Posted by: Adam McCann

Hockey is heating up in America. Both participation and attendance are up, for one. And fans who want to see the NHL live are willing to pay a lot, as their ticket prices exceed those of the NBA, on average.

It’s an exciting time of year for hockey fans, too, as the Stanley Cup finals are approaching. One of the teams, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, has the chance to become the second team to win the Stanley Cup during its inaugural season. In contrast, their opponents, the Washington Capitals, have never won the finals but have qualified for the playoffs 27 times.

So for all the diehard and rookie fans, WalletHub crunched the numbers to determine the best places for hockey enthusiasts. We ranked 73 U.S. cities based on 21 key indicators of a good hockey city. Our data set ranges from ticket prices to stadium capacity to the performance level of each city’s teams. Read on for the winners, commentary from a panel of sports experts and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/13283/geochart-hockey.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2M5dRT4>

 

Best Hockey Cities

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘NHL’ Rank	‘NCAA’ Rank
1	Boston, MA	58.96	3	1
2	Detroit, MI	57.39	1	56
3	Pittsburgh, PA	55.49	2	26
4	New York, NY	51.01	4	56
5	Chicago, IL	46.18	5	56
6	Newark, NJ	44.45	6	56
7	St. Louis, MO	44.41	7	56
8	Buffalo, NY	44.36	9	37
9	Anaheim, CA	43.80	8	56
10	Washington, DC	43.36	10	56
11	Philadelphia, PA	41.68	11	56
12	San Jose, CA	40.89	12	56
13	St. Paul, MN	40.64	13	56
14	Denver, CO	39.04	17	16
15	Sunrise, FL	39.00	14	56
16	Tampa, FL	38.82	15	56
17	Los Angeles, CA	36.17	16	56
18	Las Vegas, NV	34.24	18	56
19	Dallas, TX	34.17	19	56
20	Glendale, AZ	33.69	20	56
21	Nashville, TN	33.06	21	56
22	Raleigh, NC	31.17	22	56
23	Columbus, OH	27.63	23	53
24	Ann Arbor, MI	20.33	24	2
25	Durham, NH	19.68	24	3
26	Grand Forks, ND	19.65	24	4
27	Lewiston, NY	18.97	24	5
28	Hamilton, NY	18.71	24	6
29	Hanover, NH	18.51	24	7
30	Orono, ME	18.42	24	8
31	Houghton, MI	17.92	24	9
32	West Point, NY	17.63	24	10
33	Big Rapids, MI	17.26	24	11
34	Colorado Springs, CO	17.11	24	12
35	New Haven, CT	16.59	24	13
36	Potsdam, NY	16.49	24	14
37	State College, PA	16.49	24	15
38	Madison, WI	15.99	24	17
39	Minneapolis, MN	15.49	24	18
40	Sault Ste. Marie, MI	15.18	24	19
41	Bowling Green, OH	14.71	24	20
42	Ithaca, NY	14.13	24	21
43	Canton, NY	14.12	24	22
44	Cambridge, MA	13.62	24	23
45	Bemidji, MN	12.97	24	27
46	St. Cloud, MN	12.84	24	28
47	Schenectady, NY	12.36	24	29
48	Worcester, MA	12.35	24	30
49	East Lansing, MI	12.24	24	24
50	Providence, RI	12.23	24	31
51	South Bend, IN	12.18	24	32
52	Fairfield, CT	12.08	24	33
53	Marquette, MI	12.08	24	34
54	Rochester, NY	12.07	24	35
55	Storrs, CT	12.05	24	25
56	Tempe, AZ	11.83	24	36
57	Duluth, MN	11.48	24	38
58	Waltham, MA	10.95	24	39
59	Princeton, NJ	10.87	24	40
60	North Andover, MA	10.62	24	41
61	Amherst, MA	10.61	24	42
62	Lowell, MA	10.57	24	43
63	Oxford, OH	10.55	24	44
64	Troy, NY	10.42	24	45
65	Mankato, MN	10.40	24	46
66	Anchorage, AK	9.86	24	48
67	Burlington, VT	9.36	24	47
68	Erie, PA	8.59	24	49
69	Omaha, NE	8.27	24	50
70	Huntsville, AL	7.58	24	52
71	Fairbanks, AK	7.28	24	51
72	Kalamazoo, MI	6.72	24	54
73	Springfield, MA	6.12	24	55

Ask the Experts

With rising attendance levels, TV ratings and revenues come a new set of challenges for hockey stakeholders. For additional insight about the business side of the sport, hockey fandom and more, we asked a panel of sports experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are the biggest challenges facing the business of professional hockey today?
2. Do you have any tips for how hockey fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
3. How does the NHL compare to other major league sports in terms of ensuring the safety and health of their players in the short and long term?
4. In evaluating the best cities for hockey fans, what are the top five indicators?
5. With sports betting now federally legal, how will the Stanley Cup finals be affected?

