The bubbles cost the NHL a LOT of money!

At the end of the 2020 postseason, everyone was impressed with how the National Hockey League managed to hold the entire playoff tournament in two bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton, with players safe and COVID-19 free during more than two months. 

It has been even believed that because of the success of the postseason during these uncertain times, the NHL has been considering different scenarios to make sure it can hold a 2020-21 campaign and some pundits believe the option of holding games in bubbles remain on the table. 

However on Tuesday, senior hockey writer Frank Seravalli revealed on TSN’s Insider Trading what the NHL had to pay for the Return to Play plan in bubble cities and let’s just say it wasn’t cheap.

“That’s right. At an estimated cost of $75 million to $90 million. The NHL believes a cost benefit analysis still is in their favour with the continuity and awarding a Stanley Cup. And also, the revenue that it brought in and preserved from last season.”

While it remains to be seen what will be done for the 2020-21 season, it sounds obvious that most teams need to safely welcome fans during their local games, in order to earn significant additional income. However, it sounds hard to make that a reality, especially with the current second wave of the coronavirus.

Last week, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the 2020-21 campaign is set to kick off at the very start of the new year as the NHL is focused on a Jan. 1 start for next season. When the Return to Play plan was confirmed back in June, Bettman was hoping for a start for December 1st, now we are a month later…

And with Seravalli’s report of the cost of the two bubbles, maybe this option will be off the table for the NHL for the return to action for 2020-21. Geno Reda concluded the segment by revealing that the NHLPA has now assembled its players committee, they’re expected to begin discussions with the NHL in the next week or so.