With the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinals in full gear but the NHL facing $2.5 billion in potential revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best Cities for Hockey Fans, as well as its Stanley Cup Facts infographic.
To determine the best places for hockey spectators, WalletHub compared 73 U.S. cities based on two divisional categories, professional and college hockey, across 21 key metrics. The data set ranges from the performance level of the city’s teams to minimum season ticket prices to stadium capacity.
| Top 20 Cities for Hockey Fans | |
| 1. Boston, MA | 11. Sunrise, FL |
| 2. Detroit, MI | 12. Anaheim, CA |
| 3. Pittsburgh, PA | 13. Washington, DC |
| 4. New York, NY | 14. Philadelphia, PA |
| 5. St. Louis, MO | 15. Dallas, TX |
| 6. Denver, CO | 16. Raleigh, NC |
| 7. Newark, NJ | 17. Glendale, AZ |
| 8. Tampa, FL | 18. St. Paul, MN |
| 9. Chicago, IL | 19. San Jose, CA |
| 10. Buffalo, NY | 20. Columbus, OH |
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-hockey-fans/13283
Stanley Cup Facts
- $15.9M – Highest NHL salary for the 20-21 season (Auston Matthews), compared to $43M+, highest salary in the NBA (Stephen Curry).
- $2.95M – Average viewers for the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Dallas Stars (least watched Cup clincher in two decades).
- 56 – Number of games during the 2021 NHL season (down from the usual 82 games).