Comparing Revenues and Expansion Plans Across the Major North American Leagues

Hey all. Since expansion has become a topic of conversation again, I wanted to compare where the NHL stands to the other major sports leagues in North America.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @thehockeyguy
Join us on our discord to chat hockey, talk with others during the game, share pet pictures, and more.
/ discord
Order jerseys from Ben H Sports while saving 10% off the listed eBay prices by sending him an email regarding jerseys you spot in his listings. [e-mail] Just tell him Shannon sent you.
Support The Hockey Guy via Patreon / thehockeyguy
/ youtubehockeyguy
Instagram: thgshannon and thg_cats
Spoutible: spoutible.com/...
[e-mail]
Contact me via snail mail at:
The Hockey Guy
PO Box 15038 Seven Oaks PO
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 8P1
In the USA:
Shannon Skanes
1125 Fir Avenue
Suite 119
Blaine, WA 98230

[@MetalSandwichFilms]

Something else to consider when comparing the big 4 to MLS. The big 4 are considered the best league in the world for there respective sports. MLS is considered 29th most competitive league in the world.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

Exactly. It’s the league you go to when you want to retire soon.

[@Jimjamesak]

List the 28 leagues ahead of MLS, because MLS is widely considered to be in the Top 10.

[@shawklan27]

​@BoyNamedSue4 yep but after the world cup the MLS will definitely become more popular

[@williamford9564]

The MLS is just another Ponzi scheme that will eventually collapse. Soccer's real core fans are European, Central American and other immigrants from overseas. That is why that star player signed in Miami. Huge immigrant population. The streaming services and cable line ups are filled with footage of games and leagues overseas. Why? For the expats and transplants from those countries. The rest of us have grown up with and will continue to support out home grown sports, just like the people over there rave over their soccer which by the way has NO major competition for the sports dollar. We in America are not going to switch over no matter how much glitter that league puts on its ugly face.

[@BC-th3mx]

@@JimjamesakHalf of Europe and South America will always be better because they don’t have to field inferior US players via affirmative action. Not to mention Saudi Arabia and now Japan produces superior exports too

[@dsc4178]

NFL's best move was to make every game watchable by everyone for free. It brought fans in like nothing else could. Other leagues don't make it easy to watch games and they bleed fans because of it. This weekend I can watch every CFL and NFL game and never have to pay anything special, just watch. Which means I want to see games. Hockey, baseball, basketball, soccer, you can't watch every game without paying for specialty packages. Why would I go to a game when I have no idea what the team is like, the players, because I can't watch them play at home, thousands of miles from their home base.

[@NorthAmericanEditing]

Which cable provider or streaming service do you use to watch all the NFL games?

[@maxpowr90]

NFL has a noncompete clause via Congress so they don't need the RSN model. Congress threatened that if Dan Snyder didn't testify in front of Congress, they'd revoke said status. Congress was the impetus to truly get Snyder to sell the team.

[@creamcreamcream28]

@@NorthAmericanEditingyoutube tv

[@jackhartmann1084]

Dang Shannon.. This was pretty educational, nice!

[@hazelnut49]

Speaking as a born & raise local San Diegian, your love for our failed sports franchises warms the heart! ❤

[@dreamcage1801]

San Diego is getting a mls team and next stop is the NBA team

[@dreamcage1801]

Coyotes can possibly move to San Diego

[@Jpark.]

I'll be in tears of joy the day the NBA announces bringing back the supersonics. I see people wear sonics gear all the time. Many people miss them and are waiting for their return.

[@dreamcage1801]

Put a team in Kansas City and Montreal

[@dreamcage1801]

Seattle should have never lost the Sonics from the get go

[@tweezerjam]

Cant beat a green kemp jersey for cool factor

[@Bowman1999]

he's already hung up we're the Texans 🤣

[@dreamcage1801]

I love it when the NBA expands to other different cities because it makes the game grow more. We are speculating that Seattle and Vegas are getting a team but theirs other cities who want a team as well such Mexico City, Kansas City, Montreal and San Diego or maybe Louisville because they fans especially the young kids love basketball 🏀.

[@mactheknife7049]

Presuming that $18.6 billion figure is correct for the NFL (and I think if anything, it's low), that equates to $581.25 million per team, per year. That same revenue pie, divided 36 ways, would equate to $ 516.67 million (more or less). Given that its present guaranteed revenue streams (via broadcast rights) are via contracts that are (barring opt-out) in effect through the 2032 season. If the NFL were to initiate an expansion process right now, to add teams in, say, 2027, this would mean that each expansion team would need to pay about a $10.5 billion expansion fee in order to make up for the revenue dilution for the 2027-32 seasons the current 32 teams would experience. While team prices have been skyrocketing in recent years, breaching the $10 billion barrier for the right to place a team in what would still be an experimental European market would really be a risky move.

