List of ice hockey games with highest attendance

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This is a list of ice hockey games with the highest attendance on record. All of the games on this list were held in stadiums designed for field sports such as association football, gridiron football, and baseball. Four of the "games" listed were actually doubleheaders, in which a single ticket provided admission to two games held back-to-back. The fixed-roof Ford Field in Detroit hosted one doubleheader and a single game, and another was held at the retractable-roof Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (with the roof closed for that game); all other games on the list were held in open-air venues. Most of these games were staged as special events, and all but one were played in the 21st century.

Attendance in the 30,000 range was once quite common for major international matches held outdoors in the 1940s and 50s in Moscow's Lenin Stadium. Figures of this type are still common in bandy, a relative of ice hockey played outdoors.

The record for a Stanley Cup playoff game is 28,183, which was set on April 23, 1996, at the Thunderdome during a Tampa Bay Lightning – Philadelphia Flyers game.[1]

A new record was set on December 11, 2010, when the University of Michigan's men's ice hockey team faced cross-state rival Michigan State in an event billed as "The Big Chill at the Big House". The game was played at Michigan's football venue, Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, with a capacity of 109,901, as of the 2010 football season. Ultimately, a crowd announced by the University of Michigan as 113,411, at that time the largest in the stadium's history (including football), saw the homestanding Wolverines win 5–0. Guinness World Records, using a count of ticketed fans who actually entered the stadium instead of UM's figure of tickets sold, announced a final figure of 104,173.[2][3]

