Nhl says no to jersey ads - and $120m windfall

[troutman]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=461971

The NHL has once again said no - for the time being - to selling prime space on team jerseys to sponsors, a move the league estimates would generate at least $120 million.

During a recent meeting of NHL team presidents in New York, league officials estimated they might raise $4 million per team by allowing corporate sponsors to put their logos front and centre on jerseys, a person familiar with the matter told TSN.

"Gary (Bettman) and owners like the money, but they don't want to be first out of the box with this in North America," the person told TSN. "They'll wait for the NBA or baseball to do it and then be second or third."

Sports marketing experts say a corporate presence on NHL jerseys is inevitable.

[heep223]

This would suck. Really, really suck.

[troutman]

If this increases revenues, does the NHL owe it to the players to do it? Or to fans, if it could keep ticket costs down?

Do they have a duty to tradition to keep uniforms from becoming ugly?

[King Theo]

God I hope they never do this, it looks stupid to have adds all over the jersey.

[Ozy_Flame]

It can be done tastefully. EPL has some nice jerseys. As long as the logos are never larger than 50% of the logo size, I'm OK with it.

[Poe969]

jerseys with the ads all over them look terrible, it would just take away from the game even more. I wonder how long it'll be until it happens and who will be the first team to do it... I can see it now though, the Summer's Eve Oilers!

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

It can be done tastefully. EPL has some nice jerseys. As long as the logos are never larger than 50% of the logo size, I'm OK with it.

I'm not sure I'd call it tasteful. Who wants to watch the Chelsea Samsungs vs the Arsenal Fly Emirateses?

If the NHL went this route, I can guarantee I wouldn't be buying any more official merchandise.

[Senator Clay Davis]

"Yeah, we'll let the other guys do it first and then we'll do it anyways". Why? Is Bettman afraid they'll get more backlash being first? It's gonna get backlash either way, but it is inevitable for all leagues except the NFL. Too much money being lost and even though fans won't like it, like Sportsnet's crappy audio and end board digital ads, they'll live with it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by troutman

If this increases revenues, does the NHL owe it to the players to do it? Or to fans, if it could keep ticket costs down?

lol. I'm sure you already know how ridiculous that question is.

Do they have a duty to tradition to keep uniforms from becoming ugly?

Yes, they do.

And given Westhead's article clearly notes that estimated $120 million a year comes from the idea of putting a corporate logo "front and centre", it is heavily implied that the intent is to ultimately go with soccer-style kits that demote the team itself to a tiny little thumbnail buried under whatever corporate entity the team sold out to.

While I am sure many would get used to it eventually, I will never buy a jersey celebrating the Calgary Scotiabanks.

[polak]

If it's well done like it is on Soccer Jerseys then fine, that's inevitible. Notice how most have a text logo with maybe a small design logo? That I can totally live with.

If it's something stupid like the Golden Arches replacing the flaming C then I might puke...

Not that it matters. They will do it and we're all going to suck it up. No one is going to stop watching hockey cause of ads on jerseys.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Komskies

I'm not sure I'd call it tasteful. Who wants to watch the Chelsea Samsungs vs the Arsenal Fly Emirateses?

If the NHL went this route, I can guarantee I wouldn't be buying any more official merchandise.

Real Madrid sells 1.4 million jerseys per year with Fly Emirates spanned across the front. I don't think the advertising prevents most reasonable soccer fans from buying their favorite team's jerseys.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

It can be done tastefully. EPL has some nice jerseys. As long as the logos are never larger than 50% of the logo size, I'm OK with it.

It does look more tasteful, but in a way it's even weirder. To have the only representation of the team as a tiny logo/crest on one shoulder is just plain wrong to me. Should be the other way around.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by troutman

If this increases revenues, does the NHL owe it to the players to do it? Or to fans, if it could keep ticket costs down?

Ticket prices are based on demand, not cost. It wouldn't, nor should it affect prices

They don't owe it to the players IMO if their opinion is that it hurts the league revenue in the long term. These guys aren't saying no to money because of altruistic values

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Real Madrid sells 1.4 million jerseys per year with Fly Emirates spanned across the front. I don't think the advertising prevents most reasonable soccer fans from buying their favorite team's jerseys.

Soccer also has a much much larger following of which 60% are insane.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by troutman

If this increases revenues, does the NHL owe it to the players to do it? Or to fans, if it could keep ticket costs down?

Do they have a duty to tradition to keep uniforms from becoming ugly?

The CBA should have provisions on whether the NHL must maximize its revenues or not. Having not read it, my guess would be discretion is left up to the NHL to make agreements or not, or that they must use best efforts, or commercially reasonable efforts, etc. They probably also expressly disclaim fiduciary responsibility to the players to maximize revenue.

In my opinion, there's no way the NHL owes the fans any obligation to keep ticket prices down.

[Poe969]

You're right, people won't stop watching but they will stop buying jersey's. How much does the league make from jersey sales and merchandise compared to how much they'll make for ads on the jerseys? There would be a lot of people who would rather not wear something with a product on it they don't like so are they really going to come out on top?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by polak

If it's well done like it is on Soccer Jerseys then fine, that's inevitible. Notice how most have a text logo with maybe a small design logo? That I can totally live with.

If it's something stupid like the Golden Arches replacing the flaming C than I might puke...

Not that it matters. They will do it and we're all going to suck it up. No one is going to stop watching hockey cause of ads on jerseys.

This is pretty much what soccer unis are. A big sponsor logo in the middle of the jersey with a small team crest over the heart.

120 m is not all that much when the entire NHL revenues are concerned. I'm glad they are saying no.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Komskies

I'm not sure I'd call it tasteful. Who wants to watch the Chelsea Samsungs vs the Arsenal Fly Emirateses?

If the NHL went this route, I can guarantee I wouldn't be buying any more official merchandise.

I 100% guarantee that EVERY person who already buys NHL Jerseys will eventually continue to do so regardless.

Flames draft McDavid or whatever next hot shot prospect and you're telling me you won't get his jersey because there is an ad on the front?

I call B.S. Every single person will get over it, like every single person has got over advertising on everything else we own.

[Tacopuck]

I will not buy any jerseys that have advertisements on them (obviously excluding the Rebook logo as its their jersey) for the simple reason I will not pay someone else money to advertise for them. Hey if they want to give me a free jersey then we can talk.

(Yes I realize by buying and wearing flames jerseys I am 'advertising' for them but that's the whole point to show support, not support for a Bank/car company/ect..)

[Muta]

I can see why they'd want to eventually do this, but jerseys look the nicest when the logo / crests are the only things you can see.

The CFL puts logos on their jerseys, and while they aren't that distracting, I don't want to read RONA all the time when I look at the TV.