Record crowd supports women’s hockey as Detroit breaks attendance milestone

In the United States, the Professional Women's Hockey League achieved a significant milestone when the Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens drew a record 14,288 fans at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. This prestigious match occurred on March 16, 2025, and marked an essential part of the league's Takeover Tour, aimed at highlighting potential expansion venues. The previous attendance record for a professional women's hockey game was 14,018 fans in Denver just two months earlier, demonstrating a growing interest in women’s professional hockey. The atmosphere during the event was electric, as supporters rallied for a possible PWHL expansion team in Detroit. Many attendees were seen holding signs declaring, "PWHL Detroit needs a team," indicating the local community's strong support for women's sports. As players celebrated the game with celebratory puck giveaways, they also acknowledged the significant attendance milestone of over 1 million fans since the league's debut season, reflecting the burgeoning popularity of women's hockey overall. It has been a long and challenging journey to reach this level of attendance, with Detroit previously hosting 13,736 fans a year prior for another PWHL matchup, which further underscores the city's growing enthusiasm for women's hockey. The league aims to continue these accomplishments by considering expansions to meet the demand and grow the sport's visibility, as evidenced by the turnout in various markets across the United States. Experts from the league are evaluating various factors, including market size and local support, as they contemplate expanding by adding more U.S. teams in the forthcoming seasons. This is crucial as the league prepares for its future, including possibly securing a more extensive U.S. television rights deal. Stakeholders are hopeful that the successful turnout and remarkable support in places like Detroit will encourage further investment and opportunities within professional women’s hockey. The successful event appears to indicate that women's hockey is at a critical juncture, making determined advances in fan engagement and regional support.