How Much Is the NHL Worth?
Contents
How Much Is the NHL Worth? A Billion. At Least.
The Business of the NHL
How the NHL makes money
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 30 member clubs: 23 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season.
The NHL generated $4.9 billion in revenue during the 2017–18 season, up from $4.4 billion the previous year. The league’s shared revenue rose to $3.3 billion, while its broadcasting and digital media rights were worth a combined $1.6 billion. Merchandise sales brought in an additional $265 million, while ticket revenue totaled $800 million.
The most valuable NHL teams
Forbes releases an annual ranking of the most valuable NHL teams, and the list below shows the top 10 most valuable NHL teams as of 2019.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs – $1.45 billion
2. New York Rangers – $1.35 billion
3. Montreal Canadiens – $1.34 billion
4. Chicago Blackhawks – $1120 million
5. Boston Bruins – $1100 million
6. Detroit Red Wings – $950 million
7. Los Angeles Kings – $810 million
8. Pittsburgh Penguins – $800 million
9. Edmonton Oilers – $770 million
10. Minnesota Wild – $750 million
The Economic Impact of the NHL
The NHL is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world. It is also one of the most valuable, with a worth of over $3 billion. The NHL’s popularity and value are due in large part to its economic impact. The NHL creates jobs and generates revenue for cities and businesses. It also promotes tourism and enhances quality of life.
The NHL and the Canadian economy
The NHL is a professional ice hockey league with 30 teams in the United States and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest championship trophy in North America, is awarded to the NHL playoff champion each year. The league was founded in 1917, and its revenues have grown rapidly in recent years. In 2017-18, the NHL generated $4.54 billion in total revenue, up from $3.26 billion just five years earlier.
The NHL has had a significant economic impact on both the United States and Canada. In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), the league contributed $2.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2017 and $3.5 billion to the Canadian economy that same year. The NHL also supports thousands of jobs in both countries: there are nearly 100,000 full-time equivalent jobs in North America that are directly or indirectly supported by the league.
In Canada, the NHL is particularly important to the economies of small cities and towns that are home to teams. For example, the Quebec town of Shawinigan has a population of just over 41,000 people but generates $64 million in economic activity each year thanks to its minor league team, the Shawinigan Cataractes. Similarly, the town of Timmins, Ontario, has a population of just over 41,000 people but generates $79 million in economic activity each year thanks to its junior hockey team, the Timmins Rock
The NHL and the US economy
In the United States, the NHL is worth an estimated $480 million. This is a slight increase from the previous year, when the league was valued at $477 million. The NHL is the third most valuable sports league in America, behind the NFL and MLB.
The NHL has a large economic impact on the cities where its teams are located. In Boston, for example, the Bruins generate $211 million in economic activity every year. This includes $73 million in direct spending by fans and $138 million in indirect spending (such as money spent by businesses that benefit from increased foot traffic near the arena).
NHL games also have a positive impact on television ratings. In 2019, NBC Sports’ coverage of NHL games was up 19% from 2018. This led to an increase in advertising revenue for the network.
The NHL’s popularity is also evident in its merchandise sales. In 2018, NHL merchandise sales totaled $1.45 billion. This was a 5% increase from 2017 and it made the NHL the fifth most popular sports league in terms of merchandise sales (behind only the NFL, NBA, MLB, and McTommy).
The Future of the NHL
The NHL is a professional ice hockey league that is made up of 30 teams in the United States and Canada. The NHL is the highest level of professional hockey in the world and is considered to be a top-level sport. The NHL is a billion-dollar industry and is growing every year.
The NHL and the global market
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 30 member clubs: 23 in the United States and seven in Canada. Headquartered in New York City, the NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season.
The NHL has been described as a “niche league” due to its smaller television audiences compared to other major North American professional leagues like the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Basketball Association (NBA). However, the NHL’s popularity has increased in recent years, particularly among younger fans and viewers in nontraditional markets such as Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
In terms of revenue, the NHL is ranked as the seventh-largest professional sport league in the world with a total revenue of $3.7 billion US dollars in 2017-18. The average NHL team is worth $594 million US dollars according to Forbes magazine’s 2019 valuation. However, these figures pale in comparison to other major global sports leagues like football’s Premier League ($5.3 billion US dollars) or basketball’s NBA ($8 billion US dollars).
So what does the future hold for the NHL? Can it continue to grow its global footprint and generate more revenue? Or will it remain a niche league with limited appeal outside of North America? Only time will tell.
The NHL and new media
The National Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America, currently comprising 31 teams: 24 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season.
In recent years, the NHL has been working hard to stay relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape. In 2017, they signed a groundbreaking $2 billion deal with Rogers Communications for exclusive Canadian broadcast rights. The deal included expanded digital rights, which allow Rogers to show every game on any digital platform they choose. This was a significant move for the NHL, as it was the first time they had sold exclusive digital rights to any broadcaster.
The NHL has also been active in expanding their presence on social media. They were one of the first sports leagues to sign a deal with Snapchat, and they produce regular content for other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In 2017, they launched their own streaming service, NHL Live, which gives fans access to live out-of-market games and on-demand replays of every game.
The NHL’s efforts to stay relevant in the new media landscape have been paying off. According to a report from Nielsen, the NHL had its highest average TV viewership in over two decades during the 2016-17 season. And while TV ratings are still valuable, it’s clear that the NHL recognizes that they need to be where their fans are – which is increasingly online and on mobile devices.
