National Hockey League’s Revenues Will Not Grow In Robust Fashion Without Diversity, More Players Of Color

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

The National Hockey League has quite a way to go as the league trots out its “hockey is for everyone” motto again this month for Black History Month.

There are 25 Black players in a 32-team league who have played in an NHL game this season.

With that type of record, the NHL has deep, structural problems — fundamental issues that a month’s worth of original content for Black History Month won’t fix when 97 percent of the NHL’s players are white.

Here’s the press release statement from the players association:

“Black History Month provides an opportunity for us to show our appreciation for the contributions that Black men and women have made to hockey – from Willie O’Ree playing his first game in 1958, to Hall of Fame member Angela James, to the 25 current Players who have played in an NHL game this season,” said Jonathan Weatherdon, NHLPA Senior Director of Communications.

And the league has an exec with a very long title that offered this boiler plater press release statement:

“February is an important month to reflect on the achievements of Black men and women, while also emphasizing the need to amplify ongoing action across the League and Clubs to ensure the Black community is represented and welcomed in the sport of hockey,” said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs.

The fact is Black kids do not have Black NHL players to relate to. The NHL demo is a white suburban family rich enough to afford the expenses of equipment, leagues, lessons and ice time. The fact is the NHL simply does not connect culturally to Black families and kids in this country.

NHL game tickets are also expensive. The Golden Knights’ average ticket for a home game at T-Mobile Arena is well over $100.

Look at the NHL’s national TV ratings. They’re on par with the ratings of niche sports. The NHL’s teams like the Vegas Golden Knights can fill arenas in local markets, but in a country that is diverse the NHL’s national TV ratings do not lie.

But the NHL is trying this month. On Feb. 10,  the NHL will release the first episode of ‘NHL Bound.’ The press release says it’s “an original content series that follows Duante’ Abercrombie and Nathaniel Brooks, two Black hockey coaches chasing their dream to work in the NHL. The weekly series chronicles their participation in the Arizona Coyotes’ first-ever coaching internship program, dedicated to creating a deeper pool of diverse talent.”

The NHL will be in Las Vegas this week for its All-Star Game.