The NHL’s legal costs climbed 48.6 percent during the 2008-09 season, according to its most recent tax filing.
The filing shows the NHL’s legal fees climbed to $3.9 million that season. There is no breakdown in the tax filing but we do know that NHL concluded a lawsuit with Madison Square Garden over the New York Rangers’ digital rights and begin the bankruptcy trial over the Phoenix Coyotes.
The question is whether this was an abnormal year or will the league be involved in more litigation in the future.
The league totaled $75.7 million in expenses during the period. The largest expenditures included executive compensation ($9.9 million), employee salaries ($20.4 million), travel ($7.3 million), officiating costs ($5.1 million), legal fees ($3.9 million), team-related expenses ($3.9 million) and other employee benefits ($3.8 million).
Speaking of executive compensation, most of the $9.9 million went to one person. Yes, none other than Commissioner Gary Bettman who collected $7.2 million in compensation. For many hockey fans in Canada that would be approximately $7.2 million too much. Now getting rid of him is even more expensive as it is suggested that there are some expensive severance requirements in his contract if he is terminated.
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