The Business of Hockey
Is NHL Expansion to Europe Still on the Radar?
February 2nd, 2019 In 2008, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly publicly acknowledged optimism that the NHL would have a permanent presence in Europe within the next 10 years. However, he suggested that the barriers to the NHL’s entry into Europe would be significant. He stated, “Those...
Diving Into the Detroit Red Wings No-Trade Clauses
January 30th, 2019 The Detroit Red Wings and no-trade clauses (NTCs) simply go together. Like Steve Yzerman and leadership or Nicklas Lidstrom and perfection, it’s a match made in heaven. That may seem like hyperbole, but the fact of the matter is that the Red Wings have doled out 11(!)...
NHL Coaches to Receive More Bench Technology
January 26th, 2019 On Jan. 17, the NHL introduced a new technology that will be available in February to all 31 NHL teams and their coaching staffs. The NHL, in partnership with software company SAP and tech giant Apple, has developed a new app called the SAP/NHL Coaching Insights App for...
Calgary City Council Talking New Home for Flames
January 25th, 2019 Calgary city council will discuss Monday how to prioritize and pay for mega-projects, including an event centre that would be the new home of the NHL's Calgary Flames. The event centre, estimated to cost between $550 million and $600 million,...
NHL Loyalty Programs Reward Fans & Drive Data Collection
January 22nd, 2019 I admit I am a loyalty card addict. I have been an Aeroplan member since 1985, maintained an Air Miles card for 23 years and faithfully collect Westjet Dollars through everyday purchases with my Westjet Rewards Mastercard. Professional sports teams, including some NHL...
NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?
January 20th, 2019 Picture a scenario. Your local NHL team is playing a nationally-televised game. It's on NBCSN, which you access through an app because you don't have cable or satellite. You're excited to watch it, but when you turn it on, you're denied because of a tv blackout based on...
Dynamic Pricing Improves NHL Teams' Bottom Lines
January 12th, 2019 The National Hockey League, unlike the other three major North American professional sports leagues, is highly dependent upon game-day revenues. Broadcast rights primarily drive revenues for Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National...
NHL Winter Classic: Digital Fan Engagement Leads to TV Rating Recovery
January 5th, 2019 The latest version of the NHL Winter Classic featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins was played this week on Jan. 1 in front of 76,126 fans at Notre Dame Stadium, the home of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The attendance number was...
Coyotes and Suns Must Work Together on Arena Deal
December 24th, 2018 Stop me if you've heard this before - there are relocation rumors surrounding a professional sports franchise in Phoenix, Arizona. However, for the first time in quite a while, it isn't the Arizona Coyotes in the national spotlight (who announced on Thursday that...
Buyer Beware: NHL Player Contract Risk
December 21st, 2018 For over three decades, my most important role as an Investment Advisor was to reduce and mitigate investment risk while building client wealth. I achieved this by using a risk management technique called diversification. The goal was to develop a portfolio of securities...
NHL Team Values Continue Steady Growth
December 15th, 2018 Owning an NHL franchise has proven to be a profitable business venture for the majority of owners of the league's 31 member teams. On Dec. 4 the owners had just concluded their winter Board of Governors meeting where the focus was on the approval of a 32nd NHL franchise in...
NHL CBA: Making the Case for Annual Amnesty Buyouts
December 12th, 2018 It may seem like the last NHL work stoppage was only a couple of years ago, but there’s already potential for another lockout on the horizon. There’s an opt-out clause in the current NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that could put the 2020-21 season on...
Quebec City's Only Hope is a Relocation Franchise
December 8th, 2018 On June 22, 2016, the city of Las Vegas was awarded an NHL franchise by the League’s Board of Governors at their summer meetings. Billionaire Bill Foley paid $500 million to the NHL's other owners as an expansion fee for the rights to ice the league’s 31st franchise....
