A secret NHL report "detailing the ticket revenues of its 30 teams provides additional ammunition for those suggesting more struggling U.S.-based teams should be relocated to Canada," according to Rick Westhead of the TORONTO STAR. The document "shows that the six Canadian NHL clubs last season accounted for about 33 per cent of the $1.2 billion (U.S.) in league ticket revenue." Canada's six teams during the '07-08 season "represented 31 per cent." The report suggests that operating a club in Canada "is much more lucrative for the NHL." Five of the top six-revenue generating clubs "are based in Canada, with the New York Rangers being the lone team from the U.S. in that group." While the six Canadian teams "outpaced their U.S. rivals in ticket income last year, it’s unclear where they did the same with sponsorship and broadcast revenue."
* The five teams "who have most increased their ticket revenue over past five seasons are all based in the U.S."
* A year after winning the Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks "generated about $1.1 million per home game in regular-season ticket revenue in 2010-11, more than double the $500,000 per game the team garnered in 2007-08."
* The Capitals' ticket revenue "climbed 82 per cent in five seasons to $1 million per game last year."
* Other top gainers were the Penguins, "with a 38 per cent increase ($1.1 million per game in 2010-11), the Boston Bruins (up 38 to $1.1 million) and the New York Rangers (up 23 per cent to $1.6 million)." The Penguins "have had 227 consecutive sellouts, and boast 14,000 season-ticket holders" with another 9,000 on the waiting list.
* The most improved Canadian club was the Canucks, who were up 21% to $1.7M.
Former Maple Leafs Assistant GM Bill Watters said, "This is good for the league so long as the Canadian dollar stays where it is. If it goes back to 60 cents what a mess the NHL will be." It will "come as no surprise that the richest NHL team was the Montreal Canadiens, who league sources said were slightly ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs with $2 million worth of ticket revenue per game" (TORONTO STAR, 1/2).
