While Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, said ads might appear on World Cup hockey jerseys, he doesn’t foresee any changes in the traditional league uniforms, as reported by the Globe and Mail. The NHL has 30 teams, and Bettman told NHL.com, “I”‘m in no rush to put advertising on our sweaters. I think we’ve got the best jerseys in all of sports. I like the history. I like the tradition. I like the way they look, and I’ve repeatedly said we wouldn’t be the first (in North America) and you’d probably have to bring me kicking and screaming.”
However, Bettman won’t have to be brought kicking and screaming to an agreement to put ads on World Cup jerseys. He says the move could be “a valuable opportunity.” While no sports leagues in North America have advertising on their league uniforms, it is done in other parts of the world. The World Cup for hockey will take place in Toronto before the 2016-17 season. The reason Bettman will consider advertisements on World Cup jerseys is they “don’t have the same legacy” as regular jerseys.
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Bettman has recently discussed the possibility of starting a hockey team in Las Vegas with Bill Foley as part owner. Another hockey development is the increase in outdoor matches in 2015.
