For the tenth year in a row, Ernst & Young (EY) has released the report "How is Swedish elite hockey doing?"
Economically, the clubs are doing well compared to previous years, says Carlos Esterling.
It did not look good last year. Now the clubs have increased costs overall, but there are fewer clubs that are doing as poorly, says Esterling.
Positive trend break
In line with the league setting a spectator record for the third year in a row, the clubs' economy has stabilized.
It is a trend break in some way and we hope that this trend break will continue, says Esterling.
The largest cost increase was, like last year, salary costs, which increased by 102.1 million kronor, equivalent to seven percent.
Färjestad had the highest salary costs with 136.4 million kronor, but it is the lowest of all SHL clubs in relation to the club's total costs. Malmö also had the lowest salary costs this year with just over 78.3 million kronor.
What we have previously been critical of is that SHL clubs must take responsibility. The fact that the clubs are investing heavily in salary costs must not come at the expense of not being able to manage the economy. Now they have actually become much better at it, says Esterling.
Not all clubs are doing well, but there is a big difference compared to previous years, which is very positive and gratifying.
"Must not deceive themselves"
During the year, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association decided to lower the requirements for granted elite license. Now it was only required that the clubs would show their own capital of five percent of the turnover instead of the previous ten.
If the license requirement had remained at ten percent, six clubs would have been below the limit. Now all clubs are approved.
It must not be that the clubs deceive themselves, but that they continue to work with these issues and in the long term, says Esterling.
The SHL season starts on Saturday.
Fredrik Montalvo/TT
Facts: SHL clubs' salary costs
TT
Färjestad: 136.4 million kronor
Rögle: 129 million kronor
HV71: 124 million kronor
Brynäs: 121.8 million kronor
Luleå: 120.7 million kronor
Leksand: 114.5 million kronor
Frölunda: 113.4 million kronor
Modo: 103.3 million kronor
Örebro: 102.7 million kronor
Linköping: 97.4 million kronor
Skellefteå: 95 million kronor
Växjö: 92.3 million kronor
Timrå: 83.2 million kronor
Malmö: 78 million kronor
