If your website is not mobile-optimized, shame on you, get it mobile-optimized you caveman. This is the 21st century, people should get the full functionality of your website from their phone. But just because a website is mobile-optimized doesn’t mean it’s a good website. The NHL’s new website has proven that. Just look at this thing.
How uninspired is that? This looks like a Wordpress blog! The sleek black background with actual HOCKEY themes is now just a white homepage that looks like something that someone whose only web design credential is an Intro class. It’s actually embarrassing as a hockey fan to see this website and know that it’s representing my favorite team, my favorite team, and my fellow fans. That's the best a billion dollar sports league can afford? SB Nation’s Mary Clarke may be the most critical of the new site:
“Imagine this for a moment: someone breaks into your house while you're sleeping. They completely move all the furniture, hide some of your valuables in places you'd never think to look and maybe they even nick a few items for themselves before leaving. When you awake, your bed is in the kitchen, your alarm clock has been stuffed in between your couch cushions and your trusty coffee maker is nowhere to be seen.”
Clarke’s description is dead on. The recap page has been stripped down to it’s barebones, no longer offering detailed statistics. The highlight videos have been broken up into shorter highlights of single goals, saves, or hits. NHL.com took it’s most utilized function and ruined it.
So let this be a lesson to all of those business owners out there who want to have their website mobile-optimized. You need to understand your website’s primary service to your customers. If you take that away, your customers go with it. Protect your brand by with the best website you can get.