If the NHL Plays to Empty Arenas, Here’s How Much Money They’ll Lose Out On
In mid-March, the coronavirus put a pause on the 2019-2020 NHL season. On May 26, the league officially announced that it would end the regular season and move straight into the playoffs if play is able to resume. Commissioner Gary Bettman revealed that the league will go with a 24-team, conference-based postseason tournament. In this format, the top four teams in each conference will play in separate round-robin tournaments to determine first-round seeding; the remaining 16 teams, seeded according to their conference standing, will take part in best-of-five play-in series.
However, if your team hasn’t been eliminated by the new setup and you’re getting excited about scoring some tickets, you’ve been deked. Much like the NBA, UFC and WWE, the NHL is taking COVID-19 seriously and will play without fans in two hub cities to lower the risk of virus transference.
With the regular season coming to a premature end and fans no longer allowed inside arenas, franchises are looking at a sizable dent in their bottom line. GOBankingRates examined how much money each team makes off of fans from their home games — from tickets to food and merchandise — and found the total yearly revenue they could be losing out on. The teams were ranked from least to most amount of revenue potentially lost. Keep reading to discover how much it costs sports teams when they play to empty venues.
Last updated: May 27, 2020
Arizona Coyotes
Average attendance: 13,989
Average ticket price: $41.84
Revenue per home game: $2,487,804.88
Gate receipts per home game: $585,365.85
Yearly gate receipts: $24,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $1,902,439.02
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $78,000,000
Annual revenue: $102,000,000
Florida Panthers
Average attendance: 13,261
Average ticket price: $31.27
Revenue per home game: $2,560,975.61
Gate receipts per home game: $414,634.15
Yearly gate receipts: $17,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,146,341.46
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $88,000,000
Annual revenue: $105,000,000
New York Islanders
Average attendance: 12,442
Average ticket price: $58.81
Revenue per home game: $2,804,878.05
Gate receipts per home game: $731,707.32
Yearly gate receipts: $30,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,073,170.73
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $85,000,000
Annual revenue: $115,000,000
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Columbus Blue Jackets
Average attendance: 16,658
Average ticket price: $60.03
Revenue per home game: $2,902,439.02
Gate receipts per home game: $1,000,000.00
Yearly gate receipts: $41,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $1,902,439.02
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $78,000,000
Annual revenue: $119,000,000
Ottawa Senators
Average attendance: 14,553
Average ticket price: $53.63
Revenue per home game: $3,097,560.98
Gate receipts per home game: $780,487.80
Yearly gate receipts: $32,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,317,073.17
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $95,000,000
Annual revenue: $127,000,000
Winnipeg Jets
Average attendance: 15,276
Average ticket price: $84.62
Revenue per home game: $3,097,560.98
Gate receipts per home game: $1,292,682.93
Yearly gate receipts: $53,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $1,804,878.05
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $74,000,000
Annual revenue: $127,000,000
Carolina Hurricanes
Average attendance: 14,322
Average ticket price: $61.31
Revenue per home game: $3,121,951.22
Gate receipts per home game: $878,048.78
Yearly gate receipts: $36,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,243,902.44
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $92,000,000
Annual revenue: $128,000,000
Colorado Avalanche
Average attendance: 17,132
Average ticket price: $56.95
Revenue per home game: $3,170,731.71
Gate receipts per home game: $975,609.76
Yearly gate receipts: $40,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,195,121.95
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $90,000,000
Annual revenue: $130,000,000
Buffalo Sabres
Average attendance: 17,908
Average ticket price: $55.84
Revenue per home game: $3,292,682.93
Gate receipts per home game: $1,000,000.00
Yearly gate receipts: $41,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,292,682.93
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $94,000,000
Annual revenue: $135,000,000
Nashville Predators
Average attendance: 17,445
Average ticket price: $65.71
Revenue per home game: $3,292,682.93
Gate receipts per home game: $1,146,341.46
Yearly gate receipts: $47,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,146,341.46
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $88,000,000
Annual revenue: $135,000,000
Anaheim Ducks
Average attendance: 16,814
Average ticket price: $59.47
Revenue per home game: $3,341,463.41
Gate receipts per home game: $1,000,000.00
Yearly gate receipts: $41,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,341,463.41
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $96,000,000
Annual revenue: $137,000,000
Calgary Flames
Average attendance: 18,501
Average ticket price: $81.74
Revenue per home game: $3,365,853.66
Gate receipts per home game: $1,512,195.12
Yearly gate receipts: $62,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $1,853,658.54
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $76,000,000
Annual revenue: $138,000,000
Tampa Bay Lightning
Average attendance: 19,092
Average ticket price: $62,60
Revenue per home game: $3,414,634.15
Gate receipts per home game: $1,195,121.95
Yearly gate receipts: $49,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,219,512.20
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $91,000,000
Annual revenue: $140,000,000
Minnesota Wild
Average attendance: 18,907
Average ticket price: $74.82
Revenue per home game: $3,634,146.34
Gate receipts per home game: $1,414,634.15
Yearly gate receipts: $58,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,219,512.20
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $91,000,000
Annual revenue: $149,000,000
Edmonton Oilers
Average attendance: 18,347
Average ticket price: $87.74
Revenue per home game: $3,756,097.56
Gate receipts per home game: $1,609,756.10
Yearly gate receipts: $66,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,146,341.46
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $88,000,000