[@benjaminlynch9958]

If they expand domestically, you’re definitely onto something. HOWEVER, if they expand into Europe with permanent franchises and entire European based division, that’s going to have huge implications for international broadcast rights and the money that brings. That isn’t going to be a zero-sum game with dividing the same broadcast money by another four teams. It’ll be dividing a much bigger pie by an additional 4 teams, and I suspect the league will do their homework in such a way that the 32 existing owners will actually come out making more money after expansion than they did before. And truth be told, I strongly suspect figuring that out is part of what’s taking so long for the NFL to actually commit to expansion as they’ve been hinting at it for over a decade already.

[@mactheknife7049]

@@benjaminlynch9958Yeah, but... where are they going to go domestically that doesn't involve spending another $3-5 billion per market for new stadium and facility development? I mean there are lots of markets capable of supporting an NFL franchise (Austin, Oakland, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego came to mind just in the time it took to type this), but the NFL would settle entering Europe with existing (but up to date) facilities. Not so in the land of the government subsidized superstadium.

[@kjwinston77]

Okay, Just Bring Back the Supersonics...we were robbed!

[@dreamcage1801]

Damn straight

[@jejsemin33]

Maybe just maybe Rogers would get more revenue if they didn't black out games. I would actually buy the package if I could watch all the Canadian teams play, but I'm stuck watching the Leafs. Negotiate that into your next deal please!

[@Oldpucker]

Couldn’t agree more. I also will not be repurchasing this year for the first time in years. Live in Montreal and cheer for Ottawa. Montreal Ottawa played just the other day. Blacked out. I’m pretty fed up.

[@Olibro_64]

I wouldn't mind paying for a package if no games were blacked out.

[@vallixau]

Sportsnet Now / Sportsnet+ Premium - All games, no blackouts for me.@@Olibro_64

[@vallixau]

Sportsnet Now / Sportsnet+ Premium - All games, no blackouts for me.@@Oldpucker

[@sweiland75]

Sign-up for Amazon Prime Sportsnet package.

[@mjp2766]

One thing we know for sure is that Arizona is losing tons of money. It’s still unbelievable that the NHL is letting the 5000 person arena fly.

[@csolivais1979]

Arizona isn't loosing as much money as people think, and Mullet Areana is just until they can get their new rink built.

[@edtierney6076]

The White Sox are not moving, Reinsdorf just got pissy because the fans actually started to rebel after yet another failed rebuild and his failure of getting the right people into key positions. Not enough heads rolled after the 2nd 100 loss season in 3 years with a team that was supposed to be contenders. He needs to sell the team amd mentioning a team move is just a bargaining chip, even the city said "what are you doing?" The lease isn't up for another 5 years iirc.

[@manbo1213]

I don’t know if you heard, but Tom Dundon (Canes owner for those who don’t know) announced he was leading a consortium to bring an MLB team to Raleigh

[@TheHockeyGuy]

That's why Charlotte leads the way for MLB.

[@GoalHornGeek]

@@TheHockeyGuy he wants it in Raleigh though. Charlotte has no advantage over Raleigh and is rather the other way around for MLB expansion

[@sterlingkeful340]

I'm all for NHL expansion. It was fun debating who they take and pretending like we knew what was going to happen. 34 teams lets goooo

[@maxrates]

It's fun for a short while but not good in the long run.

[@dreamcage1801]

Houston and Atlanta will possibly get a NHL team

[@calebkent6706]

Mls is definetly gonna make it to 32 teams as their expansion in 2010s saw a rapid expansion of more than 10 teams with san diego joining in 2025 as the 30th team i could see 32 teams in the mls as a possibility. Sooner rather than later.

[@Shadow12aven]

It's not healthy for the sport

[@dreamcage1801]

Phoenix and Detroit could get a MLS team to

[@evan1322]

Hockey has the talent to expand (tho I like it at 32 teams). I know baseball and football will expand, but I really see the talent pool diluting due to lack of enough elite qbs and pitchers to field the current amount of teams. A lot of this wreaks of short term profit over future health.

[@Shokon]

You should do a follow up comparing college football and basketball to these 4.

[@Shokon]

@cdfmmcc it’s supposed to be but it’s not that way anymore. I know I saw somewhere that Alabama’s football program makes more money than the entire NHL. Would be interested to see if that is still the case. I’d loook it up myself but i ain’t got time for that lol.

[@LeBasketballGuy]

I'm watching my 4th NCAA game of the day (writing this on a Saturday night) & maybe 5 of those 8 teams are bigger known brands than any hockey team. A lot of people that just follow hockey or pro football have no idea how massive some of these teams are.

[@killermon117]

Thing is MLS is a sport that is growing. They got their shit figured out (despite no pro/reg) they know how get billionaire company/teams involved in MLS. When a MLS team plays continental/international matches then damn the attendance and media attention explodes. It got me involved in soccer despite me being a hockey fan all my life but I have to say soccer is a international sport that is tough for country’s like Canada to be competitive in international play

[@davidnewman9332]

I believe that MLS has it figured out right. They know they have a niche and are content to fill it. The size of the stadiums built mostly for soccer (Red Bulls, DC United for example) indicates that they are content with their place in US sports. Their biggest competition is not the 4 North American sports, but broadcasts of top level foreign leagues from UK, Germany, France, Italy, etc.

[@LeBasketballGuy]

@@davidnewman9332 Also Mexico. That's actually the most watched league in the US in that sport. So it was smart for MLS to play more games against them, even though I don't agree with shutting down the league for a month to do it.

[@splashnskillz37]

As a brazilian who follows NA Sports, MLS is a nice league compared to the other 4, the best imo, but i ain't missing Brasileirão, Libertadores, Copa do Brasil and Sulamericana compared to it, here's way more entertaining and competitive

[@killermon117]

@@splashnskillz37 of course, I’m not gonna miss any American football in Brazil because I know it’s close to shit or non existent lol

[@killermon117]

Also not tryna be rude either, I’m Salvadoran so it’s not like we’re at the top of the soccer (futbol) nation

[@HaydenYoshi]

nfl has been 2 years away from expanding to london for 10 years

[@Shadow12aven]

NFL doesn't have the international player to choose from like the NHL and NBA do. It's very weird for me that they want to do London.

[@Impulsedrive]

The only thing keeping them from closing the deal is London won't sign off unless thier name is The Silly Nannies.

[@dreamcage1801]

San Diego, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Toronto, Montreal

[@gujikujtutu2330]

Also the MLS is the only league out of the top 5 who isn´t the top league at its respective sport. That´s a big deal, since many sports fans to watch the best of the best.

[@b1ackm4gic]

Living in the Midwest, i don't think I know anyone who could name a single MLS team or city they're in besides the Galaxy. I don't doubt that it will eventually be big but I would disagree with anyone saying it already is

[@williamford9564]

It will NEVER be "big".

[@imnotyourfriendbuddy1883]

It's already big in some regions/cities. Most Americans can't name too many NHL teams either and that's a 6 billion business. I'm not much of a soccer fan but to say MLS is not growing is demonstrably untrue. Biggest obstacle for MLS is competing against European leagues and international play. MLS needs an embelishment penalty that is enforced or North Americans won't ever truly embrace it more than the premier league. We don't like tactical diving.

[@Darrakkii]

surpised you didnt talk about boxing/mma

[@JoeMazzullaaa]

might just be too different

[@Darrakkii]

@@JoeMazzullaaaoh def, but by some estimates boxing/mma has been the 4th largest sport in NA for awhile now, sure its very different so it doesnt need direct comparisons but its marketing and revenue is def something we should as least look at and think about

[@ColonizerChan]

Ngl all I hear about it is some big match ups like Jake Paul fighting some other guy.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Not a team sport

[@JoeMazzullaaa]

@@TheHockeyGuyno one said it was

[@returners]

Thanks THG!

[@rickyaz8640]

36 teams seems like the natural stopping point for expansion (in North America). Easily create division and conferences

[@aidan8473]

You can push it every 4 or so. I made a custom 48 team league to see if it's possible and yeah - I had trouble cutting cities.

[@dreamcage1801]

NBA, NFL, MLB and MLS

[@dreamcage1801]

I’m down for the NBA expansion. Outside of Seattle and Vegas, other cities and countries such as Kansas City, San Diego, Montreal, and Mexico City can be a great destination for a NBA team.

