Kukla's Korner Hockey
Let’s all be surprised that Canada’s the NHL’s moneymaking breadbasket
by George Malik on 01/02/12 at 03:57 AM ET
Comments (10)
The Toronto Star’s Rick Westhead caused something of a shock last year when he revealed an estimation of the NHL’s 30 teams’ actual ticket sale revenues last season, and this year’s report doesn’t exactly reveal anything we don’t already know—one fifth of the NHL’s teams were in Canada last season, and those teams raked in the most money by far:
A secret National Hockey League report detailing the ticket revenues of its 30 teams provides additional ammunition for those suggesting more struggling U.S.-based teams should relocated to Canada.The confidential document shows that the six Canadian NHL clubs last season accounted for about 33 per cent of the $1.2 billion (U.S.) in league ticket revenue. In 2007-08, Canada’s six teams represented 31 per cent.
The report, which was obtained by the Star from several league sources, suggests operating a club north of the border is much more lucrative for the NHL. Five of the top six-revenue generating clubs are based in Canada, with the New York Rangers being the lone team from the U.S. in that group.
“There will be a lot of people using these numbers to argue that the league would be better off with teams in Quebec City and Hamilton, Ont., rather than Columbus, Ohio, and a number of other locations where the NHL is not setting the world on fire,” said Marc Ganis, president of a Chicago sports advisory firm that has advised the buyers of several NHL franchises.The NHL had this initiative in the 1990s to expand into the U.S. sunbelt and by anyone’s definition, that strategy has been demonstrated to be only marginally successful,” Ganis said. “I think the argument for more Canadian teams definitely has merit.”
Continued, and it should be noted that this is only a partial picture. Without knowing what teams take in from broadcast agreements, TV, radio, print and online sales, sponsorships and signage, suite sales, merchandise sales, concessions and even parking fees, one cannot determine the entirety of a team’s gross revenues per home game…And it’s hard to tell kids who play hockey in California, Texas and Florida that the NHL’s “grand experiment” of expanding to the sunbelt was a failure away from the rink.
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
Followed the link to see the list of teams , but the story only mentions a few teams. I would be interested in seeing the entire list.
Posted by Down River Dan on 01/02/12 at 02:10 PM ET
Me, too, but Westhead tends to keep the parts of the document not related to his thrust (see: arguing that the NHL’s best served by establishing a second team in Toronto) confidential.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 01/02/12 at 02:26 PM ET
As with all responsible journalism, let’s see the WHOLE report, Westhead. Not just the spiel you think is worth posting.
And drop the confidential charade, it’s tacky.
Posted by SYF from the bottom of my, what, 11teenth pint of Guinness? on 01/02/12 at 03:42 PM ET
Do they have the numbers for pre-2007? If not then the stats are irrelevant. Am I the only one old enough to remember the American teams “carrying” the Canadien teams? I mean it wasn’t that long ago. Oh and also Toronto doesn’t count because their fans will pay anything to watch that circus. The economy will not stay this way forever and when it goes back to the way it should be the Canadien teams will be back where they were before: struggling to compete.
Posted by From The Hockey Wastelands from Cleveland on 01/02/12 at 03:58 PM ET
@Jim P: I guess Wings fans bring the same smarts to discussing finance as they do to hockey, huh? You *know* the Wings should be on that list because you just *know* it? That’s how it reads.
Posted by dzuunmod on 01/02/12 at 04:27 PM ET
@Jim P: I guess Wings fans bring the same smarts to discussing finance as they do to hockey, huh? You *know* the Wings should be on that list because you just *know* it? That’s how it reads.
Actually he presented an argument genius, which you didn’t. Why don’t you look for a fight somewhere else, because your over matched here.
Posted by From The Hockey Wastelands from Cleveland on 01/02/12 at 05:55 PM ET
No, he countered the FACTS in the article with his own opinions and inferences. If he’d given, like, you know, stats or provided documents from the NHL (like the author of the article did), then he’d be dealing in facts.
Posted by dzuunmod on 01/02/12 at 06:16 PM ET
Also, Wastelands, your grammar could use some work. When you use words incorrectly, it really undercuts your attempts to make someone else look dumb.
Posted by dzuunmod on 01/02/12 at 06:17 PM ET
No, what he did was present an argument about the validity of the facts. Oh, and by the way you still haven’t added anything to the discussion moron(did I use that word correctly?). My grammar? Seriously? Are you sure you didn’t attack someone unjustly behind the safe confines of the internet and then someone called you on it? Are you sure you’re not a troll going on a Red Wing fan website to deliberately pick fights because it gives a pathetic sense of fulfillment?
Posted by From The Hockey Wastelands from Cleveland on 01/02/12 at 10:59 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Open Post- Rangers/Devils Game 6 Eastern Conference Finals
NHL Network And NHL.com Stanley Cup Final Coverage
Rick Dudley Named Assistant GM In Montreal
A Slap On The Wrist For The Coyotes?
About KK Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Make extra cash while playing online poker. Rakeback is free and comes with rake races.
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
So they are saying the biggest road draw (DETROIT) who also fills their home arena to the tune of 99% or more, sells enough merchandise that you see Red Wings stuff at every opposing arena, but weren’t listed on that grouping…. Someone needs to double check their stats…
Posted by Jim P from Nashville on 01/02/12 at 11:50 AM ET