Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks at a press conference before the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks at a press conference before the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The NHL is taking home top honors after a record-breaking year for hockey. This recognition highlights the league's massive financial growth and its expanded global footprint.
The Sports Business Journal hosted the event at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where NHL Chief Operating Officer Stephen McArdle and the President of NHL Content and Events, Steve Mayer, accepted the award as representatives of the league.
The league has seen its highest attendance and revenue over the years. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which runs until 2030, and a big $11 billion media deal with Rogers Communications in Canada support this growth.
May 13, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) controls the puck under pressure from Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) in the third period in game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanely Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
May 13, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) controls the puck under pressure from Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) in the third period in game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanely Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The return of NHL players to the first Winter Olympics since 2014 played a significant role in helping the league win the award. This move helped the league grow its international presence and brought its top stars back to a global audience.
NHL's TV viewership is also on a positive path, as it displayed growth. During the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, audiences grew across North America. The second round averaged 1.9 million viewers in the United States, which is 55% higher than last year.
Across North America, average viewership reached 3.3 million. This is the highest number ever for the first two playoff rounds.
One major storyline was Alex Ovechkin chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record. He broke the record on April 6, 2025. That moment became one of the biggest highlights of the season.
National Hockey League Breaks New Ground in Florida
Domestically, the National Hockey League made history by hosting its first outdoor games in Florida. The 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic in Miami and the 2026 Stadium Series in Tampa showed the league’s plan to try new ideas and bring big hockey events to new markets.
These events helped the league grow its fan base while still keeping strong support across North America. The NHL’s business success was strongly supported by strong on-ice performances. We saw a lot of close games, big comebacks, and great performances from top players.
One of the prime examples was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. It drew an average of 8 million viewers across North America.
Both ESPN and TNT Sports recorded their most-watched second-round games under the current rights deal. Overall, US viewership for the first two rounds reached 1.4 million average viewers, which is 63% higher than last year and the highest ever recorded.
The NHL getting this award shows its strong worldwide growth, record viewership, new ideas in events, and important historic moments, proving it is powerful in both sport and business.
Read more at the NHL Fan Central
Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Edited by
Souvik Roy