The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) announced exciting expansion news on Wednesday, bringing women's professional hockey to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario. This expansion increases the league's total number of teams to 11, with one more addition expected to make it an even dozen. The PWHL, which launched with six franchises in 2024, is poised for substantial growth.
The formal introduction of the Las Vegas team occurred during a press conference at the T-Mobile Arena, the home of the Vegas Golden Knights. The Hamilton franchise announcement followed a day later. Amy Scheer, the league's executive vice president of business operations, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “There’s a lot of excitement and adrenaline and a lot of ‘Let’s go.’” She emphasized that while the announcements are significant, the real work begins now.
Las Vegas marks a new frontier for the PWHL, extending its reach into America's Southwest, a year after the league’s expansion into the Pacific Northwest with Seattle and Vancouver. Scheer noted the importance of geographical diversity, mentioning the need to expand beyond the Northeast and to consider the right markets to continue this growth. The PWHL is also assessing potential new markets, including San Jose, California, and Denver.
Hamilton's inclusion adds Ontario's third franchise to the PWHL, further solidifying its presence in the densely populated "Golden Horseshoe" region. This area is strategically positioned within an hour's drive from other major cities like London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and the Niagara Region. A neutral site event in Hamilton in January saw an impressive attendance of 16,012, with 70% of the audience being first-time PWHL attendees.
The PWHL highlighted that both Las Vegas and Hamilton meet essential criteria for expansion due to their strong support for female hockey development. In Las Vegas, participation rates for girls and women's hockey have soared by 600% since the Golden Knights joined the NHL in 2017. Scheer remarked, “Now our job is to grow it to 6,000%,” during the announcement held on the ice at T-Mobile Arena, which was also attended by approximately 200 girls' hockey players.
The introduction of the Hamilton franchise complements a burgeoning sports market. Hamilton's team will have colors of gold, maroon, and cream, playing at the newly renovated TD Coliseum, which has a hockey capacity of 16,400. The venue, formerly known as Copps Coliseum, has historical significance, having hosted games during the 1987 Canada Cup tournament.
The yet-to-be-named Las Vegas team will play at the T-Mobile Arena, featuring a green and gold color scheme. John Penhollow, president of the Golden Knights’ business operations, mentioned that some games may be held at the nearby Lee's Family Forum in Henderson if scheduling conflicts arise. This forum serves as home to the Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.
The arenas in both cities are eager to partner with the PWHL to accommodate game schedules effectively. The arena availability was a critical factor in the PWHL’s decision-making process, with multiple markets being ruled out due to scheduling issues.
As the league executive team reflects on the future, the demand for women's professional hockey continues to grow. The PWHL is dedicated to fostering an environment conducive to female athletes while strategically expanding its reach across North America.
