What if there was a strike and no one noticed?

The Daily Iowan has this article about the NHL strike. I talked to a guy the other day - one of those "I'll watch competitive peanut-butter-spreading if no other sports are on" types. He had no idea they'd been on strike. He just figured the season hadn't started yet. I take this as evidence they might becoming irrelevant? Perhaps the investors and players should consider spending the money they're arguing about on marketing.