PWHL Breaks All-Time Women's Hockey Attendance Record with 19,285 Fans

The league breaks not just the pro women's hockey game attendance record this time, but the all-time attendance record with 19,285 fans in Toronto.

PWHL Breaks All-Time Women's Hockey Attendance Record with 19,285 Fans
Scotiabank Arena during the Battle on Bay Street (Photo credit: PWHL)

PWHL games continue to smash attendance records, and did so again tonight as 19,285 fans attended the Battle on Bay Street between Toronto and Montréal at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

This breaks the all-time attendance record for a women's hockey game in the world. Previously, the record was 18,014 fans at Canada versus Finland World Championship Group Game on April 5, 2013 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

This is just the latest - and largest - record-breaking crowd for the new league. On Jan. 2, their second day of existence, the PWHL broke the attendance record for a professional women's hockey game with 8,318 fans at TD Place Arena in Ottawa to see Montréal versus Ottawa. Four days later, on Jan. 6, Minnesota broke that record with 13,316 fans at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul when they hosted Montréal.

The previous record for professional leagues was held by the SDHL in the 21-22 season championship series. On April 3, 2022, Monitor ERP Arena in Gävle saw 6,538 fans pack the stands to watch hometown Luleå take on Brynäs in Game 3 of the five-game series. Four days later, on April 7, 2022, they broke their own record with 7,765 at the final at Monitor ERP Arena in Gävle.

Other assorted records for record-keeping (get it...)...

  • 16,805 - highest attendance at the Olympics: Canada versus USA on Feb. 25, 2010 at Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver.
  • 15,359 - NCAA attendance record for a women's hockey game: Wisconsin Badgers hosting St. Cloud State on Jan. 16, 2017 at Kohl Center in Madison, WI for the Badgers' annual Fill the Bowl Game. The Badgers also hold the second-highest record with 14,430 on Feb. 3 of this year, and per the school's release about that game, are the only school to break 10,000 fans at a women's college hockey game. They've done that six times, by the way.
  • 14,551 - highest attendance for the US National Team while playing in the US: USA versus Canada on Nov. 21, 2021 at a Rivalry Series game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

Top 5 All-Time Attendance Records

AttendanceLeagueTeamsDateArenaCity
19,285PWHLMontréal at Toronto2/16/2024ScotiabankToronto
18,014WorldsCanada v Finland4/5/2013Scotiabank PlaceOttawa
16,805OlympicsCanada v USA2/25/2010Canada Hockey PlaceVancouver
16,496OlympicsCanada v Slovakia2/13/2010Canada Hockey PlaceVanvoucer
16,398OlympicsSweden v Finland2/25/2010Canada Hockey PlaceVanvoucer

Top 5 PWHL Attendance Records

AttendanceTeamsDateArenaCity
19,285Montréal at Toronto2/16/2024ScotiabankToronto
13,316Montréal at Minnesota1/6/2024Xcel Energy CenterSt. Paul
8,646Ottawa at Montréal1/27/2024Place BellLaval
8,318Montréal at Ottawa1/2/2024TD Place ArenaOttawa
8,062New York at Ottawa2/4/2024TD Place ArenaOttawa