NHL Power Rankings: Ranking the NHL Arenas' Fan Atmosphere (2024)

NHL fans are unlike any other fans of professional sports out there.

They are some of the most passionate, knowledgeable and often the most critical fans of any group out there.

Seeing a game is only a small portion of the experience for several people, many arenas have fans that are so loud, or bring certain traditions to their arenas that add to the overall experience for everybody else.

Before we move into the rankings here, allow me to say that I do not question the passion or love of the game or home team of any of these groups of fans. NHL fans are the best fans in all sports, and we all get to see that night in and night out.

So here is a ranking of the fans that produce the best atmosphere for their teams.

It has been a long time since we've seen the fans of Winnipeg. So for the time being, I will refrain from ranking the fans of Winnipeg.

No doubt the fans will create one of the most electric atmospheres in the whole of the NHL, but we haven't seen it yet.

As far as environment goes, it's hard to get too much worse than an arena that barely manages to get 8,000 people on a consistent basis.

There are some great hockey fans in Phoenix, and the white-out idea for the playoffs is a very cool thing, but as far as creating an awesome environment on a consistent basis, Phoenix leaves a lot to be desired.

Very similar to Phoenix, the Florida Panthers have almost always had a hard time filling their building.

More often than not, the opponent's fans have a stronger contingent that Panther fans.

It's hard for hockey to thrive in certain areas, and while the Panthers have had some success, their in-game environment definitely could improve.

It kills me to rate things this low, but it has gotten to a point where this is definitely the case.

Avalanche fans were pretty spoiled early on and now that the championships are no longer coming in, many Avalanche fans have flown the coop.

The last game I attended was disgraceful. Groups ahead of me getting mad because I was actually yelling and chanting for the team, and people who brought in an iPad and never looked up at the game once.

Training camp has been positive so far for Avalanche fans, and there is a lot of excitement around the team, and there are plans in the works to help the environment in the games improve.

Things will improve, but as of right now, Colorado's environment really isn't very good.

I have a feeling that Columbus is going to be another group that is going to have a boost in their in-game environment after some pretty aggressive offseason moves.

Up to this point there really hasn't been that much to be excited about with the Blue Jackets, but with the arrival of Jeff Carter, the Jackets and their fans are thinking big.

Environment will improve this year, I think, and just keep getting better.

Anaheim has a lot of great fans and a very solid team, I'm definitely not attempting to take a shot at the fans of the Ducks at all.

I guess the thing is that when I think about games in Anaheim, nothing really special comes to mind about the environment.

The fans come to games and cheer well enough, but it just seems a little humdrum to me.

At their loudest, the Carolina Hurricanes fans are incredibly loud, but this group is also a bit fickle.

The environment can be great or just a little so-so. Carolina has great fans, but the environment isn't that consistent.

New York Islanders fans are very optimistic about the future of their team, and they absolutely should be.

The excitement can be felt in the environment. I don't doubt that a year from now, the Islanders environment will jump a few spots, much like the Islanders will do in the standings.

St. Louis had some big moves last season, and their fans have been showing their appreciation.

St. Louis has yet to become one of the craziest houses in the NHL, but with the promise of this young team, count on seeing a lot more excitement throughout the whole building.

Dallas' environment is a little inconsistent, which is why they clock in at No. 21.

It can't be denied that when the Stars have their house rocking, you'd be hard-pressed to find a louder and more exciting building in hockey.

The only thing is that the Stars don't get that night in and night out. Still a great place to see a hockey game, though.

Ottawa has one of the best national anthem singers in the business, and he certainly gets things going with his immense baritone voice.

The environment since then has left a bit to be desired, as the Senators have fallen on hard times.

Not to worry though, when the Sens get back to their winning ways, they will very easily jump back up the rankings of the most electric environments.

New Jersey has a beautiful new building to play in but hasn't quite filled it with the same kind of tenacious rabid fans that followed this team when they were winning Stanley Cups.

They aren't far from being as crazed as they once were.

It's getting very tough to start ranking some of these teams because so many of their fan bases create such an awesome environment.

Tampa Bay is such a place. A place that took hold in a surprising location and has attracted a great group of fans that make their building absolutely shake.

A great environment for hockey in a very unlikely place.

Minnesota's environment kind of falls into the same category for me that Anaheim's does.

Minnesota's environment does a bit more for me simply because there is more appreciation for the game of hockey in general with the homages to the local high school and college players as well.

The state of hockey has a very loud and passionate following, which creates a strong environment, but could still get more wild and crazy.

I know I'm going to take heat for this one, but this definitely isn't a question of fan passion.

