Seattle is the prime location to launch the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Sockeyes
SUPPORT
FAST GROWING
Seattle moved into the top spot after registering yet another year of remarkable growth in 2017. The city’s population hit an estimated 725,000, gaining 17,500 people from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, showing how the market of potential Seattle Sockeye fans has and continues to grow.
GROWING IN RIGHT SEGMENT
From 2007 to 2017, the number of 25-to-39 year-olds in the city increased by about 69,000, which is a growth rate of about 43%, demonstrating how our target market continues to increase, thus increasing the potential fan base of the Seattle Sockeyes.
HIGH INCOME
Of the top 50 biggest metropolitan areas in the country, Seattle ranks 7th in average income and is the 2nd highest average income city without an NHL team. The NHL has more sports fans who make more than $100k every year than any other professional sport, with 1 in 3 fans making that much money every year, demonstrating the ability of our target market to be able to afford and attend our games and events.
DEMAND IS PRESENT
Oak View Group says it acquired 10,000 NHL season ticket deposits in just 12 minutes while it had surpassed 25,000 in a little over an hour. Fans were asked to put down deposits of $500 and $1,000 depending on season ticket type and Nielsen data confirmed that nearly 350,000 adults in the Seattle market express a moderate-to-strong interest in the NHL, demonstrating how the Seattle Sockeyes have a fan base ready and willing to attend our games!
STRONG NETWORK OF HOCKEY FANS
Seattle is known as a strong sports market, with a strong support and interest in hockey, as evidenced with the region’s two major junior hockey teams being well supported. The WHL’s Everett Silvertips and the Seattle Thunderbirds both averaged nearly 5,000 fans per game during the 2018 season.
Additionally, when the news first came out about the NHL’s expansion application from Seattle, there was a sudden rush in clientele at the Angry Beaver, Greenwood’s hockey bar. Owner, Tim Pipes, discussed how much of the “bar banter” has been among groups of people discussing pooling money to share tickets to the future NHL games in the KeyArena; again, demonstrating to us how there is an entire market of people waiting to engage with the team and attend their games.
GROWING INTEREST IN HOCKEY
The number of individuals participating in hockey are quickly growing, including the amount of women and girls. In the 2016-2017 season, 75,832 American girls and women were registered with the NHL — a 32 percent increase compared to the 2006-2007 season. Meanwhile, the participation of boys and men also increased 19 percent over the same 10-year period, showing how those within our target market who have kids will be enticed to attend our games and bring along their families, due to their children’s growing interest in the sport!
Seattle is the ninth best place to live among America’s 125 largest metro areas according to US News and World Report
SEATTLE IS A SPORTS CITY
Seattle is one of the most underrated sports cities and is home to the Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, Storm, and Reign. The Seattle Metropolitans, Seattle’s first hockey team, formed in 1915 with the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and in 1917, the Metropolitans became the first American-based team to win the Stanley Cup, demonstrating the strong sports fan base already existing that we can tap into when building the Seattle Sockeye’s fan base!
Seattle Star Athletes
Steve Emtman – Huskies
Clint Dempsey – Sounders
Steve Largent – Seahawks
Gary Payton – Sonics
Shawn Kemp – Sonics