[@raptorspostgametalk]

Moving the White Sox from Chicago will be insane

[@chrisguardiano6143]

One market that MLS will likely expand to after San Diego is Vegas (especially if the A's of MLB move there). MLS's strategy when it comes to expansion is basically expanding into markets where the minor league (USL) is currently so that one of two things happen: A: USL goes out of business or B: MLS & USL come to an agreement to partner up & promotion/relegation is introduced. MLS wants the first scenario to happen because they feel as though pro/rel would kill the league even though many people (players, fans & coaches) want it. As for the NBA & their expansion, they are likely bringing back the Sonics to Seattle & Vegas. However the major thing that could prevent expansion is that the new Vegas NBA team would have to play at their own arena (either building their own or playing at either the Michelob Ultra Arena or MGM Grand Garden Arena) since the NBA absolutely does not want to revenue share at T-Mobile Arena with the Golden Knights. This despite the fact that T-Mobile Arena is a ready made basketball venue & has hosted multiple NCAA March Madness games in recent years.

[@dreamcage1801]

Montreal is possibly getting a NBA team

[@jryersonsmith]

I don't think MLS can really make it in the US until they alter the game such that they allow more time for advertisements (TV time outs).

[@dang7716]

Very surprised that Tampa is not operating at a loss for the MLB

[@williamford9564]

I am surprised too, but their payroll is so low they could be making money, but it probably is not a lot. The Oakland A's are also not on the list. Their salaries are also rock bottom and the owner is looking to move the team to Las Vegas. Many of the teams on the list have high payrolls.

[@finsfish]

This was awesome! I dont understand MLB making that much money. They must not make revenue from in game attendance?

[@tiffanynaidoo2003]

Of course they do. It's not free to get in to a baseball game.

[@Improbi]

It would be from their TV contract & ad sales. If you watch the highlight reels from sports broadcasts there seems to be so many empty seats in stands from most teams on a nightly basis so I doubt attendance profits is that substantial.

[@scottjacoby2594]

With regard to so many MLB team losing money, it's very much by design. I don't pretend to know the economics business sense of it, but Derek Jeter left the Miami Marlins ownership group and resigned his executive position there because there was a difference of opinion on how to run the Marlins as an organization. Derek Jeter wants to win. Something he learned a great deal about from George Steinbrenner, but the rest of the ownership group would prefer to run the Marlins organization at a loss. There's some sort of economic advantage to it. Other than being a tax write off, I have no idea what other benefits come from it. I remember hearing that the MLB disperses funds to the teams based on how they finish in the standings, the low performing teams getting the largest boost. The reason for this is so that they can afford higher quality players and improve the team. But ask any multi $billion company that receives an infusion of funds what they plan to do with it, they aren't going to day that it's to trickle down create a higher quality product, I'll tell you that much.

[@Jimjamesak]

Re: MLS. In terms of revenue their has absolutely gone up this year. They’re on their first year with their new media deal with Apple and they don’t have the anchor of the RSNs. That’s not even getting into the corporate money coming from the Messi signing. As for expansion, it’s been an overall net positive for the league and the quality of play has gone up significantly in spite of it. The more successful teams in the league are expansion teams (Seattle, Atlanta, LAFC, Miami, Nashville, Cincinnati), it’s the legacy teams that are really dragging things down (New England, New York, Colorado, Chicago).

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

To be fair, MLS would prefer a media deal with cable companies over being exclusively on streaming with no blackouts. They took the Apple deal because no company was willing to fork over the kind of money MLS wanted for the rights lol

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

Maybe the Houston Texans took their name inspiration from the Montreal Canadians.

[@alvizothegreat8096]

Or the old New York Americans 😂

[@edwarddobrowolski9398]

Indianapolis is building a new soccer stadium for our local team who has hopes of joining the MLS

[@Oldpucker]

Question for all. Does a VPN work with Sportsnet?

[@dr3putt62]

The luxury tax in MLB subsidies the lower teams

[@dj4aces]

I think it'd be cool to see the NFL enter Canada, and I'd like to see the Expos return to Montreal. When it comes to the NHL, I don't think it really matters whether another league expands first. What matters are markets who are ready to go through the process and owners willing to shell out for teams. It really all boils down to that. So, if ATL and HOU have owners, shovels in the ground/a building ready to go, you can bet the league isn't gonna say "let's wait to see what the NFL does first". They'll open up the formal application process. Same goes for any other league.

[@mactheknife7049]

The NFL has been able to go into Canada for nearly half a century, but won't. They don't want to be responsible for dealing the CFL its death blow, and I don't blame them.

