NHL Teams With the Biggest Fan Bases - Major League Vacations (2024)

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NHL Teams With the Biggest Fan Bases - Major League Vacations (1)

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  • Al Cataline
  • July 1, 2022

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Which NHL teams have the biggest fan bases? Five teams ice out the competition when it comes to the red-hot loyalty of their fans. While it’s no surprise that many of the most popular NHL teams on the mainstream stage also have the biggest fan numbers, you might be surprised by just how devoted some hockey fans can be. Take a look at where the teams we all know and love rank on the list.

What Is the NHL?

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America. As of 2022, the NHL is comprised of 32 teams. While 25 of the teams in the NHL are based in the United States, the NHL also features a hearty group of seven Canadian teams. The NHL is considered the best professional ice hockey league on the planet using essentially any measure. It’s also one of the biggest overall professional leagues in the world. More than 20 million fans attend NHL games each year. However, the passion and fury coming from the stands can’t exactly be considered equal at every game. Teams that really bring the energy are fueled by long-standing team rivalries, local pride, and endearing childhood memories. The truest fans don’t settle for cheering on from home every time. Fans from around the world book getaways that connect them with their favorite hockey teams using packages from Major League Sports-Cations. Getting tickets for exclusive experiences involving the biggest sporting events in the world is as easy as booking a package online! Which hockey teams are the best to follow if you want to experience the energy in the stands? Take a look at the five teams with fan bases that really bring the fire to the ice!

The Five Teams with the Biggest Fan Bases

Can you guess the five NHL teams with the biggest fan bases? Fans that stay loyal to these jerseys are known as the fiercest of the fierce in a sport that’s infamous for having some pretty rabid fans. Take a look!

1. Chicago Blackhawks

It’s not really that surprising that the Chicago Blackhawks have amassed the largest fan base in the NHL. After all, this team was part of the NHL’s “Original Six.” Blackhawks fandom dates all the way back to when the team was founded in 1926. The adoration has only grown with each of the team’s six Stanley Cup wins. Just how many people consider themselves part of the Blackhawks kettle? The team’s fan base stands at over 2.7 million! However, it feels like a tight-knit community where players, coaches, and fans all seem to share inside jokes. In fact, the team has one of the most robust social media presences in the league.

2. Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings certainly aren’t in the red when it comes to their fan base numbers. With just over 2 million loyal fans, the Red Wings are flying high. There’s no doubt that the 11 Stanley Cups claimed by this team have something to do with the enthusiasm exuded from the stands at Little Caesars Arena. The Red Wings have actually had more Stanley Cup wins than any other American team even though they fall short of the 24 wins earned by The Canadiens. Founded in 1926, Detroit is one of the NHL’s “Original Six.” It makes sense that the Red Wings come in at second place in a neck-and-neck competition with the Blackhawk fan base. After all, the fan bases of these two teams have been sparring in the stands for nearly as long as there’s been an NHL. The two teams became instant rivals after facing off for the first time in November of 1926. One interesting piece of trivia that any diehard Detroit fan will know is that the Red Wings were actually the Cougars during that very first meetup nearly 100 years ago!

3. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers glide into third place with a fan base that reaches nearly 1.5 million. Flyers fans are known for their consistent attendance. In fact, this is one team that consistently gets seats at Wells Fargo Center filled to at least 80% to 85% capacity. Of course, Flyers fans never get more riled up than when they’re ruminating on the Flyers-Rangers rivalry. The teams have actually squared off 11 times in the Stanley Cup playoffs. While the Flyers rein with six of the 11 wins, the Rangers still have plenty to brag about. Those steeped in NHL legend know exactly why this rivalry is so fierce. It all dates back to when the Flyers eliminated the Rangers during the 1974 semifinals to mark the first time an expansion team pummeled an “Original Six” team during a playoff series. The Flyers then proceeded to have their first back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.

4. New York Rangers

New York Rangers fans are strong, loyal, and never ready to quit. The team constantly sells out seats at Madison Square Garden. In fact, Rangers fans are notorious for showing up even when the team is flailing. Of course, loyalty to the Rangers is something that cuts deep in some circles in New York for those tied up in the famous Islanders–Rangers rivalry. Known as the Battle of New York, this local rivalry separates Westchester County, Rockland County, Fairfield County, and most of New York’s boroughs from Nassau County, Suffolk County, Brooklyn, parts of Queens, and most of Long Island.