Rank Attendance Location Date Event Home team Final score Visiting team
1 113,411 (announced)[3]
104,173 (certified)[2]		 United States Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor December 11, 2010 The Big Chill at the Big House Michigan Wolverines (men) 5–0 Michigan State Spartans (men)
2 105,491 (announced)[4]
< 104,173 (certified)[5]		 United States Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor January 1, 2014 2014 NHL Winter Classic Detroit Red Wings 2–3
(SO)		 Toronto Maple Leafs
3 85,630[6] United States Cotton Bowl, Dallas January 1, 2020 2020 NHL Winter Classic Dallas Stars 4-2 Nashville Predators
4 77,803[7] Germany Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen May 7, 2010 2010 IIHF World Championship  United States 1–2
(OT)		  Germany[8]
5 74,554[9] United States Spartan Stadium, East Lansing October 6, 2001 Cold War Michigan State Spartans (men) 3–3 Michigan Wolverines (men)
6 71,381[10] Russia Gazprom Arena, Saint Petersburg December 16, 2018 Euro Hockey Tour  Russia 5–0  Finland
7 71,217[11] United States Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park January 1, 2008 2008 NHL Winter Classic Buffalo Sabres 1–2
(SO)		 Pittsburgh Penguins
8 70,205[12] United States Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 21, 2015 2015 NHL Stadium Series San Jose Sharks 1–2 Los Angeles Kings
9 68,111[13] United States Heinz Field, Pittsburgh January 1, 2011 2011 NHL Winter Classic Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Washington Capitals
10 67,877[14] Russia Gazprom Arena, Saint Petersburg December 15, 2019 Euro Hockey Tour  Russia 2–0  Finland
11 67,318[15] United States Heinz Field, Pittsburgh February 25, 2017 2017 NHL Stadium Series Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Philadelphia Flyers
12 67,246[16] United States Gillette Stadium, Foxborough January 1, 2016 2016 NHL Winter Classic Boston Bruins 1–5 Montreal Canadiens
13 62,921 United States Soldier Field, Chicago March 1, 2014 2014 NHL Stadium Series Chicago Blackhawks 5–1 Pittsburgh Penguins
14 57,167[17] Canada Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton November 22, 2003 2003 Heritage Classic Edmonton Oilers 3–4 Montreal Canadiens
15 55,031[18] United States Camp Randall Stadium, Madison February 6, 2010 Camp Randall Hockey Classic Wisconsin Badgers (women) 6–1 Bemidji State Beavers (women)
Wisconsin Badgers (men) 3–2 Michigan Wolverines (men)
16 55,000[9] Soviet Union Lenin Stadium, Moscow March 5, 1957 1957 Ice Hockey World Championships  Soviet Union 4–4  Sweden
17 54,194 Canada BC Place, Vancouver March 2, 2014 2014 NHL Heritage Classic Vancouver Canucks 2–4 Ottawa Senators
18 54,099 United States Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles January 25, 2014 2014 NHL Stadium Series Los Angeles Kings 0–3 Anaheim Ducks
19 52,051 United States Soldier Field, Chicago February 17, 2013 OfficeMax Hockey City Classic Notre Dame Fighting Irish (men) 2–1 Miami RedHawks (men)
Wisconsin Badgers (men) 3–2 Minnesota Golden Gophers (men)
20 51,125[19] Germany ESPRIT arena, Düsseldorf January 10, 2015 2015 DEL Winter Game Düsseldorfer EG 3–2 Kölner Haie
21 50,426 United States TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis February 21, 2016 2016 NHL Stadium Series Minnesota Wild 6–1 Chicago Blackhawks
22 50,105 United States Yankees Stadium, New York City January 26, 2014 2014 NHL Stadium Series New Jersey Devils 3–7 New York Rangers
23 50,095 United States Coors Field, Denver February 27, 2016 2016 NHL Stadium Series Colorado Avalanche 3–5 Detroit Red Wings
24 50,027 United States Yankee Stadium, New York City January 29, 2014 2014 NHL Stadium Series New York Islanders 1–2 New York Rangers
25 50,000[20] Germany Stadion Nürnberg, Nuremberg January 5, 2013 2013 DEL Winter Game Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers 4–3 Eisbären Berlin
26 47,011[21] Germany RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne January 12, 2019 2019 DEL Winter Game Kölner Haie 2–3 (OT) Düsseldorfer EG
27 46,967[22] United States Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia January 2, 2012 2012 NHL Winter Classic Philadelphia Flyers 2–3 New York Rangers
28 46,556 United States Busch Stadium, St. Louis January 2, 2017 2017 NHL Winter Classic St. Louis Blues 4–1 Chicago Blackhawks
29 45,808[23] United States Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia December 31, 2011 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game Philadelphia Flyers Alumni 3–1 New York Rangers Alumni
30 45,653[24] United States Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia January 6, 2012 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic Adirondack Phantoms 4–3
(OT)		 Hershey Bears
31 45,021[25] United States TCF Stadium, Minneapolis January 17, 2014 2014 Hockey City Classic Minnesota Gophers (men) 1–0 Ohio State Buckeyes (men)
32 44,592[26] United States Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park December 29, 2017 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships  United States 4-3 (SO)  Canada
33 42,832[27] United States Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. January 1, 2015 2015 NHL Winter Classic Washington Capitals 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks
34 41,022[28] Canada McMahon Stadium, Calgary February 20, 2011 2011 Heritage Classic Calgary Flames 4-0 Montreal Canadiens
35 40,890[29] United States Lambeau Field, Green Bay February 13, 2006 Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic Wisconsin Badgers (men) 4–2 Ohio State Buckeyes (men)
36 40,818[30] United States Wrigley Field, Chicago January 1, 2009 2009 NHL Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks 4–6 Detroit Red Wings
37 38,472[31] United States Fenway Park, Boston January 8, 2010 Frozen Fenway Northeastern Huskies (women) 3–5 New Hampshire Wildcats (women)
Boston College Eagles (men) 2–3 Boston University Terriers (men)
38 38,456[32] United States Fenway Park, Boston January 7, 2012 Frozen Fenway 2012 UMass Minutemen (men) 3–2
(OT)		 Vermont Catamounts (men)
Maine Black Bears (men) 5-4
(OT)		 New Hampshire Wildcats (men)
39 38,112 United States Fenway Park, Boston January 1, 2010 2010 NHL Winter Classic Boston Bruins 2–1
(OT)		 Philadelphia Flyers
40 37,592[33] United States Ford Field, Detroit April 10, 2010 2010 NCAA Men's Hockey Championship Game Boston College Eagles (men) 5–0 Wisconsin Badgers (men)
41 36,644[34] Finland Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki February 5, 2011 2011 SM-liiga Winter Classic (Talviklassikko) Jokerit 3–4 HIFK

Image gallery[]

  • The Big Chill at the Big House, the highest ever attendance of an ice hockey game.

