Complex NHL Revenue-Sharing System Leaves Many Confused
 |
|
Daly Says New CBA Allows All
Clubs To Have Competitive Payrolls
|
Flames co-Owner & NHL BOG Chair Harley Hotchkiss, Devils President, CEO & GM Lou
Lamoriello, Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs and NHL outside counsel Bob Batterman all
“struggled to explain” the “complex” revenue-sharing and escrow components of
the NHL’s new CBA agreement, according to Andy Bernstein of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL.
Each was “unsure of how all the potential escrow money would be redistributed
to clubs.” The system is based on two “batches of revenue sharing, an escrow and
a payroll ‘midpoint,’” which is defined by the league each year. NHL Deputy Commissioner
Bill Daly said, “You only need revenue sharing to allow all clubs to afford representative
and competitive payrolls, and that’s what this revenue sharing does.” Bernstein
notes revenue sharing is also “designed to make sure all clubs maximize local
revenue. Clubs in markets with 2.5 million or more television households are ineligible.”
After three years, teams will “have to grow revenues faster than the league average
and have attendance of 75[%] of capacity to receive their full revenue-sharing
allotment.” The following season will require 80%. Daly: “You don’t want a revenue-sharing
program that doesn’t incentivize performance” (SPORTSBUSINESS
JOURNAL, 8/1).
 |
|
Goodenow To Receive Full NHLPA
Salary For Next Three Years
|
GOODENOW FALLOUT: In Ottawa, Bruce Garrioch cited sources as saying that
former NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow will receive his full salary from the union
for the next three years, which is believed to be $2.5M per season. One source
said that Goodenow was “caught by surprise when he was called into a meeting by”
NHLPA President and Canucks C Trevor Linden and new Exec Dir Ted Saskin last week.
The source indicated that Goodenow “thought he was going to be asked to take a
24% rollback on his contract” (OTTAWA SUN, 7/30). On Long Island, Alan
Hahn reported the NHLPA exec committee’s “decision to promote [Saskin] ... was
frustrating to the rank and file. The players expected to get a chance to vote
on a successor” (NEWSDAY, 7/31). In Toronto, Steve Simmons reported a conference
call among NHLPA members “ended up in near disarray and name calling when the
buyout ... and the elevation of Saskin was explained to members who were not consulted
on either decision” (TORONTO SUN, 7/31). A NATIONAL POST editorial read,
“Goodenow served his membership extremely well — leading them though a period
in which their salaries escalated beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. ... But
as the NHL moves into an entirely new era, it’s for the better that the league
has left him behind” (NATIONAL POST, 7/30).
CBA PITFALLS: In Toronto, Al Strachan writes, “In the new NHL, success
will come to those who are ruthless. ... This new CBA is not unlike modern western
economies, in that the middle class will bear the greatest burden and may be all
but eradicated in the process.” Teams will “have to target a few top-line players
and fill the remainder of the roster with hard workers who can skate” (TORONTO
SUN, 8/1). In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote, “Once a league with no financial
boundaries, the NHL now has well-defined limits, down to reporting revenue generated
by team mascots.” Engel added that because all NHL contracts are guaranteed, GMs
“must be careful when awarding long-term deals.” Stars GM Doug Armstrong said,
“You can flush your mistakes in the NFL [which does not have guaranteed contracts].
This is more player-friendly. Once you marry a player here, you’re married” (FT.
WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/31).
NOTES: Jacobs, on how the lockout played out: “[Owners] had given a great
deal to [the players] over time — they were always able to get what they
asked for. We made the situation what it was — and it was our own inability
to think what we were doing in the process.” Jacobs also said that Stars Owner
Tom Hicks “no longer has his club and arena up for sale” after seeing the new
CBA (Kevin Paul Dupont, BOSTON GLOBE, 7/31)....The NHL announced the Canucks
will host the ’06 NHL Entry Draft at General Motors Place (NHL).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Jeff Vinik's Lightning Deal Worth $110M
February 8, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Bettman Addresses Thrashers' Struggles
February 8, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Hicks Hires Galatioto To Study Sale Of Stars
February 5, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Vinik Trying To Lower Lightning Price
February 3, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Islanders To Train In China This Fall
February 3, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Hicks Loaned $85M To HSG To Help With Debt
February 9, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Jeff Vinik's Lightning Deal Worth $110M
February 8, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Bettman Addresses Thrashers' Struggles
February 8, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Jeffrey Vinik Agrees To Purchase Lightning
February 5, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Hicks Hires Galatioto To Study Sale Of Stars
February 5, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