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• Brian Savard Director of Athletic Communications, Plattsburgh State
• Michael Bielak Director of Athletic Communications, State University of New York at Oswego
• Chris McKelvie Head Men's Hockey Coach, Bethel University
• Don Parsons Head Coach, Men’s Ice Hockey, Lebanon Valley College

Brian Savard Director of Athletic Communications, Plattsburgh State

Do you have any tips for how hockey fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?

I think college hockey is a great avenue for fans who don't want to plunk hundreds of dollars on a single-game ticket. If a hockey fan wants to include his or her family in the hockey experience, look no further than a college hockey game. Tickets to college hockey games are incredibly affordable, and the level of play is still outstanding. Plus, many college hockey games at both the Division I and Division III levels have elements of fan engagement that resemble what you would see at a professional game.

Michael Bielak Director of Athletic Communications, State University of New York at Oswego

Do you have any tips for how hockey fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?

Come to see Oswego State men's and women's ice hockey games. Tickets and concessions are very affordable!

How does the NHL compare to other major league sports in terms of ensuring the safety and health of their players in the short and long term?

My familiarity with major league sports health and safety protocol is not enough comment.

In evaluating the best cities for hockey fans, what are the top five indicators?

Not sure what the five indicators would be, but Oswego State men's ice hockey puts more than 2,000 fans in its state-of-the-art facility for each of its 13 or more home games in a given year. That is a tell-tale sign of a great hockey city.

Chris McKelvie Head Men's Hockey Coach, Bethel University

What are the biggest challenges facing the business of professional hockey today?

The biggest challenge facing professional hockey is the knowledge and exposure of the game. I don't believe hockey is any more expensive than any other sport to go watch. The difference is there are many pockets in America that do not know the rules of hockey and what is going on out there.

Do you have any tips for how hockey fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?

Go to a Division 1 or AHL game. The AHL is a step below the NHL but to the untrained eye, you might not know it when watching it live. Once people have seen a game live they are hooked.

How does the NHL compare to other major league sports in terms of ensuring the safety and health of their players in the short and long term?

As a former pro player myself I think professional hockey does a great job protecting its players. Part of the issue is the player themselves. We want to be known as these tough hockey players so many players do not fully disclose the extent of their injury.

In evaluating the best cities for hockey fans, what are the top five indicators?

Attendance, the atmosphere within the arena during the game, history of hockey in city, affordability, team performance.

Don Parsons Head Coach, Men’s Ice Hockey, Lebanon Valley College

What are the biggest challenges facing the business of professional hockey today?

I think professional hockey has made incredible strides in the last few years. Rule changes have made the game more exciting for the fans to watch, the players are doing a much better job getting themselves out there and putting an emphasis on being good role models for kids, which I believe ALL other sports are lacking and USA Hockey is doing a great job getting kids playing hockey at an early age. At this point a challenge will be the ability to continue on this upward pace of growing the game. Another challenge is that hockey is not a cheap sport to play, however like I mentioned USA Hockey offers FREE learn to play hockey clinics where they give the needed equipment to kids all over the country. NHL players like Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh and other star players in their respective cities, host multiple events that give kids the ability to try ice hockey for free and meet their favorite NHL players.

Do you have any tips for how hockey fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?

Watching the NHL on TV has been the most exciting since I can ever remember. As I mentioned in the previous question, the current rule changes have made the game fun to watch for the most experienced hockey fan to someone who has never seen a game in their life.

As a NCAA DIII college coach at Lebanon Valley College, I know how expensive hockey can be as a player or even a fan. However, there is so much hockey being played across the country now that in just about any city or town you can find a very exciting brand of hockey to go and watch. From NCAA DI college hockey through DIII and the ACHA college hockey has grown tremendously and are very exciting games to watch.

If you don’t live in or near a college hockey program, you are sure to be close to a JR Program that host top level athletes who compete in hopes of earning a college hockey scholarship and climbing the ladder to the NHL. JR Leagues such as the USHL, NAHL, EHL, USPHL, NA3HL and the WSHL all play at a very high level where a family can go for very little cost and enjoy a great brand of hockey.

