Consulting company EY published a report on the financial situation of hockey league clubs.
The jokers would be a potentially big reinforcement for the hockey SM league in a financial sense. Elmeri Elo/AOP
In its recent report, the consulting company EY analyzes the financial results of the ice hockey SM league clubs for the seasons 2020–21 and 2021–2022.
According to EY, the league’s financial situation has become brighter after the corona seasons. The combined turnover of the clubs rose to 114.6 million euros in the 2021–2022 season, which is an increase of 64 percent from the previous season.
In last season’s point analysis, Oulu’s Kärpi had the most expensive series points. The calculated price of one point of the Kärppi was 148,625 euros. The cheapest points, on the other hand, were in Mikkeli Jukurei, whose price for a point was 45,741 euros. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive points is therefore threefold.
The price of a point consists of the club’s total expenses divided by the points achieved.
Kärpät finished sixth in the regular season, Jukurit second.
Jokers would bring a boost
The report also assesses the financial impact of a possible return of the Jokers to the League.
The outlook is positive.
– If the return was successful, Jokerit would be one of the largest clubs in the league financially and would be able to increase the combined turnover of the league clubs by an estimated 10-15 percent, if the club’s fan levels and interest even reached the same level as before the KHL trip. On the scale of the league, the return of a major club would have a positive effect on the interest of the entire series, also having a positive effect on the very important TV contract, says Janne Aalto EY on advisory services for the financial administration of Finland.
The estimate is therefore based on the fact that the Jokers would have the opportunity to continue in the former Hartwall arena, which is still for sale.
The return is also not very timely in these prospects, as the SM league has announced that it will not accept new license applications for the 2023–24 season.