Red Wings fans are easily some of the most passionate in all of the NHL, but their environment hasn't been as wild and crazy as it had been in years past.

A large part of it is because Detroit has been hit so hard by the bad economy that it's really hard to sell all of the tickets.

Still, even without filling their building a lot of the time, Red Wings fans are able to keep their building respectable.

I am very excited to see what games in L.A. are going to be like this year.

Kings fans are already very loud and make the Staples Center an intimidating place to play, but this year they are adding in a supporters section that will hopefully take the top off the building!

If this movement is successful, we could see the Kings in the top 10 of fan atmosphere.

Capitals fans all seem to have agreed that wearing red is a must to their home games, which is always neat to see.

Crowds that create that giant wave of a single color really enhances the environment and makes the crowd seem like one gigantic entity.

I'm sure I'll hear it for having them this low on my list, but the Caps definitely create a very strong environment for their team.

Nashville is a place that has really surprised a lot of people in the way that it has become a great home for hockey.

The fans are loud and make it a hard place to play for the opposing teams, and the way they chant after a Predators goal may not be the classiest thing in the world, but it does add to the environment.

Add the fact that there is live musical entertainment during intermissions, and you've got a very fan-friendly environment.

Pittsburgh really has a great environment to play in.

The fans are loud and rowdy and cheer throughout the entirety of the game. They also can really recognize when big moments are coming along and raise their game to cheer on their team.

Pittsburgh is one of the most exciting places to play in hockey.

Calgary has a very passionate group of fans that get that Saddledome rocking.

The environment hasn't been as great as it has in the past, but Calgary fans still have to be given their due for making their building a tough place to play.

It's exciting to watch the "Sea of Red" in Calgary as the fans come to the game.

I live in Colorado, so I don't get to see a lot of Buffalo home games, but let me tell you how impressed I was when I saw the Sabres play the Flyers in the playoffs.

That building was absolutely rocking and rolling.

Buffalo is going to have a lot to cheer about this year, and those fans are going to make their arena jump.

I haven't given the San Jose Sharks enough love in the past, but I cannot deny that the Shark Tank has one of the most exciting environments to see a hockey game in the whole NHL.

Their building is loud and crazy and the building staff knows how to work their fans into an absolute frenzy before the game starts.

Congrats, San Jose, you're in the top 10.

Oilers fans definitely get the award for being some of the most dedicated fans in hockey, as their team has been the bottom feeders of the NHL in recent years.

Yet they still come and cheer and scream and make their hometown a really tough place to play.

Edmonton is always wild and crazy.

Canadian fans are so proud of their teams and always help create such an amazing atmosphere in their arenas.

Vancouver's fans have one of the best teams in hockey to cheer for, and cheer they do.

They fill a very large arena every night and scream their heads off.

Plus, they are home to two of the most interesting fellows in all of hockey, the Green Men. A great deal of the excitement in these games comes from seeing what crazy things these guys are going to do next!

Boston has some very loud and intimidating fans, but they definitely bring some class to the table as well.

During a series with Montreal where the American National Anthem was booed in Canada, the Bruins fans returned the favor by cheering the Canadian National Anthem louder than the American National Anthem when the games returned to Boston.

They also have a very cool pregame ritual of passing the large Bruin flag around the lower level of the arena.

Very exciting environment to play hockey.

Another incredibly intimidating arena to play in, the Chicago Blackhawks have fans that create an amazing environment before the game ever starts.

During the National Anthems, the Blackhawks fans have a tradition of cheering throughout the singing.

The environment is absolutely electric and exciting and amazing.

It is hard to get much better than that.

The Philadelphia Flyers have an arena that is easily one of the most intimidating arenas to play in in the whole of the NHL.

Their fans are loud and some of the meanest in all of hockey. If you mess with them, regardless of which team you play for, they will let you know it.

It's always cool to have an environment of fans who are that into the game.

Madison Square Garden is one of the most amazing places.

Bruce Boudreau had the audacity to question the ability of Rangers fans to create an intimidating environment during last year's playoffs and was greeted with an amazing chant of "can you hear us?"

This building is one of the loudest and best places to watch any sporting event.

Toronto is often referred to as one of the most difficult places for teams to play because of the environment created here.

With fans like the Leafs fans, it is no wonder that the environment in their arena is around tops in the league.

One of the largest arenas in the NHL that is filled to capacity every single game.

This fan base creates arguably the most electric atmosphere in the entire NHL.

Forgetting the 21,000 screaming fans who all know the game of hockey very well, the history that comes with this environment is enough to make any hockey fan get chills.