How does the NHL compare to other major league sports in terms of ensuring the safety and health of their players in the short and long term?

The NHL is doing a very good job being proactive on any type of injury whether it’s a muscle pull or head injury. During games, if a player takes a big hit or comes off the ice injured during a shift, they are immediately sent to what’s called the quiet room to be evaluated no matter who the player or what the game situation is! I think now more than ever we are realizing that hockey is just a game and never worth jeopardizing a players future on or off the ice. TBI is a very serious issue that all sports are looking very closely at.

NHL medical staffs are incredibly educated and pay close attention to their players to ensure that they are treated and put back on the ice when they are absolutely ready.

In evaluating the best cities for hockey fans, what are the top five indicators?

As far as the NHL I would say winning is the obvious answer to be the number one indicator. Very few franchises can survive a market if the finish last every season. The second I believe would be the availability of the team’s players to be spokesman and role models for our kids. Do the teams get there players out in the public? If so, I think fan will always support their teams. Cost factor that goes into bringing a family to the game is something that would affect the team’s ability to flourish. Sporting events have become so expensive, after parking ($25), 5 tickets ($250), food and drink ($75) and these are low figures, teams must find a low cost alternative to offer its fans who obviously can’t afford $450-$500 to see an NHL game. I also think having a star (Crosby, Fleury, McDavid etc.) on your team helps for obvious reasons. We all love to see how these guys go above and beyond at the highest level. Lastly, you have to market your team. I mentioned it earlier but getting your team, representatives and players outside of the arena and in the community!

With sports betting now federally legal, how will the Stanley Cup finals be affected?

I am not sure that it will affect the game in any way. People have always been able to bet on sports both legally as well as illegally. I guess the biggest factor is now that its more available, the NHL will have to educate and send the correct message to its players and staff about the implications of wagering on your sport and even more so the opportunities that will present themselves of fixing games. No matter how much money the players make, history has shown us just about anyone can be bought!

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for hockey fans, WalletHub compared 73 U.S. cities across two divisional categories, NHL (Division I Men’s) and NCAA (Division I Men’s). For our sample, we chose cities with at least one college or professional hockey team.

We evaluated each divisional category using 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for hockey fans. The weight for each divisional category is based on its popularity, which we determined by summing the number of “Likes” for all the teams in each category and calculating the proportion that each league represents in total.

We then calculated the total score for each city based on its weighted average across all metrics and used the resulting scores to construct our final ranking.

NHL – Total Points: 80

• Number of NHL Teams: Full Weight (~9.41 Points)
• Performance Level of NHL Teams: Full Weight (~9.41 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the number of wins by the total games played. The past three seasons’ average was used for this calculation.
• Number of Stanley Cup Wins: Full Weight (~9.41 Points)
• Number of NHL Division Championship Wins: Half Weight (~4.71 Points)
• Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~4.71 Points)
• Franchise Value: Half Weight (~4.71 Points)Note: This metric measures the team’s estimated value in $million.
• Average Ticket Price for NHL Game: Full Weight (~9.41 Points)
• NHL Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~9.41 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by adding the number of Twitter followers to the number of Facebook “Likes” per capita.
• Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons (Seasons 2008-09 to 2017-18): Half Weight (~4.71 Points)
• NHL Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~4.71 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing stadium capacity by city population.
• Attendance: Half Weight (~4.71 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing average home-fan attendance by arena capacity.
• Popularity Ranking: Half Weight (~4.71 Points)

NCAA (Division I Men’s) – Total Points: 20

• Number of NCAA (Division 1) Teams: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Performance Level of NCAA (Division 1) Team(s): Full Weight (~2.86 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the number of wins by the total games played. The past three seasons’ average was used for this calculation.
• Number of NCAA (Division 1) Championship Wins: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• Number of NCAA (Division 1) Conference Regular Season Championship Wins: Half Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Minimum Season-Ticket Price for NCAA (Division 1) Game: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
• College-Hockey Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by adding the number of Twitter followers to the number of Facebook “Likes” per capita.
• Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons (Seasons 2008-09 to 2017-18): Half Weight (~1.43 Points)
• College-Hockey Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: This metric was calculated by dividing stadium capacity by city population.

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, ESPN, U.S. College Hockey Online, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and each team’s website.

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