The National WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League announced Wednesday it is doubling its salary cap to $300,000 for each of its six teams based on projections that it is making strides in achieving financial stability entering its seventh season.

B次元官网网址淢aking an investment in those players by doubling the salary cap we believe is a very strong signal that weB次元官网网址檙e serious about this,B次元官网网址� Boston Pride chairman Miles Arnone told The Associated Press. B次元官网网址淭his is something we can afford to do. ItB次元官网网址檚 substantial, yet it doesnB次元官网网址檛 mark the end. It marks the beginning of a process we expect to go on over the next number of years.B次元官网网址�

At the same time, Arnone said the league is putting off adding an expansion franchise in Montreal until the 2022-23 season because of continuing uncertainties due to the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in Canada. Arnone has a stake in the BTM ownership group behind the Montreal expansion bid and operates the Toronto Six, which completed its first season.

The decision to increase the cap from $150,000 means salaries will average $15,000 based on 20-player rosters. Arnone estimated salaries will range between $10,000 to $35,000, not including additional bonuses that come with the leagueB次元官网网址檚 revenue-sharing agreement with its players.

Though the NWHL is not yet turning a profit, first-year commissioner Tyler Tumminia cited inroads made in generating major sponsorship deals B次元官网网址� including a high-six-figure agreement with Discover B次元官网网址� and growing its fanbase despite playing a shortened two-week season that was disrupted by a COVID-19 outbreak and forced a near two-month postponement of the playoffs.

B次元官网网址淚n a very challenging year for all sports, I think this is a very exciting announcement, and something weB次元官网网址檙e proud of as a league, frankly being at the point where our goals are literally becoming reality now,B次元官网网址� Tumminia told the AP. B次元官网网址淚f you go to project out, weB次元官网网址檙e confident that the model and the revenue stream is going up.B次元官网网址�

Arnone said the decision to increase the cap and delay expansion are unrelated.

Aside from the challenges of establishing a new team amid COVID-19 restrictions still in effect in Canada, Arnone noted he would prefer to focus on developing the SixB次元官网网址檚 infrastructure and fanbase. The Six have yet to play a game in Toronto after spending their first season exclusively in the United States due to the border being closed.

B次元官网网址淲e will expand. And we have very concrete plans to do that, and I think you can expect very clearly that there will be expansion for Season 8,B次元官网网址� Arnone said. B次元官网网址淥ur view is that itB次元官网网址檚 a little better to take more time, build up better infrastructure for that new team, get the right people in place and really have a good go at that.B次元官网网址�

Arnone, the managing partner for Cannon Capital investment firm, has played a key role in transforming the NWHLB次元官网网址檚 leadership since purchasing the Pride two years ago. In that time, the league has restructured its executive model by establishing a board of governors made up of owners, investors and shareholders in a move that led to league founder Dani Rylan Kearney stepping down as commissioner last autumn.

The NWHLB次元官网网址檚 four other teams, based in Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Buffalo, New York, are operated by W Hockey Partners, which is actively seeking to sell the franchises to private ownership groups.

The NWHL was established in 2015 as a four-team league and North AmericaB次元官网网址檚 first to pay female players a salary. It has endured growing pains and nearly shuttered a month into its second season when the NWHL made the drastic decision to slash player salaries nearly in half because of projected shortfalls under a then-$270,000 per team salary cap.

The cutbacks led to numerous high-profile players leaving the NWHL to play in Canada.

Tumminia and Arnone said the NWHL is better positioned to not have a repeat of what happened in 2016 because the league no longer operates its teams and has a better grasp on its cash flow. Though still dependent on gate revenue, the NWHL has secured longer-term deals with corporate partners and has increased its visibility.

The boost in salary has the potential of drawing additional players to the NWHL after a majority of AmericaB次元官网网址檚 and CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top players balked at joining the league, instead forming the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey PlayersB次元官网网址� Association following the demise of the Canadian WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League in 2019. The PWHPAB次元官网网址檚 objectives are to establish a single North American womenB次元官网网址檚 pro league capable of paying a living wage and with a long-term sustainable economic model.

B次元官网网址淲e would hope that this will, on the margin, make a difference. WeB次元官网网址檒l see, right?B次元官网网址� Arnone said, referring to the split between the NWHL and PWHPA. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 love to see some reconciliation.B次元官网网址�

The NWHL nearly tripled its viewership this season with over 2 million views on its streaming platform, Twitch. The Isobel Cup semifinals and final were broadcast nationally for the first time and averaged more than 100,000 viewers on NBCSN.

B次元官网网址淲e have a much better handle (on economics). WeB次元官网网址檝e been through six seasons, one of which was of course historic on its level of disruption to understand what the business looks like,B次元官网网址� Arnone said, referring to this past season. B次元官网网址淚f we can make it through that, doubling the salary cap is like a walk in the park.B次元官网网址�

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John Wawrow, The Associated Press

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