The ECHL is a mid-level professional hockey league that was founded in 1988. The ECHL is an organization that creates a competitive structure for hockey teams to play in. The league defines the rules, manages the schedule, collates the standings, and provides a framework for a season of competition leading into the Kelly Cup championships.
The ECHL primarily serves as a developmental league for prospects aiming to reach the AHL or NHL.
The league was formed by combining teams from the defunct Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) and all American Hockey League (AAHL). In 2003 when the pro minor West Coast Hockey League ceased operations the surviving teams joined the East Coast Hockey League, known today simply as the ECHL.
The hierarchy of the ECHL places it as a double-A (AA) professional hockey league in North America. Sitting a tier above the ECHL players association (SPHL) and Federal Prospects Hockey League ( FPHL) and directly beneath the American Hockey League (AHL). The ECHL and AHL are both recognized by the collective bargaining agreements between the National Hockey League and the NHL players association (NHLPA). Collective bargaining contracts outlines wages, working conditions, benefits, and other terms of employment for an industry.
2024 financial records show that the ECHL had a net income of $2,180,549. Posting a revenue of 8.36 million with assets valued at 6.9 million. It had expenditures of 6.18 million with a total liability at 2.99 million.
At the top of the leagues management is the ECHL commissioner and commissioner emeritus followed by vice presidents for hockey operations and marketing/licensing. Directors, managers, and assistants continue the chain of command, then each of the thirty-one ECHL teams falls into the organizational structure, including GM, coaches,o and support staff. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the players who are the main focus of the ECHL developmental role.
The annual team budget for an ECHL team averages between 2 and 4 million dollars. Teams experience the same expenses as any small business with staffing, operational costs, and maintaining a community focus through advertising and public relations. The teams are also expected to generate revenue and create a positive economic impact in their respective communities.
Team funding commonly falls under these categories, yet may vary drastically by team as far as financial percentages for each budget item.
Private Ownership
ECHL teams are privately owned and funded by individual owners or groups of investors. Spire Hockey, part of Spire Sports + Entertainment falling under the wider umbrella of Spire Holdings, owns the Rapid City Rush. As stated by Emma Setzer, the CFO of Spire Motorsports, at a July 2025 press conference, ” Since owning the team we have tried to do the right thing with the community first mentality. Spire hockey is committed to winning in Rapid City and we will do everything it takes to make it happen.”
As a privately owned entity, Spire is not required to publicly disclose its financial information. The Rapid City Rush is considered a privately owned business under Spire.
Corporate Sponsorships
Teams secure sponsorships from various local companies to support their hockey operations and provide financial backing.
Corporate sponsorship of the Rapid City Rush is heavily evidenced in Rapid City. The 2025-26 promotional season calendar is full of local businesses sponsoring themed nights at games. Giveaways and other forms of events also highlight sponsorship by regional companies.
Ticket sales, merchandise sales, and food and beverage sales are the primary funding sources for many teams.
Local government agreements for arena use
Some ECHL teams enter into agreements with local government to use publicly owned arenas sharing revenues from tickets, food sales, and naming rights.
The Rapid City Rush have extended their lease with The Monument for another 5 years.
NHL / AHL Affiliation
While not directly funding the ECHL team, affiliation pays in other ways. It provides a source of players. This is important as the ECHL does not hold an annual draft. Individual teams are responsible for recruiting and signing their players.
An AHL team can also help its ECHL affiliate to manage its salary cap of $14,600 weekly. It is not uncommon for ECHL teams to get their AHL affiliate to sign players expressly to send them to the ECHL and alleviate the burden of the salary cap.
The Rapid City Rush are proud affiliates of the NHL Calgary Flames and the AHL Calgary Wranglers.