Value: 21/32 teams
Revenue: 17/32 teams
Profit: 16/32 teams
Obviously Forbes doesn’t have exact numbers but they can estimate with common assumptions. The data would suggest that not only are the Wild not a top market team but they are literally a below average NHL franchise in financials. For being in the state of hockey, I’d expect more.
Some of the teams ahead of us:
– Edmonton
– Tampa Bay
– Seattle
– Colorado
– Vegas
– Dallas
Note I didn’t list the big coastal cities or original 6 teams. But think about that, literally if you are an owner, you are better off being in Las Vegas or Dallas than here. I think there are a lot of high and mighty people here on the Wild fanbase and the state of hockey but these numbers are awful for us. Imagine being a below average revenue football team in Texas. This team should easily be some where between 8-15 place and suggests the penetration of the state of hockey fans is not good.
8 comments
Yeah, seems low given their ability to fill seats. If it’s not the market, then maybe a combination of being a relatively new organization and lack of cup? Good question and looking forward to other’s theories.
Likely market size. Wild fandom is unlikely to grow compared to other teams listed, except Edmonton. I guess its a McDavid factor.
Well Tampa won a couple cups recently as did Vegas and Seattle is a brand new franchise with a brand new arena in one of the most expensive places to live in the country further inflating their worth. Edmonton and Colorado are storied franchises with huge top 5 names on their teams. Dallas, outside of MN, pretty much got all the Northstar fans and a brand new emerging hockey fan base in one of the largest metros in the country and they have been winning.
Meanwhile Minnesota is in the Midwest with a 20+ year old barn that prices out the common man and a pretty local fandom for the most part. I am a bit surprised we aren’t even top half though.
The big thing that is probably a knock on franchise valuation is that the Wild do not own the Xcel Energy Center or any surrounding real estate.
They’re a small market team in the 4th most profitable sport in North America.
First off, football is a little different with how it is set up. You have games on Friday (high school), Saturday (college) and Sunday (pro), so you can easily support all three levels. With hockey, the schedule isn’t fixed, so you have to pick and choose.
Secondly, Minnesota isn’t a top market in terms of national, but the Wild have been pretty mid for a while. I’d like to see how they were back in 02-03, in 05-06 or after the Parise/Suter signing. They haven’t done much in their existence including any real playoff hockey. A lot of fans can pretty much set their watch on how the Wild play; good to great season, and then collapse in the playoffs. Rinse and repeat.
Third, gotta wonder how the buyouts factor into all of this.
But Minnesota is the State of Hockey because of their high school and college ranks, not their pros.
I feel like if we all chip in we can afford them.
Probably because Forbes is bullshit.