The common perception is that the NBA is better than the NHL.
The perception is that the NBA is in better shape financially, has a better following and is better primed for long-term success.
Strangely enough, the numbers don’t support this.
Not only do they not support the theory, but rather it seems the NBA is actually in dire straights.
According to Forbes, 18 of the 30 teams had a value increase less than three percent, with eight franchises seeing an overall decrease in value. Additionally, the NBA took a $200 million loan to pay its employees last season.
Would you feel good about a company whose growth is either non-existent or negative on two-thirds of its assets and couldn’t pay its employees?
Simply put, no.
By contrast, the NHL has only six franchises that saw an increase in value less than three percent, and only the Phoenix Coyotes saw a decrease in value percentage-wise.
And it’s not just “traditional” hockey markets that are growing.
Nashville, Carolina, Florida, San Jose and St. Louis all saw increases between 8 and 14 percent.
So the next time someone asserts that the NBA is in better shape than the NHL, you can just laugh.