Annual revenue: $154,000,000
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San Jose Sharks
Average attendance: 17,266
Average ticket price: $103.12
Revenue per home game: $4,000,000.00
Gate receipts per home game: $1,780,487.80
Yearly gate receipts: $73,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,219,512.20
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $91,000,000
Annual revenue: $164,000,000
Dallas Stars
Average attendance: 18,178
Average ticket price: $63.06
Revenue per home game: $4,048,780.49
Gate receipts per home game: $1,146,341.46
Yearly gate receipts: $47,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,902,439.02
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $119,000,000
Annual revenue: $166,000,000
Vegas Golden Knights
Average attendance: 18,318
Average ticket price: $111.85
Revenue per home game: $4,073,170.73
Gate receipts per home game: $2,048,780.49
Yearly gate receipts: $84,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,024,390.24
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $83,000,000
Annual revenue: $167,000,000
Vancouver Canucks
Average attendance: 18,022
Average ticket price: $89,32
Revenue per home game: $4,073,170.73
Gate receipts per home game: $1,609,756.10
Yearly gate receipts: $66,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,463,414
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $101,000,000
Annual revenue: $167,000,000
St. Louis Blues
Average attendance: 17,361
Average ticket price: $85.70
Revenue per home game: $4,170,731.71
Gate receipts per home game: $1,487,804.88
Yearly gate receipts: $61,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,682,926.83
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $110,000,000
Annual revenue: $171,000,000
Washington Capitals
Average attendance: 18,508
Average ticket price: $101.47
Revenue per home game: $4,390,243.90
Gate receipts per home game: $1,878,048.78
Yearly gate receipts: $77,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,512,195.12
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $103,000,000
Annual revenue: $180,000,000
New Jersey Devils
Average attendance: 14,834
Average ticket price: $70.70
Revenue per home game: $4,414,634.15
Gate receipts per home game: $1,048,780.49
Yearly gate receipts: $43,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,365,853.66
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $138,000,000
Annual revenue: $181,000,000
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Detroit Red Wings
Average attendance: 19,120
Average ticket price: $86.74
Revenue per home game: $4,463,414.63
Gate receipts per home game: $1,658,536.59
Yearly gate receipts: $68,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,804,878.05
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $115,000,000
Annual revenue: $183,000,000
Pittsburgh Penguins
Average attendance: 18,565
Average ticket price: $99.85
Revenue per home game: $4,487,804.88
Gate receipts per home game: $1,853,658.54
Yearly gate receipts: $76,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,634,146.34
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $108,000,000
Annual revenue: $184,000,000
Philadelphia Flyers
Average attendance: 20,371
Average ticket price: $81,42
Revenue per home game: $4,560,975.61
Gate receipts per home game: $1,658,536.59
Yearly gate receipts: $68,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,902,439.02
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $119,000,000
Annual revenue: $187,000,000
Los Angeles Kings
Average attendance: 18,000
Average ticket price: $81.30
Revenue per home game: $4,951,219.51
Gate receipts per home game: $1,463,414.63
Yearly gate receipts: $60,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,487,804.88
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $143,000,000
Annual revenue: $203,000,000
Chicago Blackhawks
Average attendance: 22,734
Average ticket price: $106.21
Revenue per home game: $5,073,170.73
Gate receipts per home game: $2,414,634.15
Yearly gate receipts: $99,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,658,536.59
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $109,000,000
Annual revenue: $208,000,000
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Boston Bruins
Average attendance: 17,565
Average ticket price: $156.91
Revenue per home game: $5,560,975.61
Gate receipts per home game: $2,756,097.56
Yearly gate receipts: $113,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,804,878.05
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $115,000,000
Annual revenue: $228,000,000
Montreal Canadiens
Average attendance: 21,046
Average ticket price: $105.46
Revenue per home game: $5,926,829.27
Gate receipts per home game: $2,219,512.20
Yearly gate receipts: $91,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,707,317.07
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $152,000,000
Annual revenue: $243,000,000
Toronto Maple Leafs
Average attendance: 19,276
Average ticket price: $122.74
Revenue per home game: $5,926,829.27
Gate receipts per home game: $2,365,853.66
Yearly gate receipts: $97,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,560,975.61
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $146,000,000
Annual revenue: $243,000,000
New York Rangers
Average attendance: 17,318
Average ticket price: $145.06
Revenue per home game: $6,585,365.85
Gate receipts per home game: $2,512,195.12
Yearly gate receipts: $103,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $4,073,170.73
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $167,000,000
Annual revenue: $270,000,000
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Methodology: In order to find what a season played in empty stadiums would cost each franchise, GOBankingRates looked at Forbes’ team evaluations for the National Hockey League (NHL). Using these reports, along with attendance data, for the most recent completed season from ESPN, GOBankingRates found the following data points to measure the revenue each franchise will lose out on in one season without fan attendance: (1) yearly revenue, (2) revenue per home game, (3) yearly gate receipts, (4) gate receipts per home game, (5) average attendance, (6) average ticket price per home game, (7) yearly food and merchandise revenue and (8) food and merchandise revenue per home game. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 20, 2020.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: If the NHL Plays to Empty Arenas, Here’s How Much Money They’ll Lose Out On