Rocky and McD
According to Forbes the Chicago Blackhawks rank as the 7th most valuable team in the league. The annual Forbes list has the organization have an estimated team value of $258 million – that is a 26 percent increase since last year when they ranked 14th overall. Ahead of the Blackhawks (in order) are the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins.
The skinny
The Blackhawks continue to make great strides under the ownership of Rocky Wirtz, son of the late owner and notorious tightwad, Bill Wirtz. Rocky has boosted the team’s marketing budget, expanded television broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet and WGN, and added over 20 sponsors. Last season the Blackhawks led the NHL in attendance and made the playoffs for the first time in seven years, bowing out in the Western Conference finals to the Red Wings. As a result of Rocky’s leadership, Chicago has some of the best young players in the NHL and is now one of the league’s strongest franchises.
If the current trend of success continues for the Blackhawks the value of the team will only grow. The local fan base is still growing, and there about 9.5 million residence in the Chicagoland area the organization has to tap into. Gone are the days of cheap(er) beer, cheap seats and no lines for the bathroom/concessions.
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