5. Boston Bruins

Things get pretty interesting once you start digging into the Bruins fan base. According to Nielson, Buffalo had the second-highest percentage (48%) of people watching or attending at least one of the home team’s games for the 12-13 season. The team was beaten only by Pittsburgh’s 54% engagement rate. Of course, this was the Crosby era when Pittsburgh went to the Eastern Conference Finals. Bruins history is fully intertwined with NHL history. The Bruins joined the NHL as the first American team in 1924. The team is also famous for having 52 alumni inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bruins fans are known for showing up above all else. In fact, they consistently sell out games at TD Garden.

Final Thoughts on the Biggest NHL Fan Bases

Having a big fan base isn’t just about amassing the biggest number of fans. For these five teams, it’s about harnessing the power and energy of the crowd to deliver what fans live for. If you live for hockey, book the sports vacation of your dreams with Major League Sports-Cations today. We bring you to the best sports destinations and events in the world!

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NHL Teams With the Biggest Fan Bases - Major League Vacations (2024)

FAQs

NHL Teams With the Biggest Fan Bases - Major League Vacations? ›

The most well-traveled team in the league is Edmonton's own Oilers. The Oilers claim the unofficial title of the NHL's top road warriors, traveling over 5,000 more miles than any other hockey team in any division. The Edmonton Oilers have nine games that require them to travel 2,000 miles or more to get to.

What NHL team has the most traveling fans? ›

The most well-traveled team in the league is Edmonton's own Oilers. The Oilers claim the unofficial title of the NHL's top road warriors, traveling over 5,000 more miles than any other hockey team in any division. The Edmonton Oilers have nine games that require them to travel 2,000 miles or more to get to.

What NHL team has best attendance? ›

2021-22 attendance statistics
TeamAverage Attendance
1.Tampa Bay Lightning19,092
2.Washington Capitals18,573
3.Minnesota Wild18,542
4.Nashville Predators18,495
29 more rows

What NHL team has the most sold out games? ›

For the record, confirmed with the Bruins, Boston has sold out 540 consecutive games. Tampa Bay does not have the longest sellout streak in the NHL. Jack we love you to cover our back.

What is the largest US city without an NHL team? ›

Largest United States Cities Without an NHL Team
CityPopulation
San Antonio1,466,791
San Diego1,410,791
Austin1,013,293
Jacksonville987,960
1 more row
Jan 9, 2023

Which teams travel the most? ›

Which NFL team has to travel the most in 2022?
  • Seattle Seahawks: 29,446 miles, 34 time zones.
  • Denver Broncos: 27,398 miles, 32 time zones.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: 25,534 miles, 22 time zones.
  • Miami Dolphins: 25,178 miles, 14 time zones.
  • New Orleans Saints: 24,976 miles, 30 time zones.
May 11, 2022

What is the smallest NHL market team? ›

Buffalo is the smallest of the 24 American N.H.L. markets. Raleigh, N.C., home of the Hurricanes, is the second smallest.

What team was Wayne Gretzky best on? ›

Gretzky had a major influence on the style of play of the Edmonton Oilers and in the NHL as a whole, helping to inspire a more team-based strategy. Using this approach, the Oilers, led by Gretzky, became the highest-scoring team in NHL history.

What was the longest NHL game in history? ›

The longest such game in history came in 1936 between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Maroons. After three shutout periods, the two teams entered overtime. Five periods later, the score was still 0-0. After a whopping 116 minutes of overtime, Mud Bruneteau won the game for the Red Wings in the sixth extra period.

Which of the following hockey teams has the most Stanley Cups? ›

There is no team that has been as successful in the NHL's illustrious history than the Montreal Canadiens. They hold the record for the most Stanley Cups won by a wide margin.

Who has the longest sellout streak? ›

The consecutive sellout record of 455 games was previously held by the Cleveland Indians and was surpassed by the Boston Red Sox on September 8, 2008. In this span of 455 sellout games, the Cleveland Indians had 2,988,056 more fans through the gate than the Boston Red Sox.

