Seriously?

Pretty sure the reports were that they were not yet turning a profit...

http://www.thestar.com/business/2013/06 ... yoffs.html

Montreal-based valuation specialist Drew Dorweiler says the Blackhawks should emulate the Maple Leafs, who remain the NHL’s most valuable team and charge more than double the Blackhawks’ average ticket price ($124.69) thanks to a heavy emphasis on selling to corporate clients.
“There’s a huge (number) of corporate headquarters in Chicago and they really could be boosting their premium ticket and (luxury box) price,” says Dorweiler, managing partner at Dartmouth Partners Limited. “You don’t have the same environment in Winnipeg. You can double your ticket revenue if you’re fully maxing out your corporate boxes.”

so, are they turning a profit or not? I realize their franchise is worth a lot of money.

Yes, gobs and gobs of it. But the income is not all flowing specifically through the Blackhawks. There are advantages in being in the red.

well, despite those advantages the Blackhawks are trying to be in the black. And not yet succeeding. So my point stands.

so, are they turning a profit or not? I realize their franchise is worth a lot of money.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

They arrange their books so that parking/concession/United Center revenue is attributed to other WirtzCorp subsidiaries, while the Blackhawks themselves are just expenses. Hence, "losing money." If you believe the Chicago Blackhawks are ultimately a losing proposition at their supply/demand curves, then I'll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge at 35th and Stony.

did you read the article? The recommendation was to increase ticket prices...why write that article if they don't need the money?

The recommendation was to increase ticket prices...why write that article if they don't need the money?

It's rare when someone writes a sentence where the first part of it answers the question asked in the second part.

To put it another way, if the Hawks are "losing money" it's a lot easier to raise ticket prices to "break even".

in all fairness, John and Stan have yet to accomplish one thing...make the Blackhawks profitable. I have no doubt Theo can monetize the Cubs even better than they have been.

If they had Theo, they'd have 4 Cups and everything would already be monetized to the Max

Which Bernstein column is this sentence poached from?

That's some high level thinking. How could Wirtz not of thought of this?!?!?!?!?!?!

Chicago is not Canada. As much as fans like the Hawks, I suspect a hockey outing in Toronto is a much bigger deal to a client than it is here.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

Consultant to Chicago: be Toronto! And that's why he makes the big bucks, ladies and gents!

City of Fools is being willfully obtuse in this thread.

If I am a corporate client and get offered a box seat to any game in this city, even with a Stanley Cup championship, the Blackhawks would be my fifth choice. I'd take a Cubs game over a Blackhawks game.

If you hate Laurence, then don't listen - don't comment. When he co-hosts the B&B show, take that day off ... listen to an old podcast of a Bernstein solo show and jerk off all day.