  • 2010 IIHF World Championship Opening Game

  • The Cold War, held November 6, 2001 at Spartan Stadium, had the highest ever attendance of an ice hockey game at that time.

  • The 2008 NHL Winter Classic has the fourth-highest ever attendance of an ice hockey game, and the second highest for a game in a professional league.

  • The 2009 NHL Winter Classic, held at Wrigley Field.

  • SCL Tigers versus SC Bern during the 100th match of the Tigers-Bern derby.

  • The 2010 NHL Winter Classic, held at Fenway Park.

  • Talviklassikko 2011, Helsinki, Finland

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Kreiser, John (2017-04-23). "Lightning made NHL history at Thunderdome". NHL.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  2. ^ a b Janela, Mike (14 December 2010). "Highest ice hockey game attendance". guinnessworldrecords.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Record crowd watches hockey game". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  4. ^ Allen, Kevin (2014-01-01). "Maple Leafs win Winter Classic in shootout". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  5. ^ Cotsonika, Nick (2014-01-24). "NHL won't get credit for Guinness world record at Winter Classic". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  6. ^ Bell, Scott (2020-01-01). "Winter Classic notebook: NHL attendance history, Corey Perry's ejection and more from Stars-Predators". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  7. ^ "Historic win for Germany". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2010-05-07. Archived from the original on 2010-05-12. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  8. ^ The USA was the designated home team for this game by IIHF seeding criteria, despite Germany being host of the World Championships.
  9. ^ a b Finsterwalder, Brandon (2001-10-08). "Outdoor hockey game". The Badger Herald. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  10. ^ Kuznetsova, Elena (2018-12-16). "Можем и с Канадой сыграть, и 120 тыс. собрать». Ротенберг – о нашем хоккее". championat.com. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  11. ^ Burnside, Scott (2008-01-01). "Winter Classic: We're live from Buffalo". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  12. ^ "Kings' Marian Gaborik sends most of 70,205 home unhappy". The LA Times. 2015-02-21. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  13. ^ "Eric Fehr leads Capitals to victory over Penguins in soggy Winter Classic". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  14. ^ "2019 CHANNEL ONE CUP. RUSSIA - FINLAND - 2:0". Russian Ice Hockey Federation. 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  15. ^ "2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ to Include Pittsburgh Penguins Against Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field". NHL.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  16. ^ "Game Summary Canadiens at Bruins". 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  17. ^ The Canadian Press (2003-11-22). "Fuhr, Ranford shine at Heritage Classic". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  18. ^ "Can Camp Randall Hockey Classic do it again?". Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  19. ^ "DEL Winter Game bricht Europarekord: 51.125 Zuschauer in Düsseldorf" (in German). Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  20. ^ "Deutsche Eishockey-Liga: Nürnberg siegt im "Winter Game"" (in German). Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  21. ^ "DEG gewinnt in der Overtime, Doppelpack von Ex-Hai Philip Gogulla". www.del.org (in German). Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  22. ^ "Rangers turn away Flyers as Mike Rupp, Henrik Lundqvist fuel Winter Classic rally". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  23. ^ Dave Lozo (2012-12-31). "Legion of Doom, Parent power Flyers". NHL.com. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  24. ^ "Attendance record shattered in Philly". theahl.com. 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  25. ^ "JANUARY 17, 2014 - TCF BANK STADIUM, MINNEAPOLIS". thehockeycityclassic.com. 2014-01-17. Retrieved 2015-03-23.
  26. ^ "Game Summary" (PDF). IIHF. 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  27. ^ "Game Summary Blackhawks at Capitals". 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  28. ^ "Flames blank Canadiens in NHL Heritage Classic". 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  29. ^ Albright, David (2006-02-14). "On top of the ol' Tundra, a great day for hockey". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  30. ^ Burnside, Scott (2009-01-01). "Another successful outdoor tilt gives NHL its signature event". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  31. ^ "Frigid Fenway: College players get thrills, chills in baseball cathedral". CNN. 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  32. ^ "Maine 5, New Hampshire 4". uscho.com. 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  33. ^ "BC wins second title in three years". ESPN.com. 2010-04-10. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  34. ^ "Tulosseuranta: Jokerit 3–4 HIFK" (in Finnish). SM-liiga. 2011-02-05. Archived from the original on 2011-02-08. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
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