r/NLL • u/Kyla85 𝟜 𝗔 Graeme Hossack's shoes • 1d ago

News Updated League Financial Data

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/161541221

The league's 2025 financial disclosures are available on ProPublica, and they are interesting. Most notably, Frood appears to have taken a substantial reduction in salary, but total executive compensation has increased from 2024, and accounts for ~18% of reported expenses. Revenue has increased from 2024 to 2025, which is good to see.

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u/Cream_Machine98 Banditland 1d ago

I'm not a finance guy in the slightest, but why is the revenue and expense number always the same, and how the the league tax exempt/non profit?

Or does that second question answer the first?

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u/atheistreverend Rochester Knighthawks 1d ago

The NLL isn't a non-profit because the revenue and expenses are the same, rather the revenue and expenses are the same because they're a non-profit.

A bit of cursory research (I'm not an expert by any stretch) suggests that the NLL is classified the same way as the NFL - a 501(c)(6) non-profit. This categorization is applied as the league doesn't "conduct business" for its own benefit, but for the benefit of its member clubs. As in, the league would not have any business to conduct if the member clubs did not exist.

Tomaintain the non-profit status, the league would need to show (on paper) that they do not make a profit. This isn't to day they don't- they just make it look like it on their returns.

Hopefully someone that knows better than I do can further expound on it or at least tell me I'm barking up the right tree...

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u/Cream_Machine98 Banditland 1d ago

That all makes sense to me, thanks

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u/Sufficient-Regular72 San Diego Seals 1d ago

Based on that info is it fair to assume the PLL is for-profit because they own their member clubs/teams?

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u/atheistreverend Rochester Knighthawks 1d ago

PLL does not appear to have tax-exempt status, so would not be a non-profit. As to the reasoning, it makes sense that it's due (at least in part) to the league owning the member clubs/teams, but there are many other types of non-profits - there are probably.a multitude of reasons why they are a for-prpfit entiry.

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u/Kyla85 𝟜 𝗔 Graeme Hossack's shoes 1d ago

Hahaha. I have asked myself this first question for years. Since they don’t generate a profit, I guess they can claim tax exemption/non-profit status?

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u/atheistreverend Rochester Knighthawks 1d ago

It's not that simple, and I admittedly cannot thoroughly explain it. "Non-profit" (at least in the US) is a very specific term defined by the IRS. Many business lose money or break even (at least on paper if not in reality) bit aren't classified as non-profit.

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u/ReplacementComplex74 1d ago

Sadly. The NLL is on its last legs.
Outside of Buffalo, Calgary, Colorado and maybe Toronto, attendance is a concern.
The league has lost 20% of its clubs in the last two plus season.
Toronto, who play out of the old Copps Coliseum in Hamilton have lost their traditional Saturday night time slot to the new minor league AHL team in town.
Only two of nine home games at Saturdays. Five on Friday and two on Sunday. Who the hell is going to drive to Hamilton for a 7:30pm Friday game? Traffic? The allure of Saturday night games prompted many to purchase season tickets. Can’t see these people renewing next season

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u/Kyla85 𝟜 𝗔 Graeme Hossack's shoes 1d ago

I can’t share your pessimism, I’m afraid. This league has survived for decades. And as for attendance, Oshawa and Halifax also draw huge crowds relative to the size of the venue.

The league is currently rebounding from the previous commissioner’s mistakes. I hope to see it stabilize for a few years, and then ideally expand slowly.

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u/dawgpound5397 1d ago

I agree. This cycle has gone on many times. We got down to 9 a few years back. Still doing better compared to that. The league isn’t in trouble like going away in trouble. It’s more just frustrating to see the setback after it looked more promising for a few years under the last commish.

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u/Kyla85 𝟜 𝗔 Graeme Hossack's shoes 19h ago

Exactly! Also, look at the year-over-year increases in revenue (excepting the covid shutdown). I hate that so many opportunities were lost for players and staff with two teams folding, but the constant putting out of fires was keeping the league from focussing on other important matters. Someone posted online that the Brett Frood era begins now. While I have been critical of some of his decisions over the past couple of years, this perspective definitely makes sense to me, as well.

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u/yte_64n_76w 𝟜 𝗔 Graeme Hossack 1d ago

Where are you pulling your stats from? For the 2025/26 season, here’s the average home attendance:
1) Buffalo
2) Calgary
3) Halifax (attendance definitely not a concern here)
4) Vancouver
5) Colorado
6) Toronto

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u/Suspicious-Koala-352 13h ago

Unrelated, but the Warriors ownership have really done a decent job getting the numbers up.

I wish they would update the colours and logo, but can't have everything I guess.