NHL draws its highest revenues ever in 2021-22, but it won't impact the salary cap
According to everyone's least favourite NHL executive, Commissioner Gary Bettman, the NHL will generate record-setting revenues for 2021-22, which should reach over $5.2B by the time all is said and done. Considering how the game has been impacted by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, that's certainly an impressive number in the league's first 82-game season back.
While there was a lot of hope that this increase in revenue would mean a sizable increase in the salary cap for the 2022-23 season and beyond, Bettman was quick to pour water on the idea before it had the opportunity to catch fire, revealing that it would be 2-3 years yet before the debts are paid back to the owners.
The main focus of Bettman's statements on the health of the league following the pandemic appeared to be about how the league was able to persevere and "stabilize the business".
Bettman on the league pushing through the pain during the pandemic and coming out stronger on the other side
Bettman believes that the league was just overall more exciting this season, due in large to an increase in scoring. The interest is up in the game, and while some of that is certainly due to the new markets being targeted with the ESPN and NHL on TNT coverage, Bettman says more goals has meant more fans.
-Bettman on an increase in scoring impacting how the game is being received by viewers
Hopefully the league can keep generating this types of numbers in terms of revenues, not only because of the salary cap implications, but also because more money can only lend to the overall growth of the game and the production and entertainment value of its events.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 16 | 126 ANSWERS NHL draws its highest revenues ever in 2021-22, but it won't impact the salary cap Will the NHL exceed $5.2B next season? | ||
| Yes | 72 | 57.1 % |
| No | 24 | 19 % |
| Not with this type of officiating | 30 | 23.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
