With the NHL reaching the halfway point in its season, the League is expecting total revenue growth for the fifth straight year, in the region of four to five percent, to almost $2.9 billion. League generated revenue is anticipated to grow by 14%, resulting in an 85% increase over the last four years.
While critics point out that all is not rosy in the NHL’s garden, with Forbes last month estimating that 16 of the League’s 30 teams had lost money in 2009-10, officials believe ice hockey has proved a success in the face of the uncertain American economy.
The League outlined that its strategy of driving growth through big events and digital media continued to pay dividends highlighting double-digit increases in advertising and sponsorship revenue; a record-breaking Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic; viewership increases on broadcast and cable television; traffic increases on NHL.com and its mobile products, along with growth in sales of licensed product. Local market television ratings in markets such as Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Washington have also showed substantial growth.
Bettman said: “The vital signs are good and we anticipate continued growth and momentum. The strong numbers are a testament to a great product on the ice, a growing fan base that loves our game, and a strategy that provided a path for corporate America to reach that fan base.”
