The Seattle Torrent have set a new U.S. arena record for women’s hockey, drawing a sellout crowd of 17,335 fans to Climate Pledge Arena for their matchup against the Toronto Sceptres. This marks the third time the U.S. attendance record has been broken during the PWHL’s landmark third season.
1. The U.S. Attendance Race (Season 3)
The record has shifted three times since the season began in November 2025:
- Nov 28, 2025: Seattle Torrent home opener (16,014 fans).
- Takeover Tour (DC): Montréal Victoire vs. New York Sirens at Capital One Arena (17,228 fans).
- Feb 27, 2026: Seattle Torrent vs. Toronto Sceptres (17,335 fans) — Current Record.
2. The “Olympic Effect”: Milano Cortina 2026
The league saw a significant surge in engagement after 61 of its players (30% of the league) competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics, bringing home a total of 41 medals.
- Fan Growth: PWHL Olympians saw a 38% increase in social media following (760K+ new followers) during the Games.
- Digital Boom: Website traffic was 6x higher during the Olympics, with 73% of that traffic coming from new users.
- Consumption: YouTube video views spiked by 200% over the Olympic period.
3. Commercial Momentum
The enthusiasm translates directly into revenue and league scaling:
- Merchandise: Sales surged by 101% in February compared to the pre-Olympic trend.
- Ticket Sales: February 24–25 marked the highest home venue ticket sale days since the season’s opening weekend.
- Attendance Trend: League attendance is up 17% year-over-year through the first 61 games of the season.
4. What’s Next: The Big Stage
The league is preparing for several high-capacity “Takeover” games in April 2026:
- April 3: Ottawa Charge at Canadian Tire Centre.
- April 4: New York Sirens at Madison Square Garden.
- April 11: Boston Fleet at TD Garden.