The detailed view of the game puck during the game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on December 13, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
WalletHub reports that hockey’s popularity and profitability are reaching new heights, with NHL revenue projected to hit a record $6.8 billion this season. \
The league is also seeing record-breaking attendance and television ratings, signaling growing interest in the sport across the U.S.
To determine the best cities for hockey fans, WalletHub analyzed 75 U.S. cities across 21 indicators, including ticket prices, stadium capacity and team performance.
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What they're saying:
"Hockey is one of the most underappreciated sports in America, but its popularity is steadily growing, bringing in record-breaking revenue and attendance," said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. "The best cities for hockey provide good opportunities to watch high-performing NHL teams in person, and sometimes NCAA teams as well. They also have some of the most dedicated fans in the country."
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Methodology:
To identify the best cities for hockey fans, WalletHub compared 75 U.S. cities across two categories: NHL Division I men’s hockey and NCAA Division I men’s hockey.
The study focused on cities that are home to at least one professional or college hockey team.
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The rankings were based on 21 metrics, including factors such as ticket prices, arena capacity and team performance. Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions for hockey fans. WalletHub said the weight assigned to each division was determined by its popularity, measured through the combined number of social media "Likes" for teams in each league.
Researchers then calculated a weighted average score for every city across all metrics to produce the final rankings.
Best cities for hockey fans
Dig deeper:
Boston
Boston ranked as the top city for hockey fans, led by the success of the NHL’s Boston Bruins. The franchise owns the fifth-most regular-season wins in league history, along with 20 division titles and six Stanley Cup championships — the third-highest total among U.S. cities. The Bruins are also the NHL’s third-most valuable franchise at $2.9 billion and boast one of the league’s most engaged fan bases on social media.
Boston also scored highly for its college hockey presence. The city is home to three NCAA Division I programs — Boston College, Boston University and Northeastern University. Together, Boston College and Boston University have captured 10 NCAA hockey championships, the most of any city in the country.
Detroit
Detroit placed second in the rankings, powered by the legacy of the Detroit Red Wings. The franchise has won 11 Stanley Cups, the most in NHL history, along with 16 division titles. The Red Wings are valued at $2.5 billion, ranking seventh in the league, and have one of the NHL’s most engaged and popular fan bases online.
When it comes to college hockey, Detroit does not have a Division I NCAA hockey program.
Denver
Denver came in third, thanks in part to the Colorado Avalanche, which has won three Stanley Cups — tied for the fifth-most championships in the nation. The Avalanche also rank among the league’s more popular teams on social media, while Denver features one of the country’s larger hockey arena capacities.
The Denver metro area also benefits from the presence of the University of Denver’s Division I hockey program, the Pioneers. The school stands out for offering some of the nation’s most affordable hockey season tickets, priced at $199 for the full season.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a WalletHub study ranking the best U.S. cities for hockey fans. This story was reported from Los Angeles.