The Anaheim Ducks had one of the best records in the NHL last season, but unfortunately that success didn’t translate to significant financial gains by the team’s owners. Henry and Susan Samueli have continually stated their commitment to the Ducks, but they recently spoke with the Los Angeles Daily News about the team’s financial woes.
“The only thing I’ll say is our losses are in the double-digit millions,” Henry Samueli said.
Added Susan: “It would be nice to break even some day.”
Losses in the double-digit millions? That’s noteworthy considering the Anaheim Ducks usually don’t spend up to the maximum allowed by the league’s salary cap. At this stage of the year, the Ducks have approximately $8 million in cap space, yet the team is still expected to post a financial loss.
Last year, the Ducks ranked 20th in the NHL with an average attendance of 16,874. That’s a pretty disappointing number considering the team had the third-best record in the league with 109 points.
However, Henry Samueli knows that in order to post a profit, you must have a winning team out on the ice.
“In a market like this, you have to put a winning team on the ice to get a fan base. We made it clear that from Day 1, that’s going to be our mission in life, to put competitive teams on the ice. It’s just a culture that’s been built in the organization.”
Like other strong teams who struggle financially (such as the St. Louis Blues), this is a testament to how shaky some NHL franchises are when it comes to the books. As expansion talk grows louder, it’s important to remember how difficult it can be to turn a profit in the NHL even if you have a competitive team on the ice.
