I grew up in Chicago, and have been a lifelong fan of the Chicago Blackhawks. They’ve been, to put it kindly, lousy over the past few years (after winning three Stanley Cups from 2010-2015); however, there are now signs that they’re improving. So far, they’ve been rebuilding via the National Hockey League (NHL) draft. Interestingly, in this morning’s The Athletic there is a story titled, “Does state income tax matter to NHL players? Response is emphatic yes — ‘Make more money.'” (Link may require registration)
Hockey players in ‘free agency’ can choose among 30 teams playing throughout the United States and Canada. The Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vegas Golden Knights play in states where there is no state income tax. The Athletic’s survey showed that 86.3% of responders (out of 117) said that it matters.
I know it’s shocking to those on the left, but rational individuals make decisions based on money. I used to live in California; state income tax took about 10% of my income. I now reside in Nevada; state income tax takes none of my income. The career span of an accountant is far longer than an NHL player; it behooves NHL players to make as much money as they can in their few years in the league. It’s one thing to make $5 million in California (where state taxes will take 14% of the amount made); it’s another to make $5 million in Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Nashville, Seattle, or Tampa where state taxes will take 0% of the amount made. (True, all NHL players will still face ‘jock taxes’ on their road games. But half the games played are at home, and that’s a big advantage.)
Yes, there are other factors that come into play: family, the team you would be playing for (do you like the coach/staff, other players; the chance that you could win a Stanley Cup), and climate (another pro for all the cities noted above except Seattle) are three that immediately come to mind. But the idea that taxes don’t influence decisions is laughable.
