The NHL and NHLPA "hope to generate" between C$75-100M from the "rekindled World Cup of Hockey," according to Rick Westhead of TSN.ca. A source said that the eight-team tournament, which is scheduled to be held in September '16, "will raise about half its revenue from the sale of broadcast and internet streaming rights." The NHL and NHLPA "have predicted those rights may garner" close to C$50M. NHL COO John Collins said that it is "too early to say how much cash the league and NHLPA will generate." Westhead noted there will be "an auction for the 17-game tournament's TV rights." A source also noted that the NHL and NHLPA anticipate "selling up to eight premier corporate sponsors and negotiating deals" of at least C$1.5M in each category. Westhead noted many advertisers "will already be committed to buying ads during the TV coverage" of the '16 Rio Games. With the NHL, NBA and NFL seasons also "getting underway in the fall, it's unclear how many companies will commit new ad dollars to hockey's World Cup." The NHL and NHLPA also will "garner revenue from ticket and merchandise sales." However, it is expected that the two sides "will have to pay" MLSE at least C$5M for "hosting the three-week tournament" in Toronto (TSN.ca, 11/25). SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Abraham Madkour writes putting on a 16- or 17-game tournament in one city over a couple of weeks "takes a lot of league resources, and certainly comes with big risks." Madkour: "But I like its potential, and this concept is more appealing than previous World Cup events in 1996 and 2004 that were played in venues around the world" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/24 issue).
