By Darrin Bauming (@DarrinBauming)
The Winnipeg Jets lead the entire National Hockey League in a key category — franchise value growth.
According to Forbes.com, the Jets are valued at $164-million, making True North Sports and Entertainment’s latest acquisition rather profitable. True North purchased the team from the Atlanta Spirit Group in May 2011 for $110-million plus a $60-million relocation fee paid to the NHL. The franchise has increased in value over last year by a league-high 21 per cent.
While value has risen league-wide, Winnipeg’s rise can be mainly attributed to the increased ticket sales, where every game is sold out for at least the next three years, versus the 2010-11 Atlanta Thrashers who sold a mere 73 per cent of their seats.
Here are the seven Canadian NHL market values, their league ranking, and increase over last year:
1) Toronto Maple Leafs — $521M, +3% 3) Montreal Canadiens — $445M, +9% 7) Vancouver Canucks — $300M, +15% 13) Calgary Flames — $220M, +7% 15) Edmonton Oilers — $212M, +16% 17) Ottawa Senators — $201M, +3% 24) Winnipeg Jets — $164M, + 21%
League average — $240M, +5%
