If you were ever wondering why the NHL would go to such lengths to hold the Winter Classic, you should look no further than the bottom line. According to the Sports Business Journal, this year’s NHL Winter Classic had the largest attendance in the history of hockey as well as pulling in $20 million of PROFIT.
According to an NHL source, the Jan. 1 game at Michigan Stadium posted more than $30 million in revenue against costs of $10 million. Approximately two-thirds of the revenue was derived from ticket sales, with 105,491 fans paying an average ticket price of $186 for an estimated take of $19.6 million. An additional $10 million in revenue came from retail and advertising sales.
You can expect to see a few more of these games down the line, and for good reason.
