Ethical Issues In Hockey

Living in South Florida, our hockey team is the Florida Panthers. Though there is a team that currently plays here, they do not match popularity when they face other sports like basketball’s Miami Heat or football’s Miami Dolphins. Based off this article, “No Doubting Canada’s role in making NHL what it is today” it switches the role of the most popular sport. In addition to being the most popular sport, Canada has managed to contribute to the NHL’s revenue more than the United States, even though the U.S. is made up of more teams and population. While doing so, they have also managed to emphasis youth programs to engage Canada’s youth to play the sport of hockey. Per the article, of the estimated $4 billion in revenue the NHL made in 2015,
A large contribution to that has been the media rights deal the company Sportsnet has made with the NHL. This deal began in the 14-15 season which is for 12 years for 5.2 billion (Canadian) dollars. Making it the biggest in NHL history. This turned Sportsnet into the biggest media rights company in Canada. Since it turned into the top provider, per IMI International polling cite, the fan base for hockey has doubled compared to MLB, MLS and the NBA. Now, corporate partners are highly motivated to incorporate hockey when it comes to promoting their brand since it has such a high level of population throughout Canada. Some examples include; Scotiabank, Canadian Tire, and Molson. President and CEO of S&E Sponsorship Group, Brain Cooper states “the best way to reach the masses in Canada with a promotional message is through hockey.” When it comes to popular sports in other countries, like soccer has in South America and hockey has in Canada, I try to think
Corporate sponsors are helping with incentives to bring back more youth to the sport. “Scotiabank Skaters” holds a contest annually that gives children the opportunity to skate with current NHL players before the game. In addition to financially support 8,000 youth teams throughout the country. Kraft foods honors a hockey town annually providing youth hockey with a local rink $100,000 for renovations. Lastly, there is a hometown hockey tour which visits up to 60 communities throughout Canada, as it hosts preseason, intermission and postgame NHL shows at the site. Youth engagement in any sports is very important. In the current times, we live in, the youth has grown to be attached to electronics that keeps them inside with less physical activity or exercise. The incentives the league has provided, could impact a child’s life in a positive way. Imagine watching your favorite NHL player on television, then having the chance to skate with him before a game. That is something a child will hold on to forever. Possibly motivating them to become a hockey player themselves or pay it forward to another child when they are grown up in a successful position. Sportsnet’s Scott Moore said it best when he stated “As a child, the center of my universe was the local arena. I was not the world’s greatest hockey player, but from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6