A recent Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game between the Montréal Victoire and Minnesota Frost in Denver set a U.S. attendance record, with more than 14,000 fans chanting: “We want a team!” This excitement has sparked conversations about which cities should host the league’s potential 2025-26 expansion teams. Chicago, Vancouver, Denver, and Detroit stand out as strong contenders. Each has a rich sports culture and a passionate audience that could help the league grow and thrive.
Denver is an ideal candidate for a PWHL team because of its established hockey culture, fanbase, and infrastructure for professional sports. The success of the Colorado Avalanche evidences the city’s strong support for hockey, complemented by a thriving recreational scene that sparks interest in the game among youth. Denver’s sports market would offer significant sponsorship opportunities and media coverage, creating a strong foundation for a women’s professional hockey team.
Denver PWHL fans’ overt support during the Victoire vs. Frost game is a clear tell of their enthusiasm to potentially welcome a team. Additionally, Denver’s diverse and active community aligns perfectly with the PWHL’s goals of growing the game and promoting inclusivity. Expanding to Denver would also strategically extend the league’s presence into the western United States, attracting new fans and strengthening its reputation across North America.
As one of the largest cities in the U.S., Chicago has a passionate fanbase that hosts teams across all major leagues, which would make for a vibrant environment for a new hockey team. The city is already home to a plethora of youth programs, which could help build local talent pipelines. With elite facilities like the United Center and Wrigley Field, Chicago has the infrastructure to successfully host a PWHL team. Its central location also makes it an ideal hub for travel within the league with potential for friendly regional rivalries.
Vancouver would be another strong option as a host city due to its deep love for hockey and it being one of Canada’s most vibrant urban scenes. As home to the National Hockey League (NHL)’s Canucks and a thriving hockey community, Vancouver has a community of passionate fans who would embrace professional women’s hockey. The city’s picturesque setting and multicultural community would make it an appealing market for players, fans, and sponsors. Expanding to the West Coast also catches the eyes of potential donors for the PWHL, which could help build the league across all facets. Considering its reputation for hosting successful sports events in venues such as Rogers Arena, Vancouver has the means and community needed to host a franchise and grow the league’s presence on the West Coast.
Lastly, Detroit would be a qualified host city for a PWHL team, given its rich hockey culture and passionate fanbase. Known as “Hockeytown,” Detroit has a deep connection to the sport, with a long history of supporting the NHL’s Red Wings and a strong culture of youth hockey. With a community that values the sport as a whole, Detroit fits the criteria of what is needed to support a PWHL team.
Chicago, Vancouver, Denver, and Detroit each offer unique opportunities to help expand the PWHL and elevate professional women’s hockey. Denver’s public display of enthusiasm for a team may prompt the PWHL to prioritize adding them to the league before others. While Chicago’s status as a major sports centre with a thriving hockey culture would attract a large and diverse fan base, the PWHL may prefer a team based on the West Coast to help expand the league’s reach, like Vancouver. As a Canadian hockey hub with a proven track record of supporting women’s hockey events, Vancouver would further solidify the League’s presence in Canada. Detroit, with its deep hockey roots and reputation, offers a perfect blend of tradition and enthusiasm for the sport, but it may not be able to compete with larger fan bases in its area, like Chicago. Looking at the current league, there are three American teams and three Canadian teams, so one could predict that the PWHL would choose to add one team from the US and one team from Canada to maintain a balance for future seasons. All of these cities provide a mix of geographic diversity, supportive fan bases, and resources to help the PWHL continue to grow and inspire future generations of players and would all be exceptional additions to the league.
