It's an interesting question.
As someone who watches a fair bit of hockey, baseball and football from the other side of the pond...it's mostly a cultural/structural thing.
I can see why it doesn't appeal despite enjoying it myself..the games are more stop start, very commercial friendly with consistent advertising breaks between plays. I think when you look at football and rugby they have an element of stop start...but also flow quite naturally for significant periods.
It's also more of a day experience I find and more family orientated in the US (just from my experience). You'd never get away with what we do in football over here from what I've seen. Not that I would consider that a bad thing, just an observation.
The fact there is one ultimate trophy, may be another factor. Not many British sports work in a structure like that...usually a league title and cup competition the very least....and this leads to the next point.
No promotion and relegation. That's a big one.
The structure of the leagues and farm teams means you've the same teams year after year. If you're not all that good you have incentives to tank for draft picks which makes for a pretty miserable season.
If you're not in playoff contention there is nothing to play for apart from a shit show to see how many games you can lose to get the high picks.
Franchise moving locations when it suits obviously doesn't appeal when you consider the reaction to Wimbledon and Milton Keynes.
I am not sure there is any appetite to change any of that...again happy to be corrected by those who experience it more than I ever will.
It's been structured differently. Both as games in their own right and the institutions in which they play and to the masses who watch it.
Maybe why I've taken a real liking to Hockey. It's more like what I'm used to. Fast, lower scoring etc...and I love they will let folk just have a punch up, 2 minute penalty and move on.
But I'd happily watch whatever baseball or football was on. Can't get into basketball at all unfortunately. Scoring needs to feel like an event for me personally.
There is a following across the world for all those sports. From South America to Europe and Asia.
If it was anything, I'd be a fan of an additional cup knockout style competition. But not sure it would really work tbh. I'd be a fan of promotion and relegation but alot of teams below the elite level only exist as farm teams to the elite. Plus there's the draft etc.
Added time Multi-ball anyone?
