Sigh... Forbes

Forbes' annual rankings of NHL franchise values is out, and rather than reinvent the wheel (why should I when they still have the old logo on their Caps page?), I'll just cut and paste what I wrote last year (which was pretty much what I'd written the year before):

"Forbes has updated its valuations of the NHL's 30 teams and the Caps are in just about the same place on that list as they are in the standings, but I wouldn't worry about that too much. As I wrote when Forbes compiled the same list last year, the most valuable franchises are those whose owners also own the arenas in which the team plays, co-habitating NBA franchises, etc. Since the Caps are renters and Ted Leonsis et. al. don't yet own the Wiz, it's not surprising that they'd be way down the list. Some day, however, Lincoln Holdings will own the building and the 'Zards, and the Caps will skyrocket up the list."

Why Forbes doesn't consider assets such as the option to buy an NBA team and/or the arena is beyond me.

In Search Of The $4.50 Beer

In these tough economic times, isn't it good to know that the Verizon Center supposedly has the second-cheapest beer prices in the NHL (not to mention the sixth-lowest "Fan Cost Index" in the League), all despite being located in the middle of one of the most expensive cities in the country?

The FCI study aside, we're skeptical - precisely where in the VC can you get a 16-ounce beer for $4.50?

H/t to Puck Daddy on the link

Update: Puck Daddy has much more on League-wide beer prices.

Why The Rising Tide Doesn't Lift All NHL Ships

Tom Benjamin has a really interesting post up about why the NHLPA favors a relocation of the Predators to Hamilton... and why the owners don't. It hammers home the point that without a major television deal or similar all-inclusive revenue streams, individual franchise priorities can differ from what is perhaps "in the best interest of the game" on a macro level. Check it out.