On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams chat with Sportico valuations expert Kurt Badenhausen about his latest NHL numbers, which show dramatic increases across the board. The average NHL team is now worth $1.31 billion, up 29% from the same time last year.
The Toronto Maple Leafs top the list at $2.65 billion, followed by the New York Rangers ($2.45 billion), Montreal Canadiens ($2.27 billion) and Chicago Blackhawks ($1.84 billion). The Arizona Coyotes are last at $675 million.
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The trio discuss the numbers, and what’s driving the significant jump in valuations. One of the biggest drivers was the recent sale of the Ottawa Senators for $950 million. That set a new floor for what NHL teams at the lower end of the rankings are worth, Badenhausen explains. There have also been minority stakes sales in Montreal, Toronto, Washington and Tampa Bay that have helped inform the NHL’s new normal.
Some of this growth is NHL-specific, and some is a result of wider industry trends, Badenhausen says. Sports teams in all leagues are being viewed now as an asset class, with scarcity value built into every single league. The NFL and NBA, however, have begun to price out even some of the richest people in the world, which makes NHL teams more realistic for many looking to break into major U.S. sports.
The trio talks about the arena strategy in the NHL, the impact of media deals in both the U.S. and Canada, and they run through the numbers for specific teams, including the Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes,and San Jose Sharks.
Lastly they discuss news that the Seattle Sounders are in advanced talks to purchase the NWSL’s OL Reign.
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