The good news keeps coming for the NHL. On the heels of the best postseason television ratings in years, and a regular season with record-setting attendance and improved television ratings, league revenue reached an all-time high of $2.56 billion. As reported by Terry Lefton in Sports Business Journal:

It has its best U.S. postseason ratings story in years and record regular-season attendance has been followed by an unprecedented sellout of every playoff game. Revenue at NHL Enterprises, the league’s business arm, is up 40 percent, licensed merchandise sales have increased 15 percent.

Overall, total league revenue is at a high of $2.56 billion, and three years after a lockout, there’s optimism at a league where that has been in short supply.

“We’re bullish on growth and I’m not sure you had anyone say that here for a while,” said John Collins, NHL senior executive vice president of business and media.

Revenue has increased approximately 25% in the post-lockout era. Though revenue and ratings still lag behind the three major sports leagues, the NHL still made significant strides this season. Earlier this season, the New Years Day outdoor game in Buffalo was a major success, and has created buzz about an annual outdoor game, and NBC decided to continue NHL coverage for the 2008-2009 season.

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Michael J. Senno is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey.

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