Getty Image / Minas Panagiotakis
This year’s NHL Draft is highly anticipated amongst fans as there is a very talented prospect in the draft pool.
Pretty much every fan was hoping their team would land the number one pick overall in the hopes to acquire Connor Bedard.
Well, the Chicago Blackhawks secured the No. 1 pick overall in the NHL Draft lottery, and the assumption is they’ll select Bedard.
The Blackhawks win the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft! 🏒
They will have the first opportunity to draft Connor Bedard. pic.twitter.com/FFg0sfTxxf
— ESPN (@espn) May 9, 2023
But something else amazing happened when Chicago won the top draft pick.
According to Darren Rovell, within the first hour of getting the No. 1 pick, the Blackhawks “have sold $1.9 million in season tickets, says team president of business Jaime Faulkner.”
JUST IN: In the first hour after getting the No. 1 pick, which will be phenom Connor Bedard, the @NHLBlackhawks have sold $1.9 million in season tickets, says team president of business Jaime Faulkner.
At this pace, a season ticket cap is anticipated.
Wild for a team who had…
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 9, 2023
Going from the bottom three in attendance to selling mass amounts of season tickets is insane. But that should tell you what type of prospect Connor Bedard is.
Additionally, the sales didn’t stop, as Rovell reported that the Blackhawks have sold $2.5 million worth of season tickets, all thanks to the NHL Draft lotto.
No signs of stopping in Chicago.
The Blackhawks since getting the No. 1 pick, and the rights to what will surely be Connor Bedard, have sold more than 500 full season tickets worth over $2.5 million.
That’s a pace of revenue of $28,000 a minute. https://t.co/4bb3rizaI1
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 9, 2023
For anyone not familiar with Connor Bedard, he’s essentially one of the best prospects to enter the NHL Draft. In NBA terms, the Blackhawks are in line to receive a LeBron James-like prospect.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder fans are buying season tickets like crazy. Additionally, they’re already celebrating well before the draft.
Stanley Cup coming home!!!! 🏆🔥🔥🔥
— SPOOKEYCOOKZ🔥 (@spookeycookz) May 9, 2023
The Blackhawks’ rebuild may not last very long.
Well Davidson and Richardson totally messed up the Tank but the Hockey Gods blessed us with the First Pick. So Happy for the Fans in Blackhawks’ Nation. We got Connor Bedard people.
— Z3Family (@Z3_Family) May 9, 2023
Meanwhile, fans of other organizations keep calling the draft results “rigged.”
It was so rigged 😂
— Emily Saxton (@ItsEmilySaxton) May 9, 2023
This is a massive win for Chicago, although, Bedard isn’t on the team just yet.
Even so, the expectation is for the Blackhawks to select him first overall in the NHL Draft this offseason.