The Bedard Effect: How Connor Bedard Is Influencing Sales

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Ryan Hall
October 9, 2023 (4:19 PM)

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The NHL season is less than 48 hours away, and the Chicago Blackhawks, along with their passionate fan base, are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to witness Connor Bedard, their beloved and newly drafted player, make history as he assumes leadership in this new chapter of the franchise.

Since his selection as the first overall pick, merchandise and ticket sales have been soaring, rekindling hope among Hawks fans.

The Hockey News had the opportunity to speak with Jamie Faulkner, the President of Business Operations for the Blackhawks organization. In a detailed report, she outlined how Bedard's positive impact has been felt throughout the organization.

"Our fans are incredibly loyal and passionate," Faulkner stated in an email. "Obtaining the first overall pick has brought an unprecedented level of excitement. It's even reaching those who may not typically follow hockey � Connor Bedard has become a household name, and we're witnessing the emergence of new fans."

Bedard's jersey, bearing the number 98, has taken the United Center by storm. During a preseason game, hundreds of fans sported the authentic Adidas version, priced at $250 each.

Faulkner also noted that ticket sales have surged by 10%, while merchandise sales have doubled in the first three months of the fiscal year.

Here are her responses to specific questions:

Ticket Sales:

Q: How much of a boost have the Blackhawks seen in ticket sales since obtaining the No. 1 pick and drafting Connor Bedard?

A: Currently, we project an increase of over 17% in tickets sold and a 26% growth in overall revenue compared to our initial 2023-24 season projections.

Q: Can you provide an estimate of how many more fans the United Center is expected to accommodate this season?

A: We are currently projecting up to a 10% increase in tickets sold compared to the 2022-2023 season.

Q: How many full-season ticket packages have been sold compared to 2022-23?

A: We have nearly doubled our full-season ticket packages for the 2023-24 season.

Q: How about partial season-ticket packages?

A: Partial season-ticket packages have also nearly doubled for the 2023-24 season.

Q: Are any games already sold out?
A: Currently, we anticipate at least five sellouts this season.

Merchandise Sales:

Q: How do merchandise sales compare to last season?

A: Within the first three months of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, we've already nearly doubled our total merchandise sales compared to the same period last year (the first three months of the 2022-2023 season).

Q: Can you provide statistics on Bedard jersey sales since they officially started on June 28? This could include overall jersey sales or a breakdown by levels, starting with Adidas authentic and followed by replica price points.

A: We've sold thousands of Connor Bedard jerseys since his announcement as the first overall draft pick on June 28. Approximately 85% of these sales are authentic jerseys, while the remaining 15% are replica jerseys.

Q: Which sales channels/platforms are the busiest for team merchandise sales, including team stores, online platforms, and NHL/third-party channels?

A: Our Michigan Avenue store has seen significant growth in terms of overall merchandise revenue, as well as our Madhouse team store at the United Center.

In my opinion, this marks just the beginning of the Blackhawks' journey towards playoff contention and another shot at the Stanley Cup.

There's still work to be done, but with a player of Bedard's caliber already making a significant impact on an evolving team, the outlook appears promising for both the organization and the fan base.

Source - The Hockey News - Chicago Blackhawks - The Connor Bedard Boost: Blackhawks Tickets, Merchandise Sales Up