Philadelphia Flyers’ 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

Welcome, Utah Hockey Club, to the National Hockey League (NHL) Yes, you heard me correctly—the NHL is in Salt Lake City Corporation! Now, hockey, of course, is the greatest sport to ever happen on ice, but let’s be honest, there’s a bit of a learning curve here. What’s icing? Why was that offsides? And perhaps the most crucial question of all: Why, in the name of all that is decent, are the Boston Bruins the absolute worst? But don’t worry, Salt Lake-ians—Salt Lakers? Salt Lick-ees? Whatever!—AllSeater.com is here to help you tackle one of the truly hard parts of this whole hockey experience: managing those 41 home games in a season! Because, let’s face it, figuring out who’s getting your tickets can be tougher than explaining the difference between a power play and just regular ol’ violence. Luckily, our platform makes it dead simple. AllSeater seamlessly allocates, notifies, and organizes your season tickets so not a single seat goes to waste. And for that inevitable moment when you have tickets to that dreaded 10/19 Boston Bruins game? Fear not! AllSeater ensures that your terrible Bruins-loving client gets the seats, sparing you the agony of sending your intern who’s also, somehow, an equally horrible Bruins fan. Seriously, what’s in the water up there? Sign up today at AllSeater and use promo code ALLSNHL25 for a free subscription. Because hockey is great, but the Bruins… less so. #seasontickets #nhl

((NOT) PUTTING THIS STORY ON ICE RICHARD GUBBE’S BOOK ON VEGAS HOCKEY! This week, Richard Gubbe, author (along with Robert Lawson) of “Vegas Hockey, Vegas Strong,” joins me on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” https://lnkd.in/gXeNZhih & all your favorite platforms, including #YouTube (https://lnkd.in/gWt6mTCy). In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Richard talks about the early days (and teams) of hockey in Las Vegas; what happened to the proposed hockey team that was going to be brought in by producer Jerry Bruckheimer in 2008; why promotion can help a team even if it’s poorly managed; how there were 30 failed professional teams in Las Vegas until the Vegas Golden Knights came along; how Bill Foley had the combination of skills and resources to establish a team in Las Vegas; why hockey is a sport that crosses genders; the most surprising thing he found out about hockey while writing the book; why the book is not just historical, but fun; how the VGK is a “fellowship”; and why motivation is the key to hockey success. #hockey #VGK #NHL #Vegas #VegasBorn QUICK CLIP (Richard on one of many reasons VGK is successful):

NEW for #THW 🚨: Finding value in contracts is always crucial to long-term success. Let's look at the 10 best contracts in the NHL heading into 2024-25. https://t.co/aPqEtP7XKp

Loving the statistics and analytics that the NHL has provided for public knowledge. I've always enjoyed studying goals and offense as a whole in the game of hockey. The top goal scorers in the NHL and in any league around the world are consistently doing little things that many players are unaware of. It is more than just "having a good shot". Getting to the right place at the right time, having the proper stick placement, knowing what to do before you have the puck or before someone else gets the puck, GOING TO THE NET, and using deception are some of the tools needed to increase scoring/offense for a player or team. Hockey has always been my passion and I am excited to continue to learn more about the game and teach players who want to produce more offensively. https://lnkd.in/drqdUbc7

🏒 The Return of NHL Players to the Olympic Stage: A Game-Changer for Global Hockey 🌍 In Janelle Wells, Ph.D., Global Environment of Sport & Entertainment class we discussed the excitement surrounding the recent decision to allow NHL players to participate in the Winter Olympics, which marks a significant shift in the landscape of international hockey. Beyond the excitement of seeing our favorite players don their national jerseys once again, this move holds deeper implications for the sport as a whole. For starters, the absence of NHL stars from the past few Olympic Games undoubtedly impacted the level of competition and the overall viewing experience. While talented players from other leagues stepped up admirably, there's no denying the allure and skill that NHL players bring to the ice. Moreover, the return of NHL players to the Olympics reinforces the importance of unity and collaboration within the hockey community. It's a testament to the sport's ability to transcend borders and bring together athletes from diverse backgrounds for a common goal. From a strategic standpoint, this decision could also have ripple effects on player development, team dynamics, and the global hockey market. By showcasing their talents on the Olympic stage, players have the opportunity to elevate their profiles on an international scale, potentially attracting new fans and sponsors alike. Moreover, it's worth acknowledging the players' excitement to compete for their respective countries. As we look ahead to the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, it's clear that the inclusion of NHL players adds an extra layer of anticipation and excitement. Get ready for some unforgettable moments as the world's best hockey talent competes for gold on the grandest stage of all. Check out this article to learn more about the announcement! https://lnkd.in/gBJ4uw2m #NHLinOlympics #GlobalWells #VSEM

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

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

🏒 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

If you're a sports fan, then this article of how NHL teams chose their team names, then this quick read is for you (even if you're not a die hard hockey fan). Once read, which is your favorite backstory for the team name?