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Sponsors issue harsh warning to the NHL due to their poor crisis management response

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Mike Armenti
November 6, 2021  (3:40 PM)
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The National Hockey League is reportedly dealing with some very unhappy sponsors following the Gary Bettman, Bill Daly interview last week in response to the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault cover-up scandal.

On Saturday, TSN's Rick Westhead, the journalist who has spearheaded the coverage of Kyle Beach's story, reported that several sponsors have notified the league that they expect the league to take steps to improve upon how it has handled the scandal thus far. Westhead also said that sponsors are very displeased with the NHL's approach to crisis management.

One of the main issues that sponsors have taken with the league was Gary Bettman and Bill Daly's poor presentation last week, with one marketing executive being quoted as saying "they seemed to have no clue about respecting the gravity of the situation".

This is the type of situation that could persuade owners into potentially looking at delivering Bettman and Daly their walking papers and bringing in a new Commissioner and Deputy, one or both of whom actually appear as though they have a conscience.

Obviously, we haven't heard the last of this situation, and given the abysmal job that the league has done to this point in providing Beach with at least some of the justice that he deserves, perhaps it is time for a change at the highest level.