As sure as the leaves change colour, fall is a time when a brief surge in NFL related searches on Google.ca are quickly eclipsed by the NHL as Canadians prepare for hockey’s season opener.
But things are very different this year.
We’re now 19 days into the NHL lockout and, with the start of the regular season looming, there is no deal in sight. Perhaps not surprising, searches for the NHL on Google were twice as common at this time last year.
Meanwhile, the amazing debacle of replacement refs in the NFL turned into a ratings boon and a significant spike in NFL-related searches on Google.
A tale of two leagues
In the face of disruptive labour disputes only one pro sports league came out on top in terms of Google searches. Or, as The Globe and Mail puts it, the NHL lockout is making NFL fans out of Canadians.
Google searches in Canada: NHL vs. NFL
2011 June - September
2012 June - September
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