Prospect Info: Grand Rapids Griffins 2019-2020 Part Deux

[Henkka]

How big business is AHL hockey in General ?

 

[A Few Good Males]

How big business is AHL hockey in General ?

Not huge. There are serious questions of the league’s financial viability if fans are not allowed

 

[Henkka]

Not huge. There are serious questions of the league’s financial viability if fans are not allowed

Attendances are quite equal to main European Leagues. Also those basic salary levels. I could see it's like Sweden and Finland Top Level combined (14+15 teams).

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

How big business is AHL hockey in General ?

Marketing for the AHL is very bad. A lot of the teams are in non-hockey markets. (Bakersfield Condors, Stockton Heat, etc.)

AHLTV is also kind of a mishmash. The video quality is mediocre and you can choose to either listen to the hometeam audio, or a radio broadcast of the visiting team audio. It's also almost as expensive as NHL Network for a way inferior product.

Considering how the AHL is now the official farm team league of the NHL, the NHL needs to invest in boosting its revenues to keep it viable.

 

[newfy]

Marketing for the AHL is very bad. A lot of the teams are in non-hockey markets. (Bakersfield Condors, Stockton Heat, etc.)

AHLTV is also kind of a mishmash. The video quality is mediocre and you can choose to either listen to the hometeam audio, or a radio broadcast of the visiting team audio. It's also almost as expensive as NHL Network for a way inferior product.

Considering how the AHL is now the official farm team league of the NHL, the NHL needs to invest in boosting its revenues to keep it viable.

I wouldnt be suprised if for the sake of the league staying afloat if the NHL is to give it a bunch of money this year so they can play in front of no fans and still be viable

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I wouldnt be suprised if for the sake of the league staying afloat if the NHL is to give it a bunch of money this year so they can play in front of no fans and still be viable

Given the loans that are happening, that doesn't seem to be where the league is heading...

 

[deca guard]

 

[deca guard]

 

[Gniwder]

I wouldnt be suprised if for the sake of the league staying afloat if the NHL is to give it a bunch of money this year so they can play in front of no fans and still be viable

A bunch of teams have internal caps that are now lower than the salary cap. I don't see the NHL funding AHL to play. I'm really beginning to wonder if they'll play at all..... which would explain why they shipped off the top prospects to Europe.

 

[MBH]

A bunch of teams have internal caps that are now lower than the salary cap. I don't see the NHL funding AHL to play. I'm really beginning to wonder if they'll play at all..... which would explain why they shipped off the top prospects to Europe.

Yep, NHL teams aren't just going to fund the AHL.
As it is, NHL teams are going to eat a lot of money this year. I don't see them funding operation of the AHL too.
If there is a season, now would be a good time for FSD to sign a tv deal with the Griffs. Make some money. Increase their exposure.

 

[Henkka]

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“It would be very difficult for most of our teams to operate without fans,” Scott Howson, the president of the AHL, told the Free Press. “I think there are some that would want to do it. Most of our teams are sort of able to operate at 50% capacity. That is the feedback we are getting from surveys, but right now, we aren’t close to that in most of our jurisdictions.”

In Finland, the Liiga reality has been that 50-55% of fans have attended at the games. My home team Tappara has split the arena in 8 sections per 500 people + one 500 people section for stands. That makes 4500 maximum attendance, and highest has been ~3000 in weekend games. Usually same weekend game would have been near ~6000.

So half of the people are at home, but Telia streaming service offers real good option to watch games at home. It's like NHL, the quality and studios and everything.

Could AHL live with same? Aren't AHL-sent NHL players help from NHL affilitate, because they pay the salary?

 

[Winger98]

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In Finland, the Liiga reality has been that 50-55% of fans have attended at the games. My home team Tappara has split the arena in 8 sections per 500 people + one 500 people section for stands. That makes 4500 maximum attendance, and highest has been ~3000 in weekend games. Usually same weekend game would have been near ~6000.

So half of the people are at home, but Telia streaming service offers real good option to watch games at home. It's like NHL, the quality and studios and everything.

Could AHL live with same? Aren't AHL-sent NHL players help from NHL affilitate, because they pay the salary?

Not without the NHL heavily subsidizing them, imo. The AHL needs its gate to function.

 

[Henkka]

Not without the NHL heavily subsidizing them, imo. The AHL needs its gate to function.

And if you have the 50-55% of the gate...like people are acting at Europe?

 

[waltdetroit]

For the first time in 7 years, players from the Griffins 2013 Calder Cup championship team got back together for a virtual reunion hosted by Bob Kaser. Good to see the old crew

Grand Rapids Griffins | 2013 Calder Cup Champions Reunion