[@kwizzeh]

NFL expansion in the past has been blocked by the feds and the NFL still uses the CFL as a type of feeder league with player loans

[@dreamcage1801]

@@kwizzehSan Diego needs the chargers back

[@FalseNi9e]

I had no idea the MLS had that many teams! It's a very subpar product because all the good players go overseas

[@williamford9564]

@@geoff3103 It is a minor league organization with Double A players. Expanding wildly like this is financially crazy and eventually the whole thing will collapse.

[@alvizothegreat8096]

​@@williamford9564that's what happen to the North American Soccer League in the 60's - early 80's, expansion and teams quickly folded, eventually killing the league

[@Improbi]

Any good players that do come to the MLS are usually past their primes looking for one last big payday before retirement.

[@Dam_Big_Dawg]

Anon, it’s enjoyable to not just focus on one sport but to bring the large entities up for comparison. Yeah, NHL is my fav, but it’s outrageous that NFLers are highly paid yet only play a fraction of time (on field & season) comparatively amongst sports. I think CFL is far more exciting and should be bumped up in pay for prospects. Great job on the channel.

[@maxpowr90]

MLB likely has some very funky math going on. Losing the RSN model is gonna do a lot of damage to baseball.

[@dreamcage1801]

But you know something RSN was dying slowly and cable is getting more greedy

[@maxrates]

You can't just keep adding teams, eventually there are just too many. The average fan only cares about 1 team. Adding more teams doesn't help your current fans, they're more likely going to lose interest if their team never wins.

[@dreamcage1801]

Big opportunities for players to make a name for themselves and prevent themselves from

[@joestrunk9663]

I live in Cincinnati so yeah go Bengal's. but that is the only team i follow. watch a little of the Reds and the Columbus crew mostly highlights. No NBA. We watch NHL every night .one or two games and then podcast on hockey to check highlights around the league, you're the best Shannon and company. all organizations want to show a loss or minimum profit .and just like any burger joint they try new start-ups in new locations to cover loss in bad markets. Grow or die thanks THG

[@davidlaush180]

When it comes to NFL expansion, I wonder if the execs are indirectly letting the spring leagues experiment with non major markets in the U.S like Memphis and Birmingham to see what potential expansion into similar markets may look like for them. In the meantime, they've focused on Europe and it should go well but I expect they will also consider turning towards expansion to Mexico in the future as Gridiron Football is also popular there.

[@roanlaplante]

Baseball only has this problem because they have no salary cap. Some rich guys who own sports teams decided that, because it's not against the rules, they will just spend a lot of money to try to win and not care if they don't make a profit, to the frustration of the other owners that would like to make a profit. This is not really a business problem, it's a competitive problem. The game needs to have a salary cap to ensure parity. The only business problem is not that the game wouldn't be profitable, it's the problem that they have to negotiate a salary cap with the players

[@philtorrez4198]

Yup, and still there’s so many people who don’t understand this clamoring for the NHL to abolish the salary cap.

[@chickenfkeryay]

The other problem w no salary cap floor is the owners of the As pirates royals and other teams wont pay their players so they are perpetually terrible

[@outsideredge]

@@chickenfkeryay This is why I don't think the A's will work in Vegas the way the owners think. There is so much to do in Vegas that if John Fisher runs the team in Vegas the same way he runs it in Oakland it will draw flies. The Knights are the local darling. The Raiders are a national brand that draws fans from all over, and only have to visit 8 times. What will a non-competitive baseball team do against those, not to mention all the other things to do in the city like boxing, UFC, and NBA Summer League? People always mention the NFL salary cap but it also has a salary floor. The cheapest NFL owner must spend $224.8 million dollars on the roster. And yet, no NFL team loses money.

[@philtorrez4198]

@@chickenfkeryay There’s no cap floor in baseball either?

[@chickenfkeryay]

@philtorrez4198 Yes and thats the problem with baseball. A cap floor would mean owners like fisher couldnt just pocket the revenue sharing money and not put it into the team.

[@anubisgod23]

Expansion is infuriating. 32 teams is the perfect number for any sports league. 16 or 32.

[@JPS47]

Okay, when Houston came back into the NFL they originally wanted to have the Oilers name but the owner of the Tennessee Titans, FKA Houston Oilers, Bud Adams didn't grant them permission so instead they asked Lamar Hunt of the Kanas City Chiefs, FKA Dallas Texans, to have the Texans name, he was okay with it thus we have the Houston Texans and it's not so random as you think it is.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I was just having fun with the name.

