BREAKING: What Will NHL Jerseys With Sponsors Look Like?

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It’s been something that fans have been dreading, but it appears inevitable at this point. Just two months ago, it was reported that Gary Bettman and NHL owners had decided against allowing corporate sponsors to have real estate on NHL jerseys. Hockey fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, buried in that report, was this ominous quote:

“Gary (Bettman) and owners like the money, but they don’t want to be first out of the box with this in North America,” the person told TSN. “They’ll wait for the NBA or baseball to do it and then be second or third.”

Just a few months later, it appears that Bettman’s patience has run thin, as this bombshell was dropped earlier today:

It doesn’t say when it will happen, but considering none of the other Big 4 American sports has made an announcement about it, it appears the NHL will be the pioneer. It was projected that each team could earn an additional $4 million dollars for having a sponsor’s logo on NHL jerseys. One key date to remember in this timeline is that the NHL’s contract with Reebok runs out in 2016. One would have to think that in the next jersey deal, with Reebok or another company, corporate sponsorship will absolutely be included in the terms.

NHL Jerseys & Corporate Logos: What Will It Look Like?

When the topic of corporate sponsorship of NHL jerseys is brought up, fans immediately think of the gaudy jerseys of the Swedish Hockey League and SM Liiga. They have multiple logos plastered all over players’ jerseys, pants, helmet, and even socks. You can barely even make out the team’s actual logo.

However, this is unlikely to be the case with NHL jerseys. The NHL has been able to grow significantly in recent times without corporate sponsors plastered all over their jerseys. So, when it does happen, it’s likely that change will come very subtly and slowly. I don’t imagine NHL jerseys will ever look like their Swedish counterparts, but if they do, it won’t be for a long time.

A second image fans may think of is European soccer jerseys, which feature a corporate logo as the largest and most prominent part of the jersey. Chevrolet, for example, paid $560 million for the right to put their logo on Manchester United’s jerseys for seven years.

This look is also unlikely for the NHL. The economics and popularity of soccer are very different than the NHL, but even so there is a big difference between what you would get on a jersey for paying $4 million compared to $80. Each team’s individual logo will almost assuredly remain the largest, most noticeable part of the jersey.

One step closer to the NHL’s likely look is jerseys in the KHL. They feature small logos on the front and sleeves of the jersey, one on the back under a player’s number, some on the helmet, and one on a player’s pants. Compared to Swedish jerseys, they look much cleaner and retain most of the “original” look.

Even this is likely more than what the NHL will start out with. My guess is that the NHL would start out specifically with sponsors on jerseys, and then move on to pants and helmet in the future (if they ever do at all, which I don’t think they will). The most likely scenario is actually one we’ve already seen in the NHL.

nhl jerseys
Sponsored game jerseys will likely look similar to sponsored practice jerseys.

The NHL has allowed teams to place a sponsor’s logo on their practice jersey in recent years. It is typically a small logo on the front of the jersey, opposite of where the captain’s letter would be.

In this scenario, the design of the jersey is more or less undisturbed. The captains are still able to place their letter on the correct side, and the team’s logo remains the focal point point of the front of the jersey.

If I were to put money on it, I would say the jerseys will look somewhere in between practice jerseys with small corporate logos, and what the KHL is doing. It certainly will not be as bad as jerseys in Sweden, and will almost assuredly have fewer than in the KHL picture above.

What do you think NHL jerseys would look like with corporate logos on them? Send me a tweet @BSchoeninger17 or comment below.

 

25 thoughts on “BREAKING: What Will NHL Jerseys With Sponsors Look Like?”

  1. they should factor in how many people would never buy a jersey again if it was ruined with corporate logos, see if it’s still a profitable decision..

  2. Little league baseball teams would wear sponsers because they needed the money . What the Heck are they doing on PRO jerseys? Kids wanted to graduate and wear a PRO jersey with no sponsors. This is greed pure and simple. Disgusting. The fans will get NOTHING

  3. Tim Horton’s will sponsor the Maple Leafs, who will be called the “Toronto Maple Donuts”! How appropriate – I can hardly wait for it to happen. :)

  5. Let’s place smaller revenue company logos on the FAN’s clothes too….in BIG letters/logos. The fans go to the game and the smaller company gives them a logo jacket (or shell/stick-on) to wear. That’s a start.

    Like I say, it’s a Fan(tastic) start. Get the fans on side. Go to the fans. The NHL is way offside.

  6. “Now Detroit, welcome out your Detroit Little Caesars Red Wings!” Hahahaha. I’m going back to watching the NBA. See ya later NHL, good luck…… You’re going to need it.

  7. If I were the NHL I would serously reconsider. They are going to LOOSE a lot of fans and they can’t afford that to happen AGAIN. Bettmen has to go. Ruining the sport.

  8. they will look like the ridicules nascar jackets………who the f#ck would buy a jersey/jacket that dominates the actually jersey

  12. All the advertising has already turned me off of the NHL so I rarely go to games anyway. I had season tickets for many years but tired of all the constant advertising (very little replays in favor of more ads, sponsored power plays, sponsored penalty kills, etc.) and being overcharged at every step ($20.00 for parking, $9 for a beer, $4.50 for a coke). I still skate in the rec leagues so would rather get my hockey fix playing than watching. For me, the NHL is soon to go the way of the NFL, I don’t watch it anymore.

  13. I lost absolutely ALL respect for the NHL.. are they going to lower ticket prices or $35 parking fees, since will be raping in billions?

  14. Just one more proof point that Bettman and the owners don’t care at all about hockey, or hockey fans. It’s no different than selling shoes or ballpoint pens to them. Just a product surrounded by MBAs seeking to maximize revenue. Fans who actually love the game and the heritage of hockey are naive anachronisms to them.

  15. This is the final straw Bettman. I’m glad you’ve made yourself filthy rich but you won’t be seeing another dime from me. No more games, no more Center Ice, no more jerseys. Lucky for me there’s plenty of good college hockey around. Goodbye NHL.

  16. Horrible Idea….
    Can you imagine how bad this will ruin the classic Blackhawks, Red Wings, Bruins ect.. The NHL has the BEST Sweaters in all of sports and now the money grubbing bean counters want to F this up!
    What a GD JOKE!

  17. This is crap! Yet another reason to avoid pro sports entirely…these guys live on another planet. When is enough money enough?!

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  22. If the NHL was hurting for money, I could see this as a solution. But this is just for MORE money? Enough is enough. I’ve bought my last jersey.

  23. Something tells me they will look closer to what the jerseys in the AHL have looked like, check em out.

  24. There should be a huge backlash against this. All NHL fans should sign a petition to say they won’t buy a jersey or any team paraphernalia if adds are added to the jerseys. Its disgraceful. Every NHL team is owned by billionaires and the players are millionaires. This is a joke.

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