The PWHL had venue issues in year one in two of their three American markets. They chose the biggest markets, but not necessarily the best fit. Boston is a perfect place for women’s hockey, but Lowell is a trek for many fans. The league also found issues with placing their New York franchise over an hour outside the city in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Across the United States, there are dozens and dozens of adequate arenas, but the challenge examining American markets is finding a place that will embrace hockey. It may actually benefit the league to avoid NHL markets in some cases, although the PWHL seems stuck, perhaps to their detriment, on leaning on an NHL model that is less likely to work with women’s hockey fans.
While a market like Detroit sits high on wish lists venue availability could doom a bid. Little Caesars Arena is already packed with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and a plethora of concerts. It’s doable, but the league has plenty of options in the United States.
Here’s a look at eight venues in the USA that could be viable expansion locations during this round, or a future round of PWHL expansion.
Arenas In The United States
1. T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas – Vegas wants a PWHL team. From the mouth of the Vegas Golden Knights’ president, he stated “we want to be a part of that.” And in a city where there are a plethora of methods to distribute tickets for games at the 17,500 seat venue, where Canadians flock in the winter months, and where getting a Golden Knights’ ticket is like hitting the jackpot, don’t count out a western expansion. Almost every city in North America flies regularly to Vegas at affordable rates, meaning even visiting fans could build it into their schedule.
2. Bridgestone Arena, Nashville – If the league wants to dip south and west simultaneously, why not Nashville. The Nashville Predators of the NHL are the primary tenant, and have shown themselves as a supportive organization to growing opportunities for women and girls in hockey. The 17,159 seat venue would be an ideal location, and Nashville’s girls hockey programs are on the rise.
3. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee – There is no hockey tenant in Downtown Milwaukee, and the PWHL could rectify that. Milwaukee has a solid girls hockey system, and sitting only an hour west of Madison, you’ve got the two most populous cities in the state, both supportive of women’s hockey, within striking distance. The Milwaukee Bucks are in the house, but as a city the NHL has never seemingly explore, and with a 15,178 pro venue available, it could be a match made in heaven. It would be pretty easy to see a few games a season make that trip to Madison to play at the Kohl Center, another pro ready venue, albeit one heavily used by the University of Wisconsin…where many PWHL prospects come from. If the league wanted to get more creative, they could always look farther north to Green Bay.
4. PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh – Another single tenant NHL building, and one that has been very open about their desire for a PWHL team. Will the city embrace a professional women’s hockey team like they do the NHL’s Penguins? The response at the neutral site game in Pittsburgh wasn’t a slam dunk, but the Pens Elite girls program is also behind any bid, and that’s another plus.
5. Allstate Arena, Rosemont – Rosemont. That’s the number one detractor for this venue. If the address read “Chicago,” this would be a no brainer. The 16,692 seat venue is home to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, who are one of the top attendance drawing teams in the league. Still, it’s an hour via public transit to Rosemont, and 30 minutes, if traffic behaves from the city center. The PWHL has shown a willingness to look outside city lines, but it’s also been an issue in both American markets using this strategy.
6. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis – Perhaps overlooked in the conversation for expansion is another major American city that would help bridge the east to west gap, Indianapolis. The Gainbridge Fieldhouse seats 17,294 fans and is without a hockey tenant. As well, the city has shown a feverish passion for women’s sports this season with the arrival of Caitlin Clark. Could it translate to hockey? The Fishers Event Center is another option in the city, and the Indy Junior Fuel girls teams are there to support.
7. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland – We could have just as easily listed Portland’s Moda Center, but with the WNBA heading there soon, and the NBA already at the venue, sharing with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks at the 12,000 seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum might be more logical. Portland is a progressive city with strong women’s sports support. If the PWHL wants to go west, it could be a spectacular fit.
8. Nationwide Arena, Columbus – Columbus has a number of suitable venues, as does Ohio as a whole, whether it’s Cleveland, Toledo, or Cincinnati. An “Ohio” team based out of Columbus would be an easy sell for the league, and it would also be a popular location for prospects coming from the powerhouse Ohio State Buckeyes.
9. Enterprise Center, St. Louis – Located in Downtown St. Louis, the 18,096 seat Enterprise Center has only one tenant, the NHL’s Blues. It means there would be significant availability, opportunities for cross promotion, and space for the PWHL to grow into the venue. Whether it’s now or later, St. Louis could be on the list, and binging home the Dunne sisters to play in front of their home crowd could be a fun moment.
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