The National Hockey League recently developed a mobile application in partnership with Neulion to make available for customization and use by its clubs. Many have signed on and here is a non-exhaustive look at a few and some thoughts. For more, visit http://www.dsmsports.net.

1. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
The National Hockey League (NHL) recently released its mobile
application, customizable for every club, to Android and iOS.
Not all clubs have adopted the app. Others opted to continue using
their current mobile app (Yinzcam & Atimi do the most).
What follows is an abbreviated tour and thoughts of a few of the
NHL team apps, developed by Neulion, which also does the
NHL.com websites. Check out my snapshots and analysis...
Download your favorite team app today because the hockey season is back!

2. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● Each team provides a custom splash page
that serves as
an interstitial when the App loads and the
background for the App's main menu
● These pages are (likely) hard coded,
meaning they will not change frequently, if
at all, during the season
● This allows for nice customization, but is
less variable than Neulion's team websites
(with easily changeable and alternating
background images)
● At this time, no sponsor logo, pre-roll,
interstitial, etc. on the Neulion team apps
● No use of splash pages (yet), but could be
a future component adapted from Neulion's
team websites, which commonly employ
promotional splash pages for teams.

3. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● NOTE: Another example of
two different home pages
than previous slides.
● NJ's custom background
● Flyers name/brand their App
● Users are prompted for push
notifications (both related to
game and news and promos)
upon first open of team Apps
● New users also prompted to
share location info w/ the App
● This is HUGE, as mobile
apps increasing works w/
LBS like GPS, NFC, iBeacon
● Would reason for geo info
help? ('to assist you to locate
seats, food, parking, etc.')
● The NJD home page shown
is that seen on game days

4. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● The Flyers home screen ha a
nice shot of players; seen
here following a game
● Scrolling down the home
screen shows options to view:
Game highlights/box, news
stories, Twitter/Instagram,
and video features
● NICE: Clicking 'game
highlights' or the video feature
instantly opens the device's
video player within the App
● Opens only to full game
highlights; cannot go play-
by-play, as on web

5. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● A look at the menu, seen on the
ANA app; “Featured” goes to the
home page, while Roster & Stats
provide virtually the same info
● The Roster is listed alphabetically
by position, also listing jersey #,
nationality, and player Twitter
name, when applicable
● Would be cool to be able to
'follow' on Twitter from this page!
● Unsure of administration for this
page, but likely NOT automated,
at least those w/ Twitter handles
● Players w/o profile pics available
likely get team logo until updated
[uncertain]
● Click-thru goes to player stats
page, no full bios within App

6. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
●
A look at the bottom half of
the app home page (for ANA,
here) shows social media
● App only supports Instagram
and Twitter (notably, no FB)
● Twitter and IG feeds appear
to show only team-produced
content (as opposed to
showing Twitter list or
Twitter/IG hash tag)
● While fans can interact with
tweets within the app,
Instagram pics can only be
shared via email/social
● Fans must leave app for IG
interaction [favorites,
comments]

7. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● The App's Twitter feature is solid,
showing a feed of all the team
tweets by default
● A complete list of players & team
personalities/press on Twitter is
shown; users can click to view
those tweets and follow, etc.
● Would like to see an 'All' option,
which shows a Twitter list of
tweets from all team Twitter users
on this full list
● More personalization – give
users ability to build (and freely
add to) custom Twitter lists from
this screen
● Example: Add bloggers, opposing
team press/players, friends/others
fans, game hash tags, etc.

8. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● An example look at the Standings
screen in the PHI team app
● Note Flyers are highlighted
● Some good additions could be:
make each team name hyperlinked
to their microsite or app [where
applicable], a league-wide
scoreboard, and league stat leaders
● NHL should take advantage of
ownership of league assets/content
● Note that there are NO
sponsors/ads on the apps at this
time, except for NHL in-house
banner ad, as seen here

9. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● Clicking through the banner
ad opens this App download
screen in your phone's App
Store for a $9 “Stanley Cup
Champions” Blackhawks App
● Question to consider:
● Will league retain control over
banner ads through season?
● If/when ads ARE shown, how
will revenue be split? (likely
similar model to websites)
● Will this lead to more teams
opting in/out of league app?
● Will in-house ad remain the
same even after conversion
(user sees same ad after
downloading advertised app)
● Nice additional pub for CHI!
● Who, ironically [?], does not
use league app themselves

10. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● A quick look at the app's
Instagram feed, showing team IG
pics only
● Fans CANNOT interact w/ these
with IG comments + favorites
● Uncertain if teams have option to
show feed w/ hash tag instead of
users (and filter capability)
● Would be cool to customize with
hash tag feeds for contests, in-
arena use, IG series, etc.
● Instagram feed limited to last 20
posts and does NOT appear to
support Instagram video, yet
● Related: Should teams be
incorporating Vine into App?

11. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● When home page shows upcoming game,
'Get Tickets' link goes straight to
Ticketmaster list of individual games
● This screen here is for when 'Tickets' are
selected from main menu (similar w/ others)
● The phone # and website listed in the text is
NOT hyperlinked for action, only buttons are
● Uncertain if these are hard-coded
buttons/links or if can be flexibly changed to
allow for seasonal promotions during season
● PET PEEVE: While links teams send fans to
from these pages are typically functional on
mobile, they should link to sites optimized for
mobile to maximize conversion of these
clicks and provide best fan experience
● Should there be more ticket info, especially for
multi-game and STH packages, available within
the team app itself?

12. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● This shows the home screen in
anticipation of the team's next
game
● Note: 'Get Tickets' link remains,
despite an away game
● Will 'Watch Party' info be integrated,
stat leaders, etc.?
● Game Preview links within App to
team stat leaders/roster/standings
● Uncertain if written game preview
story will be integrated too
● The 'Get Tickets' link goes to full
list of all NJD games on
Ticketmaster
● Should it click thru to 'Tickets' screen
in App?
● Should it click thru directly to
individual game rather than list?
● Should these link to mobile-
optimized pages?

13. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● A quick look at the screen
shown after 'Get Tickets' is
selected
● Same thoughts as prior slide:
● Goes to Ticketmaster instead
of App page or team website
● Lists all games instead of just
game selected
● Goes to mobile-friendly page,
but not one with responsive
design per se
● Should App have interactive
seating chart/map component?
● Teams with their own apps have
better venue integration,
generally

14. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● This screen is shown when
'Photo Gallery' is selected
from app main menu
● NO sense of organization
with photos – albums, tags,
categories, etc.
● Individual photos contain
captions and can be viewed
both portrait and landscape
● Photos can be externally
shared [though not to
Instagram], but NOT
downloaded or saved to one's
device

15. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● A look at the in-game
coverage of this App; inferior to
NHL GameCenter App
● Notable no call to download
GameCenter App on this page
(banner ad? watch live ad?
● The game recap [or running
game recap, in this case] is
shown in this sample; teams
can update this page during
the game, similar to website
recap
● Note lack of sharing tools on
this page; fans would be
inclined to share exciting
games, results, stats, etc.

16. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● This screen shows the play-
by-play fans see during game
● Uncertain if live radio will be
available during season, many
team apps have this feature
● Uncertain of time lag and
refresh rate during live game
coverage and notation of
unusual plays (always a
concern)
● Uncertain if teams can tailor
these feeds [i.e. don't show
every 'hit' and 'takeaway,'
etec.

17. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● Example of a push
notification, written and sent
by the team (not automated)
after game ends
● Combo of automated alerts
(goals, etc.) and manual (like
this one)
● Push notifications are an
essential component to any
App, so giving teams manual
control is ideal
● All apps in NHL I have seen
have alerts, especially for
game outcomes and breaking
news

18. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
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19. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
● Clicking through the game
alert opens to the home
screen of the App
● Previous screen was the in-
game screen, accessed only
by clicking on the score from
the home page
● Notable: Despite accurate
alert, live box shows 1:33 left in
the game
● Watch live link here promotes
NHL GameCenter Live app
● I like that alert text remains
even after it is 'viewed'

20. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
●
Overall thoughts:
● Aesthetically pleasing user interface with lots of opportunity for team
personalization
● Good mix of dynamic and static content
● Good, not great, social media and sharing integration and opportunities
● Decent monetization – want to see more with: sponsors/ads, tickets/flash
deals, merchandise, game-ification (games and/or reward programs)
● Lack of venue integration is an issue for teams
● More data capture opportunities? – prompt sign up for promo alerts,
email newsletters, text club, etc.
● More opportunities for individual user personalization would be good
HOW ABOUT YOU? Comment or tweet me your opinions!

21. Review of NHL League Mobile App
Developed by Neulion and Newly Released for the
2013-14 Season
@njh287
DSMSports.net
THANK YOU
Now, enjoy the NHL 2013-14 season!