Professional hockey, like football, basketball, and baseball, is big business. The NHL is seeing record profits and value for their teams – in fact, team values are up 46% from just last year – and that's despite the lockout cancelling 42% of last season's games. In fact, the shortened season contributed to the big gain in value as operating budgets were down. Canadian teams dominate the top five, which is only right, seeing as hockey was born in Canada. But for the first time since 1998, three of the NHL's top five most valuable teams are Canadian. All of the Canadian teams rank in the top 16 of the 30 team league. Hockey is Canada's religion and this surge in value for their teams boosts ticket prices north of the border that are already the highest in the NHL.
Most Valuable Hockey Teams / Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
In the 2012-2013 season, six of the seven Canadian teams set their average ticket price at $70. The NHL average is $64. The five most expensive ticket prices in the league are all Canadian teams –Toronto ($120), Montreal ($99), Winnipeg Jets ($95), Vancouver ($90), and Edmonton Oilers ($79). In the NHL ticket revenues are incredibly important as the home team keeps 100% of the gate money. The top teams in gate revenue last year were Toronto ($2.2 million), Montreal ($2.1 million), Vancouver ($1.8 million), New York Rangers ($1.8 million), with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers tied at ($1.6 million).
Small market Canadian teams do much better financially than small market American teams. The Edmonton Oilers, for example, are one of the financially strongest teams in the NHL, whereas the Florida Panthers almost have to give their tickets away for free and post an operating loss.
Canada's six-year, $600 million TV deal with CBC expires at the end of the 2013-2014 season. Renewal of that deal was sold to Rogers Communications for $5.3 billion over 12 years, starting next season. whether with CBC exclusively or in conjunction with TSN and Rogers Sportsnet—could go for $200 million per season. For comparison, the NHL's American TV deal is a 10-year, $187 million a season deal with NBC Sports that started in the 2011-2012 season. Obviously, richer television contracts mean a bigger increase in revenue. Let's take a look at the most valuable NHL teams:
1. Toronto Maple LeafsTeam value: $1.1 billionRevenue 2012-13: $142 millionOperating income 2012-13: $48.7 millionStanley Cup Titles: 13 – 1918, 1922, 1932, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1962, 1963, 1964, 19672. New York RangersTeam value: $850 millionRevenue 2012-13: $131 millionOperating income 2012-13: $27.3 millionStanley Cup Titles: 4 – 1928, 1933, 1940, 19943. Montreal CanadiensTeam value: $775 millionRevenue 2012-13: $127 millionOperating income 2012-13: $29.6 millionStanley Cup Titles: 24 – 1916, 1924, 1930, 1931, 1944, 1946, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1986, 19934. Vancouver CanucksTeam value: $700 millionRevenue 2012-13: $101 millionOperating income 2012-13: $15.8 millionStanley Cup Titles: 05. Chicago BlackhawksTeam value: $625 millionRevenue 2012-13: $115 millionOperating income 2012-13: $25.6 millionStanley Cup Titles: 5 – 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 20136. Boston BruinsTeam value: $600 millionRevenue 2012-13: $114 millionOperating income 2012-13: $18.5 millionStanley Cup Titles: 6 – 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 20117. Philadelphia FlyersTeam value: $500 millionRevenue 2012-13: $95 millionOperating income: 2012-13: $6.0 millionStanley Cup Titles: 2 – 1974, 19758. Pittsburgh PenguinsTeam value: $480 millionRevenue 2012-13: $107 millionOperating income 2012-13: $20.9 millionStanley Cup Titles: 3 – 1991, 1992, 20099. Detroit Red WingsTeam value: $470 millionRevenue 2012-13: $96 millionOperating income 2012-13: $10.5 millionStanley Cup Titles: 11 – 1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002, 200810. Los Angeles KingsTeam value: $450 millionRevenue 2012-13: $98 millionOperating income 2012-13: $8.2 millionStanley Cup Titles: 1 – 201211. Calgary FlamesTeam value: $420 millionRevenue 2012-13: $420 millionOperating income 2012-13: $11.5 millionStanley Cup Titles: 1 – 198912. Washington CapitalsTeam value: $414 millionRevenue 2012-13: $83 millionOperating income 2012-13: $8.0 millionStanley Cup Titles: 013. San Jose SharksTeam value: $405 millionRevenue 2012-13: $84 millionOperating income 2012-13: $2.1 millionStanley Cup Titles: 014. Edmonton OilersTeam value: $400 millionRevenue 2012-13: $80 millionOperating income 2012-13: $10.3 millionStanley Cup Titles: 5 – 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 199015. Ottawa SenatorsTeam value: $380 millionRevenue 2012-13: $83 millionOperating income 2012-13: $6.8 millionStanley Cup Titles: 4 -1920, 1921, 1923, 192416. Winnipeg JetsTeam value: $340 millionRevenue 2012-13: $79 millionOperating income 2012-13: $6.3 millionStanley Cup Titles: 017. Colorado AvalancheTeam value: $337 millionRevenue 2012-13: $67 millionOperating income: $0.3 millionStanley Cup Titles: 2 – 1996, 200118. Dallas StarsTeam value: $333 millionRevenue 2012-13: $79 millionOperating income 2012-13: $1.6 millionStanley Cup Titles: 1 – 199919. Minnesota WildTeam value: $330 millionRevenue 2012-13: $81 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $13.6 millionStanley Cup Titles: 020. New Jersey DevilsTeam value: $320 millionRevenue 2012-13: $78 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $4.2 millionStanley Cup Titles: 3 – 1995, 2000, 200321. Anaheim DucksTeam value: $300 millionRevenue 2012-13: $73 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $3.9 millionStanley Cup Titles: 1 – 200722. Buffalo SabresTeam value: $250 millionRevenue 2012-13: $76 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $1.0 millionStanley Cup Titles: 023. Florida PanthersTeam value: $240 millionRevenue 2012-13: $69 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $7.7 millionStanley Cup Titles: 024. Nashville PredatorsTeam value: $205 millionRevenue 2012-13: $71 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $0.8 millionStanley Cup Titles: 025. Phoenix CoyotesTeam value: $200 millionRevenue 2012-13: $67 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $8.9 millionStanley Cup Titles: 026. New York IslandersTeam value: $195 millionRevenue 2012-13: $61 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $1.2 millionStanley Cup Titles: 4 – 1980, 1981, 1982, 198327. Carolina HurricanesTeam value: $187 millionRevenue 2012-13: $71 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $3.4 millionStanley Cup Titles: 1 – 200628. St. Louis BluesTeam value: $185 millionRevenue 2012-13: $72 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $2.5 millionStanley Cup Titles: 029. Tampa Bay LightningTeam value: $180 millionRevenue 2012-13: $72 millionOperating loss 2012-13: $5.4 millionStanley Cup Titles: 1 – 200430. Columbus Blue JacketsTeam value: $175 millionRevenue 2012-13: $69 millionOperating income 2012-13: $4.9 millionStanley Cup Titles: 0ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmroaSuu6bA1qipraBemLyue8Crq6KbnJrAcK%2FEpZybqpmpxnDCwKWsmpqcmnqvtMtmq56Znah8
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