A few weeks ago, the Premier Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) celebrated a sky-high milestone. They played the second game on their PWHL Takeover Tour in Vancouver. The Hoophall Classic was further an example of a neutral-site regular-season game, which attracted 19,038 fans. The attendance is the fourth largest in PWHL history. It’s a moment that marks both the growing popularity of the sport and the long-standing support for women’s ice hockey.
The PWHL Takeover Tour showcases nine thrilling neutral-site games across North America. These games will help introduce more people to the incredible talent of women’s hockey and expand our fan base. With the Vancouver game considered an immense success, league officials were hopeful for future touches.
Amy Scheer, PWHL’s Commissioner, stated, “Expanding to Vancouver reflects the growing momentum behind the league and the incredible passion of our fanbase since launching in January 2024.”
A New Home for Women’s Hockey
The newly-created PWHL Vancouver franchise will have the legendary Pacific Coliseum as its home. This beautiful arena has a storied past as the former home of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. So far, the team has decided to go with “pacific blue” as the team’s main color. Their courageous decision will be in effect until they decree their final permanent name.
With PWHL Vancouver now on board, the new league’s roster gets even stronger. The league’s success is reflected in its current membership, which includes franchises in Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto. The expansion to Vancouver illustrates the PWHL’s commitment to creating a sustainable business model for women’s ice hockey, a goal that has eluded previous leagues.
Setting Attendance Records
The PWHL recently set a global attendance record for women’s hockey, attracting 21,105 fans to a sold-out arena in Montreal during April 2024. This recent accomplishment does much more than celebrate the league’s success, it continues to show the opportunity for more growth in additional cities.
That record-breaking attendance in Montreal matches the PWHL’s goals to further raise the profile of women’s hockey. This huge turnout in Vancouver bodes well for the league’s vision and further validates the league’s plan to intentionally attract and broaden its audience.
Support from Notable Figures
The PWHL benefits from the single entity ownership structure underpinned by Mark and Kimbra Walter. Additionally, the league’s Board of Directors includes American tennis icon Billie Jean King, a strong advocate for women’s sports. Beyond the dollars, their involvement brings credibility to the league. It further increases their visibility while they work to ensure that they leave a permanent legacy for women’s ice hockey.
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