Which team has the longest sellout streak? ›

Green Bay Packers: Longest NFL Sellout Streak of All Time

Their stadium is the legendary Lambeau Field, which opened in 1957 as Green Bay City Stadium and was renamed in 1965 following the death of Packers co-founder Curly Lambeau.

Which NHL team has the biggest market? ›

The latest ranking reported that the New York Rangers is the most valuable NHL franchise after the 2021–22 NHL season. The fastest growing NHL franchise is the Edmonton Oilers, with a 136.1% increase in valuation since the 2017–18 NHL season ($0.575 billion to $1.275 billion).

What is the smallest town with a NHL team? ›

Quebec City was, and would be still, the second-smallest city in North America with a professional sports franchise (the smallest is Green Bay, Wisc.). The NHL, in trying to gain a foothold in the sports world, should continue to avoid small markets.

Which state produces the most NHL? ›

Producing the largest amount of American-born National Hockey League talent has long been part of the lore of Minnesota hockey. Minnesota has produced nearly 60 more NHL players than the next closest state, Massachusetts, and nearly 100 more than the third place state of Michigan.

What town has produced the most NHL players? ›

41 NHL athletes born in Detroit, 190 born in Michigan
RankCityNumber of NHL athletes born in city
1Detroit41
2Minneapolis38
3Boston35
4St. Paul34
1 more row
Apr 10, 2023

What is America's favorite team? ›

Which NFL team is the most popular in the U.S.? The Dallas Cowboys remain “America's Team,” at least in terms of search trends. USA TODAY obtained Google data from 2017 through 2022 and found the following 10 teams as the ones searched most often: Dallas Cowboys.

What is the most popular team in all of sports? ›

According to a survey, the Dallas Cowboys are the most popular team among all major professional sports leagues in the United States: NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.

Which team is the most popular team? ›

A recently conducted survey has declared the famous Indian Premier League team, Chennai Super Kings, as the most popular sports team with 5.12 million interactions. Grabbing the second spot is Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr with 5 million interactions.

What is the least successful NHL team? ›

The Maple Leafs lead all NHL franchises in losses (2,850).

What are the least desirable NHL cities for players? ›

Of the 10 agents polled by Custance, each named Edmonton as one of the least desirable cities for NHL players. But Edmonton is not the only city the players are railing against — Winnipeg came in a close second place in terms of cities to be avoided, with Ottawa and Toronto coming in fourth and fifth, respectively.

What team does Wayne Gretzky own? ›

Post retirement, Gretzky became part owner of the NHL team, the Phoenix Coyotes. He bought 10% stake back in May 2000 and became the team? s coach from October 2005 to September 2009. In 2016, he also became the vice-chairman and partner of the Oilers Entertainment Group.

What is the Gretzky rule? ›

The Gretzky Rule stated that when there were coincidental minor penalties, instead of each team playing with one fe. In the 1980s, the Gretzky's Oilers would statistically out score the opposition when there were 4 skaters on each side.

Who has most goals in NHL history? ›

Most Goals, Career
  • Wayne Gretzky. EDM, LAK, STL, NYR. 1,487. ...
  • Alex Ovechkin. WSH. 1,347. ...
  • Gordie Howe. DET, HFD. 1,767. ...
  • Jaromir Jagr. PIT, WSH, NYR, PHI, DAL, BOS, NJD, FLA, CGY. 1,733. ...
  • Brett Hull. CGY, STL, DAL, DET, PHX. 1,269. ...
  • Marcel Dionne. DET, LAK, NYR. 1,348. ...
  • Phil Esposito. CHI, BOS, NYR. 1,282. ...
  • Mike Gartner. WSH, MNS, NYR, TOR, PHX.

Has there ever been a 1 0 NHL game? ›

So, just how just how much of an anomaly is the 1-0 shootout final in the NHL? Since its inception in 2005, there have been 25 times that a team has won a scoreless game by virtue of the shootout -- an average of 3.57 times per season. To put this in perspective, there are 2,460 regular season games played each year.

