Bettman says NHL projected to set revenue record this season

DENVER (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated the league is projecting report income this season, a rise he credit to extra scoring resulting in increased tv rankings and extra curiosity within the recreation.

Bettman at his annual state of the league handle Wednesday earlier than Recreation 1 of the Stanley Cup Last estimated income will surpass $5.2 billion. He stated he acquired data earlier within the afternoon indicating that was a conservative estimate.

The league generated $4.6 billion within the final regular full season in 2018-19, earlier than the pandemic wreaked havoc on sports activities and extra particularly the NHL given its bigger reliance on ticket income and different area cash that was not doable with no followers within the constructing or restricted capacities.

The monetary improve additionally stems from new U.S. media rights offers with ESPN and Turner Sports activities that went into impact this season.

A mean of 6.28 targets had been scored every recreation throughout the common season, the very best scoring price since 1992-93. Bettman additionally expressed pleasure and aid at a return to normalcy in his first Cup Last handle carried out in individual in three years.

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Observe AP Hockey Author Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

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Extra AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Stephen Whyno, The Related Press