[@JPS47]

@@TheHockeyGuy I figured you were. Just pointing it out that it's so totally not random in 2002 but maybe it was back in 1960.

[@Mark-xl1ze]

​​@@JPS47Or 1952 when it started with the Dallas Texans (the first pro sports team from Texas).

[@andreaudet]

Would Bettman entertain the idea of expansion in Quebec City or Toronto if they risk losing Rogers after the current contract expires??

[@dreamcage1801]

Louisville would be a great fan base for a NBA/NFL/MLB team

[@danmarsh5949]

The sports books don't operate on a pari-mutuel basis anymore, and haven't for decades. They take an interest in the games, setting prices (odds) to attract the most money given how the books think the various contests will actually play out. Why the books took a bath on Vegas winning the cup, is that they were effectively betting against all of the "dumb money" betting on the home team. And, surprise surprise, sometimes your "sure thing" bets don't work out.

[@Lesverts]

I miss the old system of CBC, Sportsnet and TSN sharing the NHL rights here. I miss TSN Wednesday nights.

[@Capain_D00dle]

Based on Dundon's comments from earlier this week I'd say Raleigh is actually one of the biggest frontrunners for an MLB expansion. It just depends really on if he can convince the city to also be willing to build an MLB stadium right after he had them invest another $300 Million in the Canes' stadium renovations.

[@Yankeesofpeople]

No chance

[@FalseNi9e]

Not happening

[@kylelamb4132]

Even if Dundon buys a baseball team, I would bet real money it would be in Charlotte. Raleigh would have to build an MLB stadium from scratch while the Knights stadium in Uptown Charlotte was built to accommodate an expansion if the MLB were to start at team there. Not to mention ita pretty much MLB ready now and a beautiful stadium to boot

[@manbo1213]

@@kylelamb4132The city has basically handed him a bunch of empty land out by PNC arena. And he already has a group together, which Charlotte doesn’t have. On top of that he said in the interview that Raleigh was his primary target

[@dreamcage1801]

@@mannyoliveira776Seattle, Vegas, México City, Montreal, San Diego and Kansas City

[@Vertigo11]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@tiffanynaidoo2003]

Atlanta wants to remain the only team in the South and they will fight tooth and nail to keep baseball out of Nashville or North Carolina.

[@AlexPittiStockMan]

Not another expansion video

[@GoalHornGeek]

For MLB, as much as people “talk” about Charlotte, nobody is willing to buy a team there. On the other hand, Tom Dundon (canes’ owner) has recently stepped forward for a Raleigh bid… Raleigh being only 1 media market behind Charlotte while having only 1 major league team… Charlotte has 3.

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

If it wasn't for Canada, the MLS would be much more of a threat to the NHL in challenging for that number four position lol

[@waryaking]

It will change, TFC have won MLS cup before even leafs won a round.

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

@@waryaking Toronto FC played in three MLS Cups and (as you correctly note) won one and the average TV ratings for TFC are still behind the CFL's Argonauts (though TFC gets more fans to fill the stadium). Hockey is still king in Canada, and then the Blue Jays and then the Raptors then the CFL. Where the MLS' growth will come (and where it can unseat the NHL) is in the United States specifically it's southern markets (where ther are a lot of Hispanics from soccer loving countries) and its medium-sized markets like Portland and Nashville. In the US, nothing is ever going to touch the big three NFL, MLB, NBA but in terms of NHL vs MLS, the MLS is going to give a few NHL teams a run for their money in terms of getting support and being relevant lol

[@Impulsedrive]

With Cabrera off the books, the Tigers should be in the black next year?

[@hockeyfan7100]

I'm probably in the minority - I have ZERO interest in baseball, football, basketball or soccer. They can all fail for all I care.

[@philtorrez4198]

I agree with you, wholeheartedly. 👍

[@johnr9686]

Coming from a British guy who’s a big fan of American sports, I want to watch the best product related to that sport - American football that’s the NFL, Ice Hockey that’s the NHL, Baseball well that’s the MLB and Basketball is the NBA. As for footy (Soccer) the MLS isn’t anywhere near the level of the top European leagues , European players go there to retire basically. Also don’t like the whole conference system for football, there should be promotions and relegations etc, it’s also much more confusing in regards to salary cap, transfers and the draft.

