I just don't understand the position of the NHL. I don't know what the total cost would be to pay for the additional expenses, but is there a better marketing platform on the planet than the winter Olympics? If anyone knows the last offer the IIHF made for PyeongChang and Beijing I would love to hear it.
It's an every 4 year event. The opportunity to highlight the best of the best to the entire world. And a very competitive tourney at that. 170 players went to Sochi. That's three charter jets ( like 777, 787, A330, etc) for athletes, coaches, trainers and equipment. The teams stay in the Olympic Village, so food and board are provided. The insurance is the big sticking point, as I have no idea how to quantify the value of all those contracts. Though the league might be in a position to get the underwriters of the insured contracts to extend them for the Olympics.
To me the league is being a bunch of cheap ass short sighted SOBs. They don't accrue the financial windfall from participation, but they get all the marketing from it. They showcase their sport, which is really one of the feature attractions of the games. They would get more exposure than any other sport. Unlike trying to compete with the NBA and other sports in a smaller market, they get global broadcasting, even with feature coverage on a US network.
Why not at least accept a satisfactory contribution to the expenses in exchange for being a sponsor? Association has its benefits. I know it's not my money, and the rich owners didn't get rich by 'giving there's away' but there are massive markets, especially in Asia they could reach that they presently don't. Seems like they're shooting themselves in the foot.