NEW YORK (AP) — Arenas are full, the NHL is a fixture on TV screens across North America, highlight-reel goals are talking points on a near-daily basis and “The Pat McAfee Show” even has a segment called “Hockey is Awesome.”
Piece it all together, and more eyes are on the puck than ever before with the playoffs beginning this weekend.
Business is booming for the NHL, which has bounced back in a major way from the pandemic. Backstopped by new media rights deals, digital dasher boards and helmet and jersey ads, and buoyed by an overlap of generational stars, ratings are up, attendance set a record and revenue is at an all-time high — an estimated $6.2 billion annually.
“The league is going through a bit of a renaissance,” said Tom Gargiulo, chief marketing officer at Bodyarmor, whose deal to be the league’s sports drink is the latest sponsorship agreement inked in recent years. “This sport is moving into the next phase of its evolution and is on a tremendous trajectory.”
Songs of celebration hail anniversary
Chinese people pay tributes to legendary ancestor
Across China: Young People in Hainan Passionate About Traditional Chinese Culture
Across China: Young People in Hainan Passionate About Traditional Chinese Culture
Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar designated deputy PM
China Focus: Martial Arts Growing in Popularity Among Young Chinese
Tourists Take Part in Lantern Parade to Celebrate Chinese New Year in E China's Anhui
China's Life Expectancy Projected to Surpass 80 Years in 2035: Study
Entire mall in Georgia is closed after 'shots are fired inside
China Issues Dietary Handbook for Kids with Growth Failure
Stunning Michigan castle near Detroit hits market for $2.3M
National Library of China Releases Databases for Dissemination, Study of Ancient Books