Stadium Journey's NHL Arena Rankings 2025
- stadiumjourney
- 2 days ago
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The 2024-2025 season was a banner one in the National Hockey League. The debut of the Utah Hockey Club, formerly the Arizona Coyotes and now the Utah Mammoth, highlighted a season of optimism. The Winnipeg Jets won their first President’s Trophy as the team with the best record in the regular season. Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals passed Wayne Gretzky to accumulate the most career goals in NHL history. Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers lead the league with 52 goals, while Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning tallied 121 points. Connor Hellebuyck of the Jets posted a clean 2.00 goals against average to lead the league. The Montréal Canadiens lead the league in attendance, welcoming 865,305 fans over 41 games, which is an average of over 21,100 fans. The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers battled it out in a Stanley Cup rematch. Stadium Journey made their way to Utah for a first season experience at the Delta Center, as well as nine other updated reviews.
The annual NHL rankings at Stadium Journey are based on the FANFARE metric used on the website, where a number of different writers assess the hockey experience based on the categories of Food, Atmosphere, Neighbourhood, Fans, Access, Return on Investment and any extras that the writers experienced. The stakes are high, with an average grading of 3.95 being earned out of a possible perfect 5.0. When two or more venues are tied in our FANFARE scale, a Stadium Journey Council of Elders is consulted to break those deadlocks.
This list is just an amalgamation of a number of opinions, and may not be in agreement for all. Please let Stadium Journey know your opinions on our various Social Media outlets. How is your list different from ours? What do we have right? What do we have wrong?
Without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present the 2024-2025 Rankings of the National Hockey League Experiences.
Jim Flannery - The Edmonton Oilers went to the Stanley Cup finals in 2024, falling one goal short in the deciding game seven matchup against the Florida Panthers. This was the fifth-straight trip to the playoffs for the Oilers and the first time they reached the finals since 2006. Needless to say, expectations are high in the city once again. And those high expectations carry over to their home venue. It would be pretty easy to rest on your laurels if you run a well-liked facility like Rogers Place. But management has chosen not to do that, instead continuing to work on improving the fan experience for anyone who comes to the arena to see the Edmonton Oilers play.
Chris Green - The idea of ice hockey in Florida has always been one that drew looks of confusion among skeptics. How could an NHL franchise succeed in Florida, a state that rarely sees freezing during its coldest months, let alone become more than just a short-term fad? While some have argued the Panthers fit the latter, the Tampa Bay Lightning have become one of the league’s must-see franchises. Consistently competing for playoff spots and winning a Stanley Cup three times (including back-to-back in 2020 and 2021) has catapulted the Tampa Bay franchise to greatness. Without a doubt, the Lightning are one of the best experiences in sports, and a visit to Amalie Arena makes it easy to see why.
Andrei Ojeda - The Los Angeles Kings were a part of the National Hockey League’s “Second Six,” the league’s first expansion in 1967. Original owner, Jack Kent Cooke, chose the name “Kings” because he wanted his team to project “an air of royalty.” He outfitted the team in the royal colors of purple and gold and built a new arena, the Forum, as a home for his teams. The team played at the Forum in Inglewood for 32 years until moving to the new Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles, prior to the 1999-2000 season. The privately financed arena cost $375 million to build.
Lloyd Brown - When the NHL expansion Seattle Kraken takes to the ice their uniforms are multiple shades of blue. However, their new Seattle home is decidedly “ green.” The Climate Pledge Arena stands in the footprint of the former Key Arena, with the roof being the only portion of the former arena being preserved. The Climate Pledge portion of the new arena’s name does not represent a corporate sponsor purchasing naming rights to the facility, though Amazon did purchase the rights, choosing to make a statement rather than publicize itself. It does represent a commitment by the privately funded arena’s owners to create the first carbon net-zero certified arena in the world. Virtually every aspect of the arena’s operation will play a part in reaching this environmental goal.
David Welch - Nashville might be the “Music City,” but the area surrounding Bridgestone Arena, at the corner of Broadway and Rep. John Lewis Way has come to be known by the fan-created moniker, Smashville. The NHL made an, at the time, unlikely home in Nashville to start the 1998 season, but hockey in the city has a history that goes back to the 1960s. Though the hockey history in Nashville might be relatively brief compared to some of the stalwarts in the league, the Predators have done well in establishing themselves as one of the top draws in the NHL, both through the success they have seen on the ice, and in the accompanying environment they have created.
Dave Cottenie - The Montréal Canadiens are the oldest team in the National Hockey League, having been in action since 1909 and they boast twenty four Stanley Cup Championships, more than any other team in the league. They are as synonymous with hockey as the New York Yankees are with baseball and the Boston Celtics are with basketball. Simply put, a trip to see the Canadiens should be at the top of any hockey fan’s bucket list. In 1996, the Canadiens left their venerable home at the Montréal Forum to the brand new Centre Bell. Taking a little time to feel lived in and home, the Bell Centre is now as good an NHL experience as there is. In 2009, the Canadiens were welcomed back into hockey royalty as they were sold once again to the Molson Family, who remains their owner to date. With a hockey dynasty in tow as well as the Bell Centre, the Molsons have seen the Canadiens, once again, become one of the most valuable teams in the NHL.
Greg Venuto - Madison Square Garden, or MSG as the locals often call it, has finally completed its latest transformation. After the inside was refurbished from 2011-2013, the outside and main entrance were revived over the past 5 years. The 7th Avenue entrance is now majestic and grand and offers a little pedestrian courtyard with seating on 33rd Street. The Garden is home to the New York Rangers of the Metropolitan Division of the National Hockey League. The Garden received a much-needed facelift from 2011-2013. The inside of the arena was upgraded to include new seats and bathrooms, wider concourses, new luxury suites closer to the ice, club seating areas with high-end food, and a Bridge Level with seats that provide a great aerial view and some bar stool seating. The West Balcony was also added which replaced the old skyboxes.
