NHL TV ratings at all time lows in the US and now gate revnue is down for most clubs. This league needs to fire Bettman and get a new commisioner to try to get this thing turn around.
In 16 NHL cities -- more than half of the league -- the percentage of ticket-price increase was not met or surpassed by an equal percentage of increased gate receipts.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/...b30cc-5abb-4a6f-ac91-1994f0bab068&k=85806&p=2
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NHL fans have left the building
Gate receipts paint real picture of a false economy
Mark Spector, National Post
Associated Press
Saturday, February 10, 2007
The National Hockey League has always played fast and loose with the fans and media over the word "attendance." And while under the league's revenue- based salary-cap system, it does not behoove the NHL to spin gate receipts, the latest numbers do not paint a positive picture.
In a confidential NHL document obtained by the National Post, the league's overall gate receipts climbed just 4.9% through Dec. 31, despite an average ticket price hike of 5.9% across the league this season.
In a league without significant TV revenue that bottom line is gate receipts, a figure on the financial statement obtained by the National Post that does not credit freebie tickets or services in kind.
More alarming is the fact that gate receipts are down in nine U.S. markets, which means in a gate-driven league with negligible U.S. TV deals, more than one-third of the 24 American clubs are not making as much money in ticket sales as they were last season -- despite higher prices in most cases.
For the first half of the 2006- 07 NHL season, the bottom line on the leaked document speaks of the NHL's false economy. One that is on the decline in more than one-third of the league's U.S.-based cities.
According to the document, 26 of 30 clubs raised ticket prices this season. On a league wide average, the average ticket price went up 5.9% to $52.31 (all figures in U.S. funds).
Through Dec. 31 however, gate receipts were up only 4.9%, lagging behind the ticket hike -- a hike that will be impossible to duplicate again next season. In 16 NHL cities -- more than half of the league -- the percentage of ticket-price increase was not met or surpassed by an equal percentage of increased gate receipts.
Here are some other highlights from the league's financial picture, through Dec. 31, 2006:
- The Maple Leafs still have the priciest ticket in hockey at $80.31 and bring in the most gate receipts per game at just over $1.5-million per game. By the New Year, the Leafs had rung in nearly $31.8-million in gate receipts, roughly equal to the combined total of Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta and Carolina.
- The Oilers' 21.4% increase may be their solution to having just 16,839 seats to sell, but a small market team that once bragged of having the lowest ticket prices in the NHL now has the sixth most expensive tickets, at an average of $61.16 per seat. Will that go down if the Oilers get the new building they're looking for? Not likely.
- St. Louis raised ticket prices by 13.1% for this season, yet gate receipts are down 0.1% from '05-06. That speaks to declining crowds and a franchise that may have exceeded its price point in St. Louis.
- With the best team in the NHL to date, gate receipts in Nashville were up 28% on Dec. 31, at just shy of $525,000 per game. That still left the Predators in 23rd spot overall, with nightly gate receipts that are less than half of four Canadian teams, and not equal to 60% of the ticket revenues the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators reap on a per-game basis.
- Carolina's 47% jump in gate receipts is the biggest improvement in the NHL, no doubt a spin-off of their Stanley Cup victory last spring. With the Hurricanes fighting for a playoff spot, and college basketball season now well underway in Carolina, the club will be hard pressed to hold those gains through the end of the regular season.
- The Islanders' gate receipts are down the most at more than 20%, despite a 1.6% decrease in ticket prices. In Manhattan, the Rangers' receipts are up 19.1%.
In 16 NHL cities -- more than half of the league -- the percentage of ticket-price increase was not met or surpassed by an equal percentage of increased gate receipts.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/...b30cc-5abb-4a6f-ac91-1994f0bab068&k=85806&p=2
---------------------------------
NHL fans have left the building
Gate receipts paint real picture of a false economy
Mark Spector, National Post
Associated Press
Saturday, February 10, 2007
The National Hockey League has always played fast and loose with the fans and media over the word "attendance." And while under the league's revenue- based salary-cap system, it does not behoove the NHL to spin gate receipts, the latest numbers do not paint a positive picture.
In a confidential NHL document obtained by the National Post, the league's overall gate receipts climbed just 4.9% through Dec. 31, despite an average ticket price hike of 5.9% across the league this season.
In a league without significant TV revenue that bottom line is gate receipts, a figure on the financial statement obtained by the National Post that does not credit freebie tickets or services in kind.
More alarming is the fact that gate receipts are down in nine U.S. markets, which means in a gate-driven league with negligible U.S. TV deals, more than one-third of the 24 American clubs are not making as much money in ticket sales as they were last season -- despite higher prices in most cases.
For the first half of the 2006- 07 NHL season, the bottom line on the leaked document speaks of the NHL's false economy. One that is on the decline in more than one-third of the league's U.S.-based cities.
According to the document, 26 of 30 clubs raised ticket prices this season. On a league wide average, the average ticket price went up 5.9% to $52.31 (all figures in U.S. funds).
Through Dec. 31 however, gate receipts were up only 4.9%, lagging behind the ticket hike -- a hike that will be impossible to duplicate again next season. In 16 NHL cities -- more than half of the league -- the percentage of ticket-price increase was not met or surpassed by an equal percentage of increased gate receipts.
Here are some other highlights from the league's financial picture, through Dec. 31, 2006:
- The Maple Leafs still have the priciest ticket in hockey at $80.31 and bring in the most gate receipts per game at just over $1.5-million per game. By the New Year, the Leafs had rung in nearly $31.8-million in gate receipts, roughly equal to the combined total of Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta and Carolina.
- The Oilers' 21.4% increase may be their solution to having just 16,839 seats to sell, but a small market team that once bragged of having the lowest ticket prices in the NHL now has the sixth most expensive tickets, at an average of $61.16 per seat. Will that go down if the Oilers get the new building they're looking for? Not likely.
- St. Louis raised ticket prices by 13.1% for this season, yet gate receipts are down 0.1% from '05-06. That speaks to declining crowds and a franchise that may have exceeded its price point in St. Louis.
- With the best team in the NHL to date, gate receipts in Nashville were up 28% on Dec. 31, at just shy of $525,000 per game. That still left the Predators in 23rd spot overall, with nightly gate receipts that are less than half of four Canadian teams, and not equal to 60% of the ticket revenues the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators reap on a per-game basis.
- Carolina's 47% jump in gate receipts is the biggest improvement in the NHL, no doubt a spin-off of their Stanley Cup victory last spring. With the Hurricanes fighting for a playoff spot, and college basketball season now well underway in Carolina, the club will be hard pressed to hold those gains through the end of the regular season.
- The Islanders' gate receipts are down the most at more than 20%, despite a 1.6% decrease in ticket prices. In Manhattan, the Rangers' receipts are up 19.1%.
