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Feb 28, 2024, 06:57 PM ET
The recently launched Professional Women’s Hockey League reached its midseason point on Wednesday by unveiling its playoff format, hinting at the long-awaited arrival of actual team nicknames and logos, while putting aside questions about expansion in Season 2 or beyond for now.
One aspect that won’t be changing anytime soon, PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten said, is the league reassessing its player salary structure, ranging from $35,000 to $80,000, not including bonuses.
“Reopening the collective bargaining agreement one year into an eight-year deal does not sound likely,” Kasten said in noting that while revenues two months into the league’s first season have exceeded expectations, so have expenditures.
“We still have a long way to go until we are an economic success,” he added, while suggesting 98% of people believe the players are underpaid.
Joined by PWHL senior VP of hockey operations Jayna Hefford, Kasten spoke during an hourlong video conference call that touched on numerous topics regarding the six-team league that brings together the world’s top players.
“We still have a bumpy road in front of us until we’re a fully formed thing. But we are on track, and we’re certainly ahead of projections,” Kasten said.
The key now is not moving too fast, given the challenges the PWHL still faces in terms of securing proper-sized venues, such as Toronto, which has already outgrown its 2,500-seat home, and lags in attendance in other markets. New York, for example, is averaging a league-low 2,218 fans while splitting its four home games between Bridgeport, Connecticut, and the NHL Islanders’ home, UBS Arena.
Kasten provided the same answer in addressing both issues by saying everything is under review — and that includes marketing, scheduling and ticket prices — while stressing the PWHL is firmly committed to a New York City-area-based team for the long term.
Boston has the league’s second-lowest attendance average at 3,352, while playing out…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39619106/pwhl-unveils-4-team-playoff-format-halts-talk-expansion
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Publish date : 2024-02-28 23:57:42
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