the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, U.S.-Canada tariff tensions. With 25% of the NHL’s revenue coming from its Canadian teams, any economic shake-up could send the league into the penalty box.
Its seems half of American voters would be OK with it if any of our northern neighbor’s provinces wanted to leave Canada. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters say that, If some Canadian provinces wanted to secede from Canada, they would support having these provinces become part of the United States. That includes 24% who Strongly Support the idea. Thirty-five percent (35%) are opposed to breakaway Canadian provinces joining the U.S., including 22% who would Strongly Oppose it. Another 15% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Hockey Players Get Paid in U.S. Dollars—But That’s a Problem
Here’s where things get interesting: NHL players get paid in U.S. dollars—no matter where they play. So, if tariffs weaken the Canadian dollar, paying those big contracts gets a whole lot tougher for teams north of the border.
“If the impact of the tariffs is to see the Canadian dollar drop relative to the U.S. dollar, it will make it more difficult and more painful,” Bettman explained on CNBC’s Squawk Box. (Translation: Those eight-year, $80 million contracts are about to give some team owners serious headaches.)
Could This Mean Higher Beer Prices at Games?
Maybe. Maybe not. But given the NHL’s reliance on Canadian revenue, trade tensions could make things awkward for both teams and sponsors. Bettman admitted that uncertainty in the economy could affect sponsorships, and no one wants to see Molson, Tim Hortons, or Canadian Tire rethink their deals.
And let’s be real—if the price of a cold arena beer goes up again, there might be a full-blown fan riot in the stands.
Will This Impact the 2024-25 Season?
For now, the NHL seems to be skating on solid ice.
- League revenue is expected to exceed $7 billion this season
- Teams are playing at 96.7% capacity (so basically, almost every seat is filled)
- The average NHL franchise is worth $1.92 billion (so don’t start a GoFundMe for your team just yet)
Despite the economic drama, Bettman insists the NHL is in a “good place” and “the game has never been better.”
The Bottom Line? Just Keep Watching Hockey
As trade policy experts and government officials battle it out, hockey fans should focus on what really matters—their team’s next matchup, fantasy league stats, and praying their goalie doesn’t let in another soft goal.
And if things do go south? Well, let’s hope the league’s revenue is strong enough to keep our favorite players on the ice—and our beer prices somewhat reasonable.
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