Why does Las Vegas intrigue the NHL?
First, it’s the largest U.S. metropolitan area – more than two million inhabitant – without a pro sports franchise and an astounding 40 million people visit Las Vegas each year. If the NHL became the first league in, it could conceivably capture the market. Plus, its location in the Southwest wouldn’t just add a team to the Western Conference –which has two fewer teams than the East – it would help fill out the NHL’s U.S. national TV footprint. That has been part of Bettman’s vision for 20 years.
“The Las Vegas market has favorable resident income and fan demographics,” said Daly, adding that “TV ratings information would suggest a better than passing interest in professional sports and in hockey in particular.”
Last season’s Nielsen ratings for NHL national U.S. telecasts confirm that interest. Vegas ranked 13th among all markets and third among non-NHL markets for viewership of combined NBC and NBCSN telecasts. This season, perhaps sparked by expansion buzz, it ranks ninth overall and first among non-NHL markets of NBCSN games. Daly believes the Las Vegas audience extends beyond those who have a betting interest in the games.
“If all of those ‘eyeballs’ were gamblers,” he said, “ratings wouldn’t register as highly.”
