BetMGM’s Post

Professional hockey is at an inflection point 🏒 2,541 Miles. That’s the distance the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers travel back-n-forth to face each other in the NHL Finals, setting a new record for the longest distance ever traveled between two teams in the Stanley Cup Finals. The 2024 NHL Finals have captivated viewers, setting record-breaking TV ratings and some of the highest attendance numbers in history. With 15+ teams operating at 100% capacity, or 97% capacity across the 36 host arenas, it's clear that professional hockey is at an all-time high. Looking ahead, the NHL is gearing up for the in-season 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, building on off increased fan engagement. Team sponsorship revenue surged by 23% year-over-year during the 2022-23 season, and another 10% during the 2023-2024 season, outpacing many other major U.S. sports leagues. These upward trends are expected to continue to expand the NHL’s fanbase (internationally) and continue to grow sponsorship and investment opportunities in the future. 💭 It will be interesting to see how the NHL can leverage this momentum for future growth and how investors can be a part of it.  #privatecredit #privateequity #sportsmediaentertainment

The Florida Panthers first title in league history concluded a series of significant gains for the NHL throughout the season. A 36% boost in U.S. ratings for the Stanley Cup Final to an average of 3.6 million through the first six games. An average of 1.3 million U.S. viewers per game for the first three rounds of the playoffs, up by 14% from a year ago and the best such figure since 1996. Record-level attendance in the regular season of 22.56 million, with games on average played to 97% venue capacity. Another league record for annual revenue of $6.2 billion, boosted by that attendance total, as well as gains in media and sponsorship. What had been looking like a drama-free wipeout of a series culminated in a Game 7. The last Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final, in 2019 between the Blues and Bruins, drew an average TV audience of 8.7 million and set a mark as the most-watched NHL game on record. #DrexelSBIZ #SportBusiness #NHL #StanleyCup #FloridaPanthers #EdmontonOilers #Game7 #Hockey

🏒 Oilers Stanley Cup Rally Fuels $12 Million Ad Boost for Disney! 💰 🔥 In forcing a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers not only made NHL history possible but also gave Disney a significant boost in ad sales. Falling into a 3-0 hole against the Florida Panthers, Edmonton appeared headed for a sweep. However, Connor McDavid's resurgence, with three goals and five assists in Games 4 and 5, turned the series around. Leon Draisaitl's assist in Game 6 further fueled the Oilers' comeback, setting the stage for a thrilling finale. 📈 The Oilers' three-game rally, reminiscent of the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs' historic comeback, has kept Canada's Cup hopes alive and provided a financial boon for ABC. The extended series ensures an additional $12.6 million in ad revenue for Disney, alleviating concerns of a financial shortfall after the NBA Finals ended in just five games. With ratings up 36% compared to last year’s five-game Final on TNT Sports, Disney is set to pocket approximately $24.1 million in ad sales revenue. 🏆 Whether the Oilers or Panthers emerge victorious, Edmonton's resilience has been a game-changer for both the NHL and its primary TV partner, making this a memorable and profitable Stanley Cup Final. 📸: Florida Panthers' Nick Cousins (21) dodges a hit from Edmonton Oilers' Darnell Nurse (25) during first period Game 6 action of the NHL Stanley Cup finals in Edmonton, Friday, June 21, 2024 / Jason Franson / The Canadian Press #StanleyCup #EdmontonOilers #Disney #AdRevenue #NHL #Hockey #SportsBusiness #ConnorMcDavid #LeonDraisaitl

🏒 The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions! Beyond the thrilling finale last night, the National Hockey League (NHL) has had a season full of significant achievements: 📈 A 36% increase in U.S. ratings for the Stanley Cup Final, with an average of 3.6 million viewers for the first six games. 📊 An average of 1.3 million U.S. viewers per game during the first three rounds of the playoffs, marking a 14% increase from last year and the highest since 1996. 🏟️ Record-breaking regular season attendance, totaling 22.56 million. 💰 A new league record for annual revenue at $6.2 billion, driven by high attendance, media deals, and sponsorship growth. 👏 A positive reception for the new Utah Hockey Club. It’s been quite the season for the NHL that was capped off by a 7 game Finals. The league is in a great place as it considers additional expansion teams and new markets. Here’s to a thrilling offseason ahead! #linkedinsports #NHL #StanleyCup