Patricia Beninato - When the Pittsburgh Penguins began back in 1967, they played their games in the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, known as the Igloo. The team was very low on the list of Burgh sports fandom until 1984 when it drafted a kid from Montreal named Mario Lemieux. Even with lengthy breaks due to health issues, Le Magnifique racked up not only Hall of Fame numbers but captained the team to two Stanley Cup victories. However, the team was still in a lot of financial trouble in the late 1990s, to the point that serious discussions ensued about moving the team to Kansas City. Lemieux discovered that he was the Penguins’ biggest creditor, so he came up with a unique solution–create some equity, make deals with local media, and become the Pens’ majority owner in 1999.
Dave Cottenie - Founded in 1917 as the Toronto Arenas, the Toronto Maple Leafs have as rich a history as any team in the National Hockey League. The proud holders of eleven Stanley Cup Championships, nine after they rebranded as the Maple Leafs in 1927, fans of the Maple Leafs are filled with angst and dread as they eagerly await the next trip to the finals. It would be the first since 1967, the final year of the “Original Six.” Suffering through some of the worst ownership groups in sports history, see Harold Ballard, the Leafs are currently on solid ownership ground under the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment banner. MLSE is a conglomerate controlled by the odd partnering of Rogers Communications, Bell Media and Larry Tannenbaum. They also have the coveted superstar with Hart Trophy winner Auston Matthews leading the charge. Finally, the Leafs have one of the premier venues in the NHL, which although opened in 1999, has received several renovations to keep it at the forefront and state-of-the-art.
Gregory Koch - Capital One Arena opened in 1997 as the home of the Washington Capitals, replacing the aging Capital Centre in Landover. Since then, the Caps have experienced a dramatic rise in popularity and success thanks to players like Alex Ovechkin, culminating in their victory in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. In addition to hosting hockey, Capital One Arena serves several other functions as well, including playing host to the Washington Wizards and Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball. Although there was a time not so long ago when this wasn’t the case, a Washington Capitals game at Capital One Arena is a memorable experience for any sports or hockey fan. Owner Ted Leonsis has done a fantastic job at growing the team and improving the arena atmosphere since buying the team in 1999, and his efforts have shown, both on and off the ice.
Eric Moreno - In 1993 the NHL saw a seismic shift in the landscape, when the Minnesota North Stars packed up and moved south to Dallas. The newly rechristened Dallas Stars became the first – and, to date, the only – NHL franchise in the Lone Star State. The learning curve for hockey in Texas was admittedly steep, but the love affair was an immediate one. The Stars rewarded their fans virtually immediately, as they captured the Stanley Cup in 1999 and made a return trip to the finals the following season. They would also make a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals at the end of the 2019-20 season; the team has consistently been a winning organization virtually its entire existence in Big D. In 2001 the Stars would move into their brand-new home, American Airlines Center. Located in the heart of Dallas’s vibrant downtown, the Hangar helped revitalize the Victory Park area of the city. Even with Dallas having so much going on entertainment-wise, the Stars continue to draw big numbers each and every season, due in no small part due to its fantastic home ice. Read on to learn more.
Marc Viquez - The Nationwide Arena is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The $175 million multi-purpose building seats 18,500 people and debuted for the 2000-2001 season. Its construction returned the NHL to Ohio for the first time in 22 years with the creation of the expansion franchise. The arena is of a brick design and is the centerpiece of The Arena district that was redeveloped with funding from Nationwide Reality Investors, The Columbus Dispatch Printing Company, private investors, and the city of Columbus. It includes office, retail, and living space in downtown Columbus. The district later included the home of the Columbus Clippers Huntington Park and Columbus Crew SC Lower.com Field. The building is named after the original minority owner, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, whose world headquarters are across the street. Nationwide purchased the naming rights to Nationwide Arena in 2011 for $28 million. The deal is the only NHL sponsorship without an expiration date.
Paul Baker - Going to a game in an Original Six city is a sacred pilgrimage for hockey fans, and the buildings these teams once called home were true shrines of the game. While the Boston Garden, Montreal Forum, Olympia, Joe Louis Arena, Maple Leafs Garden, and Chicago Stadium have faded into history, Original Six teams continue to hold a special place in NHL lore. The Boston Bruins are the third oldest team in the NHL and were the first team based in the United States to join the league. 67 individuals associated with the team have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Bruins have won six Stanley Cups in their history, most recently in 2011.
Steven Kee - The New Jersey Devils have been playing games at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, lovingly known as “The Rock” since 2007. It was a $375 million move from the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford and would give the three-time Stanley Cup champions a first-class building to call home. The Devils played at the Meadowlands for nearly 30 years. This move was to help revitalize the City of Newark. The Prudential Center was to be the cornerstone of this revitalization, which included the Newark Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium (since demolished) and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The arena has become a more viable and proven candidate to be the city’s symbol for that sign of revitalization.
Lloyd Brown - The 2024-2025 NHL season found a longtime NHL team now operating out of a new home. This is a result of the relocation of the former Arizona Coyotes franchise to Salt Lake City, Utah. The relocation agreement results in the Arizona Coyotes name being protected in case a future franchise comes to the Valley of the Sun. The new management of the team decided to keep the team’s new name simple during its first year of operations in Salt Lake City. This means the team will use the Utah Hockey Club name during the 2024-2025 season. The team will conduct a name-the-team contest during this season, to involve its fans in the naming process. This means the blue and white color scheme of the uniforms and the use