[@outsideredge]

I am fascinated by the business of baseball, moreso than the other leagues because of the potential of 81 home games in 40,000 seat stadiums is something no other sport matches. Rogers knows how empty the building can be when there is no hope for the Blue Jays (mid-to-late aughts), so it is actually in their best interest to invest in the team and building. Disappointment in the playoffs aside (cough, Schneider, cough), the Jays ranked second in AL attendance behind only the Yankees, and were 8th overall in MLB. I've always heard rumors about how unhappy Rogers is with the massive NHL deal, as nobody who was involved in signing that deal is still with the company.

[@mike04574]

surprsied the nba is making less

[@outsideredge]

@@mike04574 The NBA is an arena business, like the NHL. Where it eclipses hockey is that it makes loads more TV and sponsorship money, both domestically and internationally, while also having rosters about half the size of an NHL team.

[@pookerville]

How's about adding MLB and NBA teams into Montreal?!

[@amazingkook143]

why does this video feel familiar? Wasn't this video already posted once? St. Louis is already a team in the MLS and is the top seed in the western conference.

[@dreamcage1801]

San Diego needs a NFL team again ever since the Chargers left

[@PhilliesNostalgia]

I highly doubt it MLB wants to go back to Montreal, after what happened in the early 2000s, where they nearly got contracted due to the lack of a plan for a new stadium, and so moved to DC. I see Charlotte as unlikely, only because there is already a White Sox AAA affiliate there. Might give more credence to a potential move there by the White Sox, and the Knights just move to a nearby suburb

[@DKJERSEYDEVIL]

Do you follow CFL as well?

[@chrisbelos2834]

i looked into most watched broadcast in canada for 2022 and there's only 2 football events in the top 10 : #1 the superbowl and #8 they grey cup. the world cup got #2, 4 and 6 while round one of tampa vs toronto got #5 (Game7) and #7 (game6) for 2021, football only has the superbowl at #1 with everything else (2 to 10) being the montreal playoff run (game7 round one at #2)

[@moose9689]

I would love to see the NFL expand into Canada, beyond Toronto too

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I mentioned this the other day, will mention it here as well. The fear has always been that NFL expansion into Canada would kill the CFL altogether. Toronto is obviously the #1 market in Canada and the league needs the Argos. Add a team in Montreal or Vancouver and you've got a really big challenge for the CFL to stay in business.

[@dreamcage1801]

@@TheHockeyGuyput a NFL team in Montreal

[@Oldpucker]

Unfortunately like every other adventure in capitalism Shannon is right. At the end of the day it’s business. And like all other businesses in the world the only power I have as an individual is simply not to shop with them because clearly our voices don’t count in their business model. They like to gaslight us though about how it’s for the fans and them Gary gives himself another award. In terms of business he has been good for the owners but the way he consistently turns his back on the people who supported this league for years is kind of a head shaker.

[@cheynebeevors9061]

Are you a Whitecaps fan in the MLS or you follow another franchise?

[@CelabWilliams-gb6rm]

nba is the most obvious expansion. seattle needs a team they, didn’t build climate pledge without a back door guarantee that after kraken prove successful(they always were going to be in the city unless something catastrophic happened) they’ll come in.

[@dreamcage1801]

Besides Seattle and Vegas, Kansas City, Montreal and Louisville should get an NBA team. San Diego should also be considered for a NBA team too since the Chargers dipped.

[@alexcammarato9491]

Ill see you all back here in 5 years when we have the NFC Canada and the AFC Europe

[@dcrisco8]

Shannon, if you look at PGA Liv golf with Saudi Arabian money. I believe other leagues will be part of that.

[@imnotyourfriendbuddy1883]

Do you roast the Canadiens for the same reason you roasted the Texans?

[@fadercreek]

PLL and NLL is getting bigger

[@Delta-Yeeter-of-Boxes]

As a White Sox fan, I'd be so mad if they move the team.

[@raptorspostgametalk]

Isn't the nba looking to go back to Seattle in a expansion 🤔

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Likely, but they weren't listed.

[@dreamcage1801]

Seattle should have not let the Sonics jet from jump street

[@mynameisdpc]

CFL and NFL merge at some point?

[@RickinBaltimore]

MLB is going to go to 32 teams I'm sure. If i had to guess Nashville and Charlotte would be the two cities.

[@dreamcage1801]

Don’t know for sure though

[@LightningNC]

Charlotte gets a lot of talk for an MLB expansion? Really? Why? Do they know the market, or just the size of it on paper? Good luck with trying to get people here to come out to that.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Tom Dundon, the Canes owner, wants a team and has money.

[@gilbertgutierrez5560]

NHL love there expansion money.

[@stevedolan8095]

Income or Revenue?

