The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has taken North America by storm with its 2025 Takeover Tour, a groundbreaking series that’s packing arenas and winning hearts across the continent. Designed to showcase the league in new markets, the tour has exceeded all expectations, drawing record-setting crowds and reinforcing the rising popularity of women’s professional hockey.
Takeover Tour Smashing Success
One of the tour’s biggest highlights came on in March at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, where an electric crowd of 14,288 fans watched the New York Sirens topple the Minnesota Frost 4–1. That turnout broke the previous U.S. attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game, previously set earlier in the tour in Denver (14,018 fans). The Detroit game marked a high point not just in numbers, but in the atmosphere and support that is quickly becoming a PWHL trademark.
Conceived as both a bold marketing effort and a strategic look at potential expansion markets, the tour brought the PWHL experience to cities from Seattle to Québec City — introducing new fans to the energy and talent fueling the league’s rapid rise.
“This tour has been one of the most impactful initiatives we’ve launched — not just for our players, but for the fans and everyone behind the scenes,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Coast to Coast Crowds
Detroit was not alone in turning out big numbers. From west to east, fans have been showing up in droves.
Seattle welcomed 12,608 fans to Climate Pledge Arena, a clear sign of the sport’s growing reach in the Pacific Northwest.
Vancouver stunned even the most optimistic projections with a sold-out crowd of 19,038 at Rogers Arena—the largest on the tour.
These record-breaking stops demonstrate the hunger for elite women’s hockey and hint at the league’s immense potential for growth.
One Million Fans and Counting
In Detroit, the PWHL celebrated a major milestone: surpassing one million fans in total attendance since the league’s launch in 2024. To mark the occasion, players from both teams handed out commemorative pucks, symbolizing the powerful bond growing between the league and its fans.
Expansion Buzz Grows Louder
With success comes opportunity—and talk of league expansion is heating up. Cities like Denver, Seattle, and Detroit have shown they are ready for more than a one-night takeover; they are making the case for permanent teams. League officials have taken note, and while no formal announcements have been made, the enthusiasm in these cities may very well shape the future of the PWHL.
A League on the Rise
The PWHL’s Takeover Tour has done more than just fill seats—it has reshaped the narrative around women’s sports. With each game, the league proves there is a growing, passionate fan base eager to support the women’s game at the highest level.
The regular season concludes May 3, but the excitement generated by the tour has laid the foundation for a thrilling future.
