2024 NHL Digital Real Estate Update: Only 9 Teams Own Their .com Domains

Jul/09/2024

With the 2024 NHL playoffs now behind us, it’s a fitting time to revisit the digital landscape of the league's teams. Despite the increasing importance of online presence, only nine NHL teams currently own their exact .com domain names. This update explores the domain ownership status across the league, highlighting the surprising fact that many teams have not secured this valuable digital real estate, even when it is available at relatively low costs. This piece provides a comprehensive overview of which teams hold their .com domains and the current status of those that do not.

Astonishingly, no additional NHL teams have acquired their domain names in recent years, even though several are available for modest sums. For instance, Edmonton could acquire Oilers.com for $30,000 or even opt for a lease-to-own arrangement. This reluctance to secure their digital footprint is puzzling, especially given the importance of maintaining a robust online presence in today's digital age. The teams that have successfully secured their .com domains include the Carolina Hurricanes (Hurricanes.com), Ottawa Senators (Senators.com), and Chicago Blackhawks (Blackhawks.com), among others.

Conversely, many NHL teams still do not own their corresponding .com domains, with some domains being entirely unobtainable due to existing usage by other entities. For example, Rangers.com is owned by Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers, while Panthers.com belongs to the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Other domains, like Islanders.com and Flyers.com, are in the hands of domain investors and small businesses. Additionally, some domains come with hefty price tags; Bruins.com has a minimum offer of $65,000, and Stars.com is listed for a staggering $5.9 million. This fragmented ownership landscape highlights a missed opportunity for NHL teams to consolidate their digital assets and enhance their brand presence online.