[@Shadow12aven]

Surprised that MLB wants to expand. They have a ton of franchises in really bad shape

[@kieranperreaultdit-morin9262]

Before the NHL looks at international expansion they should have a challenge tournament where teams in other leagues compete to battle NHL playoff teams or just the cup champions

[@gujikujtutu2330]

Besides the top KHL teams, there's no other team that could even compete with NHL teams.

[@bryanbest5113]

10 players on NBA and soccer. 45 in NFL. Nhl is 23. More fingers in the pie

[@brown_recidivist]

Vancouver should get the Grizzlies back lol

[@DKJERSEYDEVIL]

How many teams in the NHL are losing $$?

[@Dre2Dee2]

Thing is, there's more kids who play and like soccer than Hockey. Costs all of a 100 bucks to get on a soccer team, lets not even get into how much hockey costs I'd rather watch hockey than soccer but popularity with kids is the best indicator of how well your sport is doing EDIT: So you root for the Chargers, Bengals, Padres, Timberwolves, and Grizzles Oh yeah, and The Ducks 👀

[@Flash___]

that will be so cool if the nfl had teams in europe

[@LSA30]

Not sure if there is NFL partnership, but there is a new European gridiron league, and they even brought back some team names from the old NFL Europa

[@benoitrobitaille5235]

Which cities for the European NFL teams ? London, Berlin, Paris … and Rome, because they don’t use football as the term for soccer, unlike the other 3 ? Maybe Barcelona they love violent sport involving bulls in Spain !

[@fnewman4338]

Just my opinion, but why does it seem like Canadians are obsessed with bringing another NHL team back to Quebec City (sorry, but not happening) instead of focusing on bringing teams in both MLB & NBA to Montreal & Vancouver? Both markets I think the NBA & MLB would be tripping over themselves to get into.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

MLB wouldn't draw enough in Vancouver. The NBA expansion fee would be too rich for both cities right now. Quebec City has an NHL ready arena and built in fanbase.

[@fattytaft6779]

The Mets, a team with the highest payroll in MLB history is losing money? That's a shocker. The MLB has several teams to sort their issues out like Oakland and Tampa and Chicago before even considering expansion.

[@cheynebeevors9061]

Isn’t the Oakland A’s moving to Vegas? Like there NFL breathe-ran did?

[@fattytaft6779]

I don’t know if that’s officially confirmed or not.

[@cheynebeevors9061]

@@fattytaft6779 Think it relies on them being able to build a ballpark in Vegas

[@justinsolomita9283]

MLS reminds me of the WHA, albeit they aren’t hemorrhaging money yet.

[@saltywingsandavsfan]

I’m scared about how the talent would be spread out to more teams and how the money could effect Canadian teams.

[@coryray8804]

Have to agree most of the better players do not want to play in Canada to cold . Many have no trade to these places today .

[@Oldpucker]

@@coryray8804it’s not the cold it’s the taxes and scrutiny.

[@bryancollins6800]

Texans!!!

[@jonasgorea3823]

The nfl probably won’t expand honestly I believe all 32 teams cover enough of the US the mlb might but it’s definitely the nba who will expand to Seattle and Vegas for sure.

[@PAULROBERTS961]

Vegas does not want the N B A in their city, or the Oakland A's . Talk is cheap .

[@MikeParadigm]

Raleigh should be on the board for MLB expansion as well. Canes owner Tom Dundon stated in various local interviews this past week that he’s exploring options to put together an ownership group to bring an MLB team to Raleigh. Expectation is that it’s still years down the road but he’s states that the expansion fee money won’t be a problem and it’s all still early stages on the discussions.

[@knomies227]

I would prefer a NFL team in St. Louis before they expand to Europe

[@MattTheParanoidKat]

162 jays games and not much other options, as a Jays fan please and thank you we need a second team cause if I have to watch 162 games of the Jays stumbling dickfirst into a wild card that they clearly didn’t deserve and underachieve all season again I’m looking for other baseball options. And my second favourite team is the Mariners which yeah… man getting hit by football from the Simpsons

[@smithryansmith]

"Gotta grow the game" is such a moronic mantra. Hockey has limited appeal, it is a regional sport. They should focus on the regions that enjoy hockey rather than chasing new markets. Places like Carolina, Nashville, Dallas have produced next to zero nhl players over the last 25 years. Without the north and Europe to produce players the nhl would not exist.

[@aidan8473]

How are the Nets losing money lmao theyre a new york team!!!???