ESPN has learned that the NHL will advertise on team jerseys starting with the 2022-23 season.
This month, the NHL’s Board of Governors officially voted to approve jersey advertising. According to the NHL, most NHL teams favored jersey ads after a survey. They will feature the ads in a 3-inch by 3.5-inch rectangle. This area is much larger than that of the NBA, where uniform ads are 2.5-by2.5 inches.
Sportico first reported the news.
The NHL began exploring revenue opportunities for jersey ads earlier this year. Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, stated in June that the NHL has a “very good chance” of generating revenue from jersey advertisements. no plans for jersey ads in the upcoming 2021-22 seasonHowever, the possibility of future advertising was left open.
It’s not necessarily inevitable, but I wouldn’t say that it is. This is something we should be looking into and considering. However, it’s certainly not the season next. Bettman stated, “What happens after that? I’m not ready to predict.”
Since 2010, the NHL allows ads to be placed on its practice jerseys. In 2016, the NHLPA co-produced the World Cup of Hockey, which featured logos from corporate clients.
Bettman has been reluctant to allow advertising on NHL uniforms for years, despite jersey advertising being common in other minor leagues such as the AHL or ECHL and even in international leagues. Bettman stated that the NHL would not be the first sports league to allow jersey advertising in 2015. He also said that it was “not likely” the NHL would permit the ads.
It was inevitable that the NHL would allow ads to be placed on the uniforms of the NBA in 2017. This is especially because the COVID pandemic forced the league into new revenue streams. Bettman stated that the league would allow helmet advertising in 2020-21, and that it was likely that they will continue that program. Through innovations such as helmet ads, Bettman said teams had “retained over $100 million in revenues”.
ESPN reported that a source said it is likely that the jersey advertising will remain in the hands of individual teams. Because of their designs, some sweaters will be more popular than others. New York Rangers“Distance lettering”