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Franchises

Bettman Insists Hurricanes Secure In Raleigh Despite Decline In Revenue, Attendance

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he does not think "anyone needs to worry about the future" of the Hurricanes in Raleigh, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER. Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos Jr. continues to look at selling his majority share in the team, but Bettman said, "There is no rush, no pressure, no timetable. I am certain if he sells the franchise, he will continue the legacy of having the franchise in what has been a strong market and keep it where it is." But Alexander notes the Hurricanes are last in NHL home attendance at 11,411 after "finishing one spot higher" last season. The "fear among some Canes fans" is that if Las Vegas or Quebec City are "shut out in their expansion bid, the ownership group could look elsewhere for a team that's for sale and try to convince the league to be allowed to relocate it." The 72-year-old Karmanos said that he is "looking into a 'succession plan' to sell the team," but it "could be over a period of years." Karmanos also noted that the Hurricanes' lease with PNC Arena runs through '24 and the Research Triangle region "continues to grow." Team President Don Waddell said that the "smaller turnouts this season again are a result of focusing on season-ticket sales while reducing complimentary and discounted tickets." The Hurricanes' admission revenue for '14-15 "declined about" $1.3M from the '13-14 season. Food and beverage sales "were down about $500,000, parking revenue down $600,000 and suite income fell by $400,000." Ad revenue "also dropped" $1.7M. Waddell said that corporate sponsorships "should increase" about 10%, but his "top priority" is increasing attendance. Waddell: "That's the No. 1 revenue source that we're not maximizing or getting close to" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 11/12).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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