The PWHL is capitalizing on its momentum by announcing two new teams, potentially hitting the ice in 2025. News of the expansion dropped on Tuesday afternoon.
“Expansion is the first question we get asked at every event we’re at,” Amy Sheer, the Senior Vice President of the PWHL, said in an interview at the espnW Summit in California on Tuesday. “It just seems like the right time to look into it. And I think once we have these conversations and understand what the real interest is, we’ll understand if this is the right time or not. But it was the right time to put the word out.”
Where Could the PWHL Expand to?
While they are still in the early stages of planning, many cities could have the chance to earn a team. According to Sportico, there is a few levels of criteria that each potential city that the league is looking at to earn a team. Those levels are:
- Market size and media reach
- Available facilities and infrastructure
- Local economic opportunities and corporate sponsorship leads
- Community fanbase and youth hockey presence
Expansion is important for many reasons, other than just signifying how much the league has grown and how it could continue to flourish. With six teams, there is a limited number of roster spots. With more European athletes hoping to make the jump into the PWHL, plus more college athletes coming up due to COVID-year eligibility, if the league wants to keep up with the influx of players, they need a place to put them.
In other leagues in years past, there have been professional women’s hockey teams in places like Connecticut, Buffalo, Brampton and Mississauga.
There is potential for new cities as well. The league will probably start with cities that already have a strong NHL foundation and that meet those four checkmarks already. The first cities that come to mind are places like Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Buffalo, Chicago or Detroit.
PWHL Games in New Locations
In addition to announcing expansion for new teams to the league, Sheer announced that the PWHL will be looking to play games overseas in Europe and playing an outdoor game.
Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s SVP of Business Operations:
– 9 games outside of main markets in Canada and USA
AND
“We’re going towards an outdoor game, we’re going to work towards games in Europe…”pic.twitter.com/hB01x6bumK
— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) October 29, 2024
North American women’s hockey has been played overseas mainly during Olympic time or in exhibition matches against other countries. It will be the first time the PWHL will host an exhibition game outside of North America.
It is uncertain at this time if the PWHL teams will just play against each other in Europe, or if they will play against other European clubs.
The last time a North American women’s hockey league played an outdoor game was back in the PHF days, where they would host a Winter Classic. An outdoor game, if it mimics the NHL’s model of the Stadium Series, the Winter Classic or the Heritage Classic would allow for teams to fill a space they don’t normally play at or an arena that doesn’t normally see hockey action, different uniforms and other components that will financially boost the league with ticket sales or merchandise orders.
The news of expansion and games in new places and markets is an exciting moment for the PWHL as it continues to grow and explore new avenues of making women’s hockey more accessible to athletes, fans and people around the world.
Main photo by: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
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