Seattle-based PWHL shifts focus towards team development and ticket sales
Rewritten Article:
Exciting News for Women's Hockey Fans: PWHL Hits Seattle
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is set to make waves in the Emerald City, announcing its expansion to Seattle. During a buzzing news conference at Climate Pledge Arena's breathtaking living wall, city officials, league representatives, and more shared their infectious enthusiasm.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell declared, "Welcoming the women's hockey league team to Seattle is, for me, a symbolic gesture that our city is the welcoming place we aspire to be."
As the PWHL's nearly two-year history unfolds, they'll be building their new team through expansion and entry drafts. Once that's done, they'll focus on getting as many spectators engaged with the sport as possible.
Trending: The Scoop on PWHL's Seattle Expansion
This move marks another step in the evolution of women's hockey in North America, signifying promise and progress. The Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), which was known for its semi-pro model, unexpectedly shut down in 2019 due to financial constraints. The Premier Hockey Federation eventually merged into the PWHL.
PWHL officially launched in January 2024, backed by billionaire Mark Walter and tennis legend Billie Jean King's guidance. Expansion chatter began swiftly after the launch, and Seattle, with its easily filled hockey arenas, emerged as a prime candidate. According to PWHL Vice President of Business Operations Amy Scheer, Climate Pledge Arena was "always the target."
Climate Pledge Arena will be the second-largest PWHL home stadium, seating around 17,151.
Scheer expressed optimism about ticket sales, stating, "Are we going to sell 17,000 tickets a game here in Seattle? I think we can! I'm not sure what will happen, but we know that Seattle has a highly active, engaged crowd, and we believe every game will be electric and loud."
Seattle's arena only slightly surpasses the capacity of the new Vancouver team's Pacific Coliseum, which accommodates 16,281 spectators. Other cities, like Minnesota and New York, share arenas with NHL teams, such as Minnesota's Xcel Energy Center (around 18,000 seats) and the New York Sirens, which play in the New Jersey Devils' Prudential Center (16,617 seats).
Certain cities, like Ottawa and Toronto, share arenas with junior or minor-league teams, and Boston's TD Garden, home to the NHL's Boston Bruins, houses UMass Lowell's hockey team. Montreal recently moved to a larger arena, the Centre Bell, with a seating capacity of 10,000.
The PWHL reported an average attendance of 7,365 fans per game for the 2024-25 season, a rise from the inaugural season's 5,500 average. Seattle, hosting the first Takeover Tour game, drew an impressive 12,608 attendees.
The PWHL's shorter regular season compared to other Climate Pledge Arena tenants may contribute to increased demand for tickets. The upcoming "PWHL Seattle" team is scheduled to play only 15 home games compared to the Kraken's 41.
On the Horizon: Expansion and the 2026 Winter Games
PWHL Seattle's timely launch comes just before the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, which could provide a much-needed boost in attendances and interest.
The 2025 playoffs saw two rounds of best-of-five series, with the top four teams from the regular-season standings qualifying. The structure could remain the same despite the expansion, according to PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford.
Five of the league's charter members are in the Eastern Time Zone. To save travel costs, Scheer mentioned they'll look into merging West Coast Takeover Tour dates into the following season's schedule.
The past two seasons saw games for the PWHL's U.S.-based teams streamed on the league's YouTube channel or carried on local Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). PWHL Seattle aims to reach those who can't attend games.
In Sync: PWHL and Seattle Kraken
The PWHL's arrival in Seattle presents an opportunity for potential collaboration with the NHL's Seattle Kraken, who have expressed interest in aiding the league's growth. Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke is already closely involved, providing assistance wherever possible.
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