Who went undefeated the longest in the NHL? ›

The longest undefeated streak (ties included) in NHL history belonged to the 1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers, who went unbeaten for 35 consecutive games. They also owned the record for the most consecutive games with at least one point.

What is the longest Stanley Cup? ›

The longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs (54 seasons), breaking a tie with the New York Rangers. New York ended their drought in 1994, while Toronto's drought is still active, as they have not made the Finals since winning the last Stanley Cup before the expansion era.

Has any team won 4 Stanley Cups in a row? ›

New York Islanders (1981, 1982)

But make no mistake about it, the Islanders teams that won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 through 1983 were a magnificent offensive team.

What player has his name on the Stanley Cup the most? ›

Henri Richard of the Canadiens, with his name engraved eleven times, played on more Stanley Cup champions than any other player.

What team did Wayne Gretzky win the most Stanley Cups with? ›

As centre and team captain, Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories (in the 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, and 1987–88 seasons).

What is the record for the most sold out games? ›

This is a list of video games that have sold the highest number of software units worldwide. The best-selling video game to date is Minecraft, a sandbox game released by Mojang in May 2009 for a wide range of PC, mobile and console platforms, selling more than 238 million copies across all platforms.

Which NFL stadium sells out the most? ›

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have sold out almost 150 consecutive home games. Their stadium is frequently referred to as the loudest stadium in the entire NFL.

What professional sports team has the most sellouts? ›

On July 9, 2011, the Dragons officially set a new record of 815 consecutive sellout games. The sellout streak is the longest across all professional sports in the US, passing the previous record set by the Portland Trail Blazers from 1977–1995.

Who has the most consecutive games without being shut out? ›

Annoyingly, that isn't even an NFL record. The 49ers themselves set it with 420 games played without a shutout.

What team has the most fans at away games? ›

The away team deserves a little credit too. After all, some teams bring fans from their home city on the road with them, while others tend to attract big crowds wherever they go for one reason or another. During the 2022 season, the Bengals attracted the most road fans, with 645,660 fans at their nine road games.

Which NHL team recently lost a sellout streak of 633 consecutive games? ›

The previous team to hold the NHL record for sellouts was the Pittsburgh Penguins, whose own sellout streak ended at 633 regular-season and postseason games on Oct. 16. Their streak began against the Blackhawks on Feb. 14, 2007.

What NHL team has the most expensive tickets? ›

But, who's really surprised? It's Leafs mania in our city right now and it's safe to say that Toronto fans are as devoted as it gets. So, it may not come as a surprise to you that Toronto has the most expensive NHL games of any league.

Who is the NHL favorite? ›

The Bruins are the favorites at FOX Bet (+350, bet $10 to win $45 total) to win the Stanley Cup for the seventh time and first since 2011.

What NHL team has the most popular social media? ›

Chicago Blackhawks

What city is the oldest NHL? ›

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens are the oldest hockey team in the NHL, one of the oldest continuously existing sports franchises in the world, and also one of the most successful in all of sports. The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, 24 division championships, and have 64 players in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

What city needs an NHL team? ›

Which cities does Wayne Gretzky think should get a new NHL team?
  • Kansas City. First on Gretzky's list is Kansas City. ...
  • Houston. Next up is Houston, which already has a hockey presence in the form of the Dallas Stars' AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. ...
  • Quebec City. ...
  • #1 - Houston. ...
  • #2 - Atlanta. ...
  • #3 - Quebec City. ...
  • #4 - Salt Lake City.
Mar 22, 2023

Which states have never had an NHL player? ›

The state of Arkansas has never produced an NHL player.

What are the biggest US cities without an NHL team? ›

Greater Houston is the largest market in terms of both city proper and metro population in the US or Canada without an NHL franchise; since 2016, Houston is also now the largest metropolitan area without a complete set of teams in the major professional sports leagues.

Where are the most NHL fans? ›

With 2.68 million fans, the Chicago Blackhawks was the National Hockey League (NHL) team account with the greatest number of Facebook likes in April 2023. The Facebook presence of the NHL itself had around 4.65 million fans.

