Revenue, ratings, and ESPN.com, New York Post reports

ESPN.com Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell wrote an interesting piece today, noting that the Kings grossed over $1 million in ticketing, merchandise, food and beverage sales in Game 1, which represented a franchise record.

Amongst other reports from this recommended story:
-Fans spent an average of nearly $30 each on merchandising alone
-The sales of standing room tickets set a Staples Center record

In speaking with the Kings business operations, the team generated franchise record ticket revenues for the team for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. As a comparison, Game 1 revenues were 23% higher than the Cup-clinching game on June 11, 2012, representing an additional $650,000, which at that time was a franchise record. The Kings are expecting another record gate on Saturday, and a higher total for potential Games 5 and 7.

Back to the Rovell piece. Despite a New York Post report citing two unnamed sources earlier today that said the Kings were up for sale – interestingly, a similar story was written the day of Game 1 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final – AEG CEO Dan Beckerman put the story to rest.

“The L.A. Kings are not for sale,” Beckerman told Rovell. “The AEG strategy is to bring content and real estate together, and that’s exactly what we have with the Kings and the Staples Center. Phil is ecstatic with our business both on and off the ice.”

Game 1 on NBC averaged 4.777 million viewers, which made it the second-most watched Game 1 ever televised by NBC. It trailed only last year’s triple overtime series debut between Boston and Chicago, which averaged 6.358 million viewers. The game peaked at 5.7 million viewers from 7:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. PT.

On television:

Los Angeles drew a 7.1 metered market rating, which marks the third-most watched NBC-televised game on NBC. Only Games 5 and 6 in 2012 surpassed L.A.’s local rating. New York drew its best NHL rating ever on NBC with a 10.1 metered market rating. The Rangers have not played in the Stanley Cup Final since 1994.

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