In N.Y., Larry Brooks wrote this NHL season "affirms" NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s decision to “hold the line against expanding the postseason to include a play-in event that would lower a bar that’s way too close to the ground in the first place.” A system that would "swell participation to 10 teams per conference" would see the 32-30-11 Penguins “right in the thick of it.” The “habitually disappointing” 35-29-9 Wild would “essentially have a spot locked down” and the 30-30-13 Kraken would “remain in the equation.” Brooks: "To those who suggest that it would be beneficial to keep as many teams -- and by extension, as many teams’ fan bases -- in contention for as long as possible, then why not simply throw a 32-team invitational? Oh, they already do. It’s called the 82-game regular-season" (N.Y. POST, 3/30).
GROWING PAINS: RACER’s Marshall Pruett noted that with IndyCar up to 27 entries this year, the trajectory could see the series "hit 29 or more in 2025," which is “both a blessing and a headache to manage for a series that’s searching for ways to handle the expansion.” Although the average budget has crept up to $8-10M per car in 2024, it has "not led to a downturn in entries so far." The series “welcomes the idea of growing its field,” but there are "some challenges to consider if the grid stretches beyond 27 cars.” At some of IndyCar’s venues, the available space on pit lane can "hold no more than 27 entries," and “adequate paddock space to fit extra transporters is by no means guaranteed across every circuit” (RACER, 3/29).
