show may not focus largely on the sport, it has had a serious impact on hockey in the U.S.
Established hockey podcasts like “Empty Netters” have seen a huge spike in listeners since discussing the show, despite harboring negative views on the show. Seatgeek reported a 20-30% increase in overall ticket sales across the NHL after the show’s release. Though the NHL has not had a single openly gay player in its 100+ year history, “Heated Rivalry” inspired a real Minnesota hockey player to come out.
The impact of this small TV show is impossible to neglect, but it is not the first time that a fictional story has brought in real fans. Sports-based media is not a new thing, with some of the biggest films and shows of the past 100 years coming from sports, both in and out of the US.
Football, one of America’s most integral sports, has been a subject of film and television for decades. True stories like “Remember the Titans” and “The Blind Side” have been adapted into award-winning films. “Jerry Maguire” and “Him” exposed people to the off-the-field lives of players.
Beyond football, award-winning films focusing on different sports have been huge for growing audiences. “Rocky” and “Creed” have been releasing films for 50 years and have been integral to the legitimization of boxing. “Space Jam” introduced kids to basketball early on and “Winning Time” highlighted one of the most successful periods in the sport.
Documentary-style sports shows blew up during the pandemic, with series like “Drive to Survive” and “Hard Knocks” giving unfamiliar fans an inside look into F1 racing and NFL football, respectively. “Drive to Survive” helped bring a large Euro-centric sport to the U.S., helping many American consumers see the highlights of Formula 1 by introducing them to the various teams and high-level competition.
Since the show’s first airing on Netflix in 2019, two new American race circuits, millions of new American fans and even an Oscar-nominated film has been produced by Americans. F1 will actually have an American team on the track this March with Cadillac, thanks in no small part to this Netflix series.
Sports media is also a very powerful tool because it shines a light on the real issues impacting a sport. With “Heated Rivalry,” there was a heavy emphasis on the fear that real hockey players feel for playing in a sport with a significant homophobic audience.
Hockey is still the only sport to not have a single openly gay player at the highest level. Francois Arnaud, who plays Scott Hunter, the captain of the New York Admirals in “Heated Rivalry,” called out the NHL for this very fact, as they have held many Pride Nights while still banning LGBTQ+ symbols from the rink.
“I hope that the league that is now using the show for tweets and Instagram posts and selling tickets, that it actually follows through and supports openly in the league and in the players,” Arnaud said.
Similarly, shows like “Ted Lasso” have been integral in highlighting the real mental health struggles many high-performing athletes face. A large focus of the show is the anxiety and depression faced by real players and coaches, who are often too scared to open up about their issues. The show highlights that although the addition of a team therapist can be seen as “weak” in today’s world, the benefits are extremely powerful.
The reactions from hard-core sports fans can often be mixed, however. The rise in popularity is seen as a double-edged sword for longtime patrons, with the new fans reinvigorating sports, but often not with the nuanced care required.
Shows like “Heated Rivalry” and “Ted Lasso” focus less on the sport itself, so new fans tend to be unfamiliar with the traditions and specific rules involved. Emerging fans may take a longer time to learn the intricacies, simply because they do not have someone to help them, but those who stay are introduced to great content. New fans are exposed to decade-long rivalries, deep team traditions, and can even find their favorite underdog to eventually tell their kids about.
While there can be issues with bandwagons and accuracy, the increased interest in sports from these shows and movies is often a very good thing. Sports have amazing stories, filled with underdog teams, decade-long rivalries and age-old traditions. The NBA, NFL, MLB and all other sports organizations can only grow when new fans come in.
Not every fan has a parent who can introduce them to their team. Not every hometown has a competitive sport. These cinematic pieces of media bridge the gap between the untapped audiences and the legendary teams. The NHL has bridged that gap thanks to “Heated Rivalry,” but they will have to work to keep these new fans watching.