THE DAILY each day this week is presenting the results from the seventh annual SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal readers survey on the state of the sports industry. Today, we look at an overview of the NHL and motorsports. Turnkey Sports & Entertainment partnered with SBD/SBJ on the survey.
 Most effective NHL team owner | Mike Ilitch (Detroit Red Wings) | 17.8% | | Mario Lemieux/Ron Burkle (Pittsburgh Penguins) | 13.6% | | Comcast (Philadelphia Flyers) | 9.1% | | Ted Leonsis (Washington Capitals) | 8.8% | | Rocky Wirtz (Chicago Blackhawks) | 8.1% | Respondents: 1,088 NHL team that has shown the most innovation in its business practices | Chicago Blackhawks | 8.8% | | Pittsburgh Penguins | 8.6% | | Washington Capitals | 8.6% | | Philadelphia Flyers | 7.8% | Respondents: 1,088 Sponsor that does the best job activating around the NHL | MillerCoors/Molson Beer | 17.3% | | Bridgestone | 13.4% | | Geico | 9.5% | | Tim Hortons | 8.7% | | Verizon Wireless | 6.4% | Respondents: 1,088 The NHL should ban player fighting | No, key part of the game | 69.7% | | Yes, time has come | 23.3% | | No opinion | 7.0% | Respondents: 1,041 Event you’d rather see | Stanley Cup Final | 68.0% | | Winter Classic | 29.8% | | NHL All-Star Game | 1.7% | Respondents: 1,046 Least effective NHL team owner | NHL (Phoenix Coyotes) | 16.3% | | Charles Wang (New York Islanders) | 15.4% | | James Dolan (New York Rangers) | 10.2% | | Tom Hicks (Dallas Stars)* | 7.1% | | Alan Cohen (Florida Panthers) | 6.8% | *Since the close of the survey, Tom Gaglardi has become owner of the Stars.
Respondents: 1,088 What the next five years hold for the New York Islanders | Team will still be looking for a deal for a new arena | 35.9% | | Team will land a deal for a new arena | 34.9% | | Team will relocate | 24.9% | Respondents: 1,009 In five years, the Winnipeg Jets will be | A successful team on and off the ice | 53.5% | | Struggling with ticket and corporate sales | 33.7% | | Not in Winnipeg | 5.9% | Respondents: 1,000 What the next five years hold for the Phoenix Coyotes | Team will be sold; new buyer will relocate the team | 66.4% | | Team will be sold; new buyer will keep the team in Arizona | 22.6% | | Team will fold | 7.2% | Respondents: 1,009 |
Biggest challenge facing NASCAR in the year ahead | TV ratings | 28.9% | | Attendance | 23.1% | | Mainstream appeal of drivers | 18.1% | | Rising cost of sponsorships | 11.9% | Respondents: 830 Grade Brian France’s performance as chairman and CEO of NASCAR | A | 7.1% | | B | 46.5% | | C | 36.8% | | D | 6.8% | | F | 2.8% | Respondents: 1,036 Property best positioned for growth | IZOD IndyCar Series | 40.7% | | AMA Supercross/Motocross | 29.1% | | NHRA | 15.3% | | American Le Mans | 12.5% | Respondents: 752 Sponsor that does the best job activating around NASCAR | GoDaddy.com | 12.8% | | Sprint Nextel | 11.8% | | Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) | 9.0% | | Lowe’s | 8.1% | Respondents: 892 Biggest challenge facing the IZOD IndyCar Series in the year ahead | TV ratings | 33.6% | | Marketing its drivers | 31.2% | | Attendance | 19.6% | Respondents: 756 Grade Randy Bernard’s performance as CEO of the IZOD IndyCar Series | A | 5.0% | | B | 35.0% | | C | 45.1% | | D | 10.5% | | F | 4.5% | Respondents: 737 |
