National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that the league could be affected by the current tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
Bettman said 25% of the league’s revenue comes from its Canadian clubs. Though he said the Canadian teams perform well, Bettman added that there could be ramifications for the league depending on the state of Canadian tariffs.
“All players, no matter which country they play in, get paid in U.S. dollars,” Bettman told CNBC’s Becky Quick on “Squawk Box.” “So if the impact of the tariffs is to see the Canadian dollar drop relative to the U.S. dollar, it will make it more difficult and more painful.”
Bettman said he has not yet engaged in any conversations with the Trump administration, but he believes the core of the tension between the two countries is a “policy issue,” with Canadians and Americans getting “caught in the middle.”
“I’m hoping that this is a moment in …