Scully’s Spikes of the Day Why Are the Texas Rangers Struggling? It has been no secret that the reigning champs have not gotten the start to the 2024 MLB season as they would have liked. We are over a third of the way through the season, and the Rangers are sitting at 29-31, 4.5 games back from the nearest wildcard spot. So, what exactly is the problem for the champs, and what do they need to improve on to make a playoff push? The Rangers’ offense hasn’t necessarily been bad, but it hasn’t lived up to the output they were putting up last season. So far this season, the Rangers rank: 13th in BA (.243) 15th in SLG (.384) 14th in OPS (.697) 13th in HR (63) 13th in BB% (8.5%) For the most part, the same applies to their pitching. So far this season, the Rangers rank: 14th in ERA (3.91) 21st in FIP (4.19) 17th in WHIP (1.28) 14th in K% (22.7%) However, the main thing that is hurting the Rangers the most is their bullpen. When we sample data for just relief pitching in the MLB, this is where we see the Rangers fall off. So far this season, Rangers’ relief pitchers rank: 28th in ERA (4.58) 25th in FIP (4.41) 24th in WHIP (1.37) 28th in BB% (11.6%) It is evident that if the Rangers want to make a run, they need to acquire a reliever or two to strengthen their bullpen at the deadline. A staff that consistently ranks in the lower part of the league, especially in relief pitching in today’s game, will continue to hold you back. It will be interesting to see whether the reigning champs will be buyers or sellers at the deadline, and if they can figure things out to make another immaculate postseason run. via TruMedia #sports #mlb #mlbnews #rangers

Quantifying Momentum in Minor League Baseball Bouncing back from allowing runs and shutting down opponents' rallies after scoring is invaluable to controlling momentum and winning games. Last night's NCAA Regional Final between Clemson University and Coastal Carolina University is a great example. Clemson immediately scored after each of the three innings Coastal scored, instantly erasing any momentum the Chanticleers could gain from shrinking their deficit on the Tigers. Meanwhile, Coastal only did so on three of their six opportunities, preventing them from fully closing the gap at any point. Clemson eventually won 12-5 to advance to the Super Regionals, having led wire to wire. The Tampa Bay Rays system has done an excellent job controlling momentum in these ways. Over the past 30 days, three of their four affiliate clubs rank in the top 10 in bounceback innings (scoring immediately after allowing runs) and shutdown innings (allowing no runs immediately after scoring). Their ability to shut down the opposition is the best in MiLB this season, and recent trends suggest they will remain near the top going forward.

Several Major League Baseball records are now held by Josh Gibson as he and other Negro Leagues legends officially join the all-time leaderboards. The statistics of more than 2,300 Negro Leagues players launch today (Wed. 5/29) in a newly integrated MLB database that presents records from seven different Negro Leagues from 1920-48 with longstanding AL & NL records. Articles: -Via MLB "What to know about Negro Leagues stats entering MLB record" (MLB) https://rb.gy/6spdf7 -Via Washington Post "Negro Leagues stats are now MLB stats. Here’s how the record book changed." https://wapo.st/4e24Zus (gift article) #MLB #baseball #NegroLeague #statistics #history #sportshistory

Who's watching? Isn't Game 7 simply the best? Efforts by the National Hockey League (NHL) and NHLPA to attract attention to the Stanley Cup Finals include enhanced media coverage, strategic partnerships, and promoting the stories of the athletes, showcasing their dedication, skill, and humility. These efforts have contributed to the increased viewership and overall success of the season. Here are some of the reasons behind the surge: 🏒 Improved Broadcast Coverage: This year's Stanley Cup Final aired on Disney's ABC, a major network, unlike last year's cable-only coverage on Warner Bros. Discovery networks, leading to a 36% increase in U.S. ratings. 🏒 Historic Playoffs: The Oilers' unprecedented comeback attempt against the Panthers has drawn significant attention, as such a feat has rarely been achieved, especially in modern times. 🏒 Strong Regular Season Performance: Record-level attendance and high venue capacity, along with a league record in annual revenue of $6.2 billion, indicate heightened interest and engagement throughout the season. 🏒 Successful New Teams: The positive reception for the new Utah Hockey Club has also helped, contrasting with the challenges faced by the former Coyotes franchise. 🏒Compelling Storylines: The potential for the Oilers to break Canada's 31-year championship drought or for the Panthers to win their first title adds to the drama and appeal of the finals. What a way to end the season! #stanleycup #becauseitsthecup #game7

FYI link to NHL's mid-term rankings. For ease of reference to see which players have trended up or down the most based upon in-season performance, also attached is the preliminary players to watch list. https://lnkd.in/dfWZuFCG https://lnkd.in/dcQjp47i