PWHL's First Foray Into Boston Was A Smashing Success

The first game for the Boston Fleet in Boston produced a sold out, energetic crowd. 5,968 fans from far and wide travelled into the city to watch the Fleet take on the Montreal Victoire. 

In a close, thrilling game, the Fleet ended up losing in overtime three-to-two. Although the Fleet left with fewer points than they wanted, they may have found a new home.  

The team typically plays their games two hours outside of the city in Lowell, MA. The arena is accessible via public transit. The commute however requires one to take the commuter rail to Lowell, then hop on a bus (if they are running) and then proceed to walk 10-15 minutes to Tsongas Center. 

While they have had good turnouts at Tsongas Center in the past, notably selling out the arena during the playoffs last season. 

An article written earlier in the year said,  “January 31, 2025 saw 5,908 fans. This was the third highest attendance record in Fleet  history at Tsongas Center. The record is succeeded only by game five of the playoffs last season, and the final regular season game of last season."

The second place attendance record took place on May 4th, 2024, when Boston faced Montreal in the final game on their regular season, they had 5,964 fans present.

The highest recorded attendance was on May 25th, 2024, when Boston faced Minnesota in game five of the Walter Cup Finals. The total attendance was 6,309, which takes the number one spot for attendance in Tsongas Center”. 

Now, just slightly behind the January 31st attendance record, the Fleet recorded 5,968 fans on Saturday afternoon at Agganis Arena. 

Fans waited up to an hour before the game to be let in to Agganis. 

Katie Soucy travelled from Plymouth, New Hampshire to see the Fleet play at Agganis. Soucy is a season ticket holder at Tsongas, and was in the front of the line waiting eagerly for the doors to open at Agganis. She said that she had been waiting “about 45 minutes” at 12:45. Doors didn’t open until one pm. 

Lise Gagnon travelled to Agganis from Montreal. She said the drive took “five to five and a half hours”. Gagnon is a season ticket holder for the Victoire. She had gathered with a crowd waiting in line. 

They group was ready to watch hockey, Gagnon said “ I can't wait to get in. [We’ve been waiting] 45 min to an hour, after arriving at 11:30”.

The line wrapped around the building as fans in both teams jerseys awaited Boston’s debut in Boston. 

For Soucy, the support for the team was something she’d never seen before. She said,  

“This is insane. Yeah, it's insane. It's so cool”. 

However one season ticket holder in Boston said that this still didn’t compare to other games she’d been to. 

“I went out to Montreal to watch the first matchup of Montreal-Boston. And wow, it is insane up there. It's crazier up there. It's just crazy”. She said. 

Not only was there madness outside, the lines inside the arena for merchandise were wrapping around the rink.

Fans were eager to get their hands on Fleet merchandise. The sold out crowd cheered on the team as they made their city debut. 

The players noticed the energy coming from the crowd as well. 

Fleet forward Jillian Dempsey said, “It was great getting to play in the city and have the fans turn out for this. We had the classic ‘Frankel’ chants in the third, those never disappoint. We were thrilled with the turnout that we got today.”

The Fleet are playing one more game at Agganis on March 26th, 2025. If the crowd is similar, the Fleet have a real decision to make about where they play in the future.