The City of Tampa is a hockey town and now there’s numbers to prove it.
NHL revenue is expected to hit a record high $6.2 billion this season with both in-person attendance and TV ratings seeing a jump. While Tampa Bay Lightning fans await a new Steven Stamkos contract and celebrate a Ryan McDonagh return, WalletHub is crunching the numbers to determine the best places to be if you’re a hockey fan. Turns out Tampa made the cut.
They ranked 76 U.S. cities based on 21 key indicators of a good hockey city. Their data set ranges from ticket prices to stadium capacity, coaching, and the performance level of each city’s teams.
"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," said Wallethub Analyst Cassandra Happe.
In the past five years, the Lightning have won back to back Stanley Cups and have 3 consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, one of the longest sellout streaks in the league and a fan base that's loyal to their core. The City of Tampa also hosted the NCAA Frozen Four in 2023 and had an overwhelmingly positive response. According to Wallethub’s findings, Tampa ranks 8th overall for hockey towns in the U.S.
When evaluating the best cities for hockey fans, Mike Lorenc, assistant professor of clinical medicine in the University of Michigan's sports management program, identified the top five indicators as having a local hockey culture, fan engagement, team performance, affordability and quality of facilities.
"Cities with a rich hockey history or a strong sports culture generally provide a deeper fan experience."
Other factors included: Reasonable ticket prices, merchandise costs, consistently competitive teams, and active, enthusiastic fan communities that enhance the experience.
You can see how each U.S. city ranked as a hockey town here.