What NHL team has the most Americans? ›

Chicago Blackhawks

Roster breakdown: 13 Americans, 11 Canadians, 2 Swedes, 1 Swiss, 1 Czech. The Blackhawks are tied (with multiple teams) for the second fewest countries represented in their ranks, but Chicago has dressed the largest number of U.S. players (13).

What nationality is most common in the NHL? ›

The NHL features players of 20 different nationalities, and 18 birth countries this season. Even from the graph above, it's easy to see that the Big Six, or the nations of Canada, United States, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, and Russia are still the most represented countries in the NHL.

Where is hockey played the most in the US? ›

Ice hockey is traditionally popular in Massachusetts (and New England in general), Michigan, New York (especially Upstate New York) and Minnesota within the United States. Minnesota is known as the hockey capital of the US.

How many people travel with an NHL team? ›

Each NHL team is allowed to carry a maximum of 23 players on their playing roster from the start of the NHL regular season until the NHL trade deadline which is in the first week of March. During this time each team must have a minimum of at least 20 players.

Which NFL team has the most fans that travel? ›

According to a 2019 Ticketmaster survey, an NFL fan travels an average of 296 miles for a game. Fans of the Los Angeles Rams traveled the most at an average of 483 miles for games. New Orleans Saints fans were second, traveling an average of 444 miles, and New England Patriots fans were next at an average of 433 miles.

Which NHL team has the most Tiktok followers? ›

Chicago Blackhawks

What is the NHL longest travel? ›

The Vancouver Canucks' record-setting road trip is under way. On Thursday the Canucks left the comfy confines of General Motors Place in Vancouver to embark on the longest road trip in NHL history, a 14-game, 13-city, 42-day voyage that will see them travel 12,885 miles.

What airline does the NHL use? ›

Jetz is the official carrier for all seven Canadian teams and one U.S team of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Do any NHL teams have their own plane? ›

Maher is also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. All 30 National Hockey League teams travel by charter aircraft or, in the case of teams like Detroit and Dallas, own their own planes.

What is the smallest city by population that has an NHL team? ›

Quebec City was, and would be still, the second-smallest city in North America with a professional sports franchise (the smallest is Green Bay, Wisc.). The NHL, in trying to gain a foothold in the sports world, should continue to avoid small markets.

What NFL team has the smallest fanbase? ›

Houston - The Houston Texans are the least popular team in the NFL, according to a recent study.

What team has the biggest fan base? ›

Dallas Cowboys have the most fans in the NFL

With a history of 190 straight sold-out regular-season and postseason games (home and away), the proud Texas squad plays its home games at the AT&T Stadium, where fans pack the stands game after game.

What sports team has the most loyal fans? ›

A Green Bay Packers fan base leads all NFL fan bases as of 2022, followed by the Patriots, Cowboys, the Eagles, and a Steeler fan base.

Who has the most followers in the NHL? ›

Alexander Ovechkin might be one of the NHL's oldest superstars, but he remains a hit on Instagram amongst fans of all ages. With almost 1,600,000 followers, the left winger for the Washington Capitals, who surpassed 800 goals, has the most admirers among NHL players.

Which hockey team has the most followers? ›

NHL teams - number of Twitter followers 2022

With 2.4 million followers, the Chicago Blackhawks had the most popular NHL team account on Twitter followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins with 2 million followers and 1.8 million followers respectively.

What is the most popular team in the NHL? ›

1 Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League as a member club of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division.

What is the shortest NHL career? ›

Randy Exelby's NHL career consisted of three minutes of ice time with the Montreal Canadiens and 60 minutes with the Edmonton Oilers. Every season, dozens of players get their first chance to play in the NHL. Playing in that first NHL game is something they'll always remember.

What is the longest NHL game in history? ›

The longest such game in history came in 1936 between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Maroons. After three shutout periods, the two teams entered overtime. Five periods later, the score was still 0-0. After a whopping 116 minutes of overtime, Mud Bruneteau won the game for the Red Wings in the sixth extra period.

Who has the longest NHL shift on ice? ›

New Jersey Devils phenom Jack Hughes recorded the longest shift in NHL history during his team's 6-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday evening. He played 7:30 of the last 8 minutes when Devils' head coach Lindy Ruff decided to pull the goalie but set the record by playing the final 6:02 of the game.

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