A new study has found 67% of Canadians aged 13-65, equal to, 17 Million Canadians, consider themselves fans of women's sports...and that number came months before the launch of the PWHL.
A new study has found 67% of Canadians aged 13-65, equal to, 17 Million Canadians, consider themselves fans of women's sports...and that number came months before the launch of the PWHL.
New research was published this week showing that 67% of Canadians aged 13-65 consider themselves fans of women sports. It's a number that equals 17 million Canadians.
That statistic may not surprise fans of the PWHL who this week saw a record attendance for women's hockey at the Bell Centre in Montreal as 21,105 attended a game between PWHL Montreal and PWHL Toronto at the sold out facility. The record topped a match up between the two teams earlier this season at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto that saw a capacity crowd of 19,285.
“We have seen trends and proof points over the past few years, but now we have credible—and uniquely Canadian—data demonstrating that fans of women’s sport are a large, attractive audience for brands and investors,” said Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO at Canadian Women & Sport in a press release. “Women's pro sport is no longer a hypothetical opportunity. Case studies have been written, potential has been realized, and records have been broken. It’s time for more bold investment in professional women’s sport in Canada.”
Those who consider themselves fans of women's sports in Canada were "more diverse, educated and affluent than the general population of Canada" findings in the "It’s Time: Unlocking the Power of Pro Women’s Sport Fan" report found.
With this study conducted in October 2023, prior to the launch of the PWHL, it would be interesting to see updated results now with the first major professional sports league featuring the top North American athletes now housing three franchises in Canada in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. Ottawa currently leads the PWHL in attendance averaging 7,381. Montreal sits second averaging 7,245. Toronto plays in a much smaller venue, but they sold out every game of their regular season weeks before puck drop. The PHF previously operated two franchises in Canada, but the PWHL is the first professional league in Canada to bring together best on best competition.