"Money Matters" Dispatch report...

[dasnut]

Money matters
Team president Mike Priest told The Dispatch that he's not optimistic about the club receiving a full portion when NHL revenue-sharing checks are cut this year.

The franchise likely will incur a 25 percent penalty - perhaps as much as $2.25 million - for not meeting league financial mandates. To qualify for a complete portion, which last year was about $10 million, a team must exceed 14,000 in attendance per game and have a revenue-growth rate that matches or exceeds that of the league average.

The Blue Jackets were averaging 13,415 fans heading into last night's game, an 11.7 percent dip from last season. Though the team might hit the attendance mark, Priest doesn't expect revenue to keep pace with the NHL average.

It would mark the second time in four seasons that the Blue Jackets will be docked a quarter of their revenue-sharing check. A club failing to hit the financial benchmarks for two straight seasons is penalized 50 percent.

The Blue Jackets spend the league money on hockey operations, such as player payroll and scouting.

The top 10 revenue-producing franchises contribute to a pool of money that is spread among the bottom 15 revenue-producing teams each offseason, as long as a bottom-15 club isn't located in a top-10 television market.

[dasnut]

This entire system of revenue sharing by the NHL is such a joke and it pisses me off to no end.  Maybe there could be serious NHL revenue sharing IF the NHL would change their ways.  Between the piss poor referees, piss poor TV deals, piss poor avenues of bringing the sport to new heights is a complete joke.  Maybe IF the NHL would promote ALL their stars in this league no matter what team they are in could we begin serious discussions of revenue sharing.  

Look, I get it that the CBJ are as much fault as the NHL here.  They need a winner on the ice to help out. They need a coach who can lead this team to new heights (which I believe we just might have now). They need to promote the sport to Ohioans and get them to believe in this organization (look at the youth programs that are all over the state since the NHL came to Ohio).  I believe that the CBJ are making a good (not always great) effort in righting the ship on many of these things.  BUT there is no way the NHL management can honestly say they are doing what is best for this league.  I just wish the owners would join forces and DEMAND change in this leagues management procedures.  And that starts with Bettman!