Oct 20, 2026 · 1h 43m
NHL attendance faces a price-and-access problem
Why Aren't People Going to NHL Games?
The episode asks whether empty arenas reflect poor team performance, unaffordable NHL economics, or a broader shift toward more accessible hockey.
- 1High ticket prices, broadcasting costs, and uneven team performance may be pushing fans away from NHL arenas.
- 2Minor-league and college hockey offer cheaper, more intimate alternatives that preserve the appeal of live games.
- 3Shayna Goldman weighs trade targets, Seattle’s start, Eastern contenders, and whether elite goaltending can anchor a team.
Don't miss
The hosts make the case that minor-league and college hockey may offer the live-game experience NHL pricing increasingly puts out of reach.
The brief
The hosts examine empty seats in Edmonton, Utah, Chicago, and Ottawa, asking whether ticket prices, broadcasting costs, team performance, or fan protest best explains the decline.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh complicate the picture: the Flyers have found momentum behind Matvei Michkov, while the Penguins have won six of seven after a poor start.
Shayna Goldman joins to assess a possible Dylan Larkin trade, Seattle’s surprising start, Vladimir Tarasenko’s market, Eastern contenders, and the difficulty of valuing elite goaltending.
The episode’s most practical answer arrives late: minor-league and college hockey can deliver affordable tickets, local identity, and a more intimate live experience.
Around the central debate, the hosts discuss Brady Tkachuk’s charitable jersey plan, hockey Halloween costumes, Bruins branding, movies, and a packed slate of viewer questions.
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