Part 8/10:
Hockey provides a contrasting example. Despite a regular-season structure of approximately 81 games, hockey fans and analysts primarily focus on playoff hockey, which is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the sport. Regular-season games are essential for standings and qualification, but the true excitement and revenue spike during playoff time.
Sports leagues regularly tweak their formats—expanding, contracting, realigning—to maximize revenue and fan engagement. The key is navigating this balance without overly devaluing the regular season. The fear persists that excessive expansion could dilute meaning, but current trends show that organizations believe the benefits outweigh the risks, especially given the lucrative nature of postseason games.