NHL cities lose millions during NHL lockout

Now that the NHL lockout is over, hockey cities across the country are reflecting on just how bad their situation had become without the economic impact of the NHL.

Not surprisingly, in at least a few NHL cities, things were pretty bad.

In Pittsburgh, a city typically used to receiving additional revenue from a Pittsburgh Steelers playoff run and strong play from the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, businesses struggled to make ends meet, with local tourism bureau Visit Pittsburgh estimating a $2 million dollar loss in direct economic impact per Penguins game missed.

The Penguins will play approximately 20 fewer home games under what will likely be a shortened 48 – game season.

In St. Louis, it is estimated that the city lost approximately $1.3 million in revenue due to a lack of St. Louis Blues hockey. Per the St. Louis Business Journal, each Blues home game brings in roughly $65,000 to the city, with area hotels, restaurants and bars also losing additional revenue due to the lockout.

“There are many teams in the NHL that have very loyal following, like the Chicago Blackhawks, where fans will actually travel” to watch games, said Brian Hall, chief marketing officer at the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission.

At the end of the day, many local businesses and NHL cities saw a noticeable decrease in revenue due to missed games. It is a missed revenue opportunity that they can’t get back. All they can try to do, like hockey fans around the country, is salvage the rest of the season.