The PWHL is stopping at Madison Square Garden for the first time in league history, but fans should expect more games at MSG in the future.
This weekend's game at Madison Square Garden, which sold out several weeks ahead of puck drop, won't be the final time the PWHL plays in Manhattan. It's surprising it took the league three seasons to get a game at MSG, but now that they've landed in what's often referred to as "The World's Most Famous Arena," expect the league to return, perhaps with increasing regularity.
Across the Hudson River, the New York Sirens have continued to show growth in their attendance marks. In year one, then PWHL New York struggled. Not due to a lack of interest, but due to a lack of consistency, marketing, and support. The team bounced between a disastrous tenure in Bridgeport, Connecticut, a failed attempt to lay roots on Long Island, and eventually, to a more successful and logical end at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The constant hop, often asking fans to travel more than an hour in various directions, between three different states, resulted in an average attendance of 2,496 across 12 home games.
Year two saw a very modest increase in attendance for the now New York Sirens who drew an average of 2,764 to the Prudential Center in 13 games. It was a step back to the efforts other teams had already undergone in year one, but a major step forward in providing stability for the fan base.
This season however, the New York Sirens have lunged forward averaging 3,836 through 11 games, a number that will get boosted significantly by the Madison Square Garden game, as the league counts it as a home game as they do home games at Scotiabank Arena, Bell Centre, and Canadian Tire Centre in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa respectively.
While Madison Square Garden is generally considered the busiest venue in North America, there remains open dates, and even more appealing for Madison Square Garden itself, the opportunity for double headers.
This season the PWHL has already proven that double header games can work for the league. In late March, Detroit drew 15,938 fans for a 1pm game ahead of an evening contest for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
Madison Square Garden is sold out for the PWHL's New York Sirens against the Seattle Torrent at 8pm, following a 12:30 New York Rangers' game.
On April 11 Boston's TD Garden will welcome a capacity crowd for the Boston Fleet and Montreal Victoire at 7pm, with the NHL's Boston Bruins playing at 12:30 earlier in the day.
As the PWHL continues to expand, there will be fewer premier markets for PWHL Takeover Tour games, but the ability to play at premier venues within existing markets remains a tempting, and logical path for the league to follow, particularly given the ticket sale success of many games this season.
With the success of this year's first foray into Madison Square Garden, New York Sirens fans should anticipate an annual visit to the Manhattan venue, and in all likelihood, multiple games each season at MSG.
With the PWHL pushing their footprint to 10 or 12 teams in time for next season, a schedule expansion is certain to follow in the coming season. With more home games available, the league will look at ways to continue to grow their brand and draw in new fans. Playing at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden seems like one of the most direct routes to continuing to grow the Sirens' following. While the Prudential Center is likely to remain the Sirens' home venue, more frequent trips across the Hudson are inevitable.