Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Women's professional hockey

Itse · 12-11-2019, 02:38 AM

If you think of WNBA as part of the NBA marketing, $10M per year is a lot, but it isn't THAT much. It's also a unique kind of marketing that probably draws in people they otherwise don't reach. Best use of money? Unlikely, but it wouldn't surprise me if the NBA is okay with the way things are.

I don't see women's hockey being commercially viable as a gate driven league, but I don't think it's impossible that hockey marketing + sports brands wanting to sell girls expensive hockey gear could support a small league. Not right now, but maybe at some point in time.

Big maybe though.

You'd probably have to brand the women's teams the same as the NHL teams, like they do in Europe. In Helsinki HIFK just started their own women's team with the same name and logo. No off-brand lower-tier naming like Inferno, the womens team is HIFK just like the men's team. This is also how they name the junior teams, so you can literally play for just one team all your life.

I always felt that makes a lot of marketing sense.

12-11-2019, 02:38 AM	#30
Itse Franchise Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Exp:	If you think of WNBA as part of the NBA marketing, $10M per year is a lot, but it isn't THAT much. It's also a unique kind of marketing that probably draws in people they otherwise don't reach. Best use of money? Unlikely, but it wouldn't surprise me if the NBA is okay with the way things are. I don't see women's hockey being commercially viable as a gate driven league, but I don't think it's impossible that hockey marketing + sports brands wanting to sell girls expensive hockey gear could support a small league. Not right now, but maybe at some point in time. Big maybe though. You'd probably have to brand the women's teams the same as the NHL teams, like they do in Europe. In Helsinki HIFK just started their own women's team with the same name and logo. No off-brand lower-tier naming like Inferno, the womens team is HIFK just like the men's team. This is also how they name the junior teams, so you can literally play for just one team all your life. I always felt that makes a lot of marketing sense. Last edited by Itse; 12-11-2019 at 02:43 AM.