Why the crowds are flocking to the National Hockey League

This story was produced by our colleagues at the BBC.

It's a game night in Toronto where interest in hockey is fueled by new teams, new technology and new fans.

Selena Gonsalves got into the sport thanks to her support of the women's league. “It definitely made me play more in the men's league,” she said.

The North American National Hockey League, or NHL, plays its games in the US and Canada, and has seen a surge of interest, helped by theme nights with an emphasis on diversity and inclusivity.

“I've got my proud socks on,” Gonsalves said. “I absolutely love it. Queer people have always been into sports, and I feel like games like this really bring out the energy and excitement for that. Everyone is welcome.”

The competition breaks records when it comes to viewers and revenue. Last season cost an estimated $6.2 billion, with 22.5 million fans filling arenas and new TV deals making it the most watched season in 30 years.

It's come a long way since the dog days of COVID-19, which led to the one-season suspension. Nick Eaves, chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, found himself on the razor's edge.

“All our revenue sources dried up, no ticket revenue, no food and beverage revenue,” he said. “It was a terrible few years with no revenue generated and time wasted.”

It was a bad time for the league's newest entrant: the Seattle Kraken. Chief Marketing Officer Katie Townsend said the team and the league have come a long way since then. “I am incredibly proud of the brand we have launched.”

“We have a female assistant general manager, Alexandra Mandrycky, who was actually the first member of our hockey team. And now for real the kind of vanguard of this is Jessica Campbellone of our assistant coaches who is the first female coach, but coaches behind the bench for an NHL team,” she added. “It's important that people in the hockey world see people who look like them. It is important for the growth of the fan base.”

That's something 22-year-old superfan Selena Gonsalves agreed with. “I think it's Seattle has their first female coach in history, and I think that is very big. That really shows the world that women are part of the game.”

Ann Pegoraro, a professor of sports management at the University of Guelph in Canada, believes the broader fan base translates into greater financial firepower.

“I think a lot of the new money coming into the sport probably has to do with the NHL's increasing ability to showcase a diverse audience, both demographically in terms of age and demographically in terms of racial makeup and gender, ” she noted. “So I think there are several factors that all come together to bring a thriving business back to the NHL.”

A lot is happening in the world. Despite all this, Marketplace has your back.

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world's events and tell you how they affect you in a fact-based, accessible way. To continue to make this possible, we count on your financial support.

Your donation today will support the independent journalism you rely on. For as little as $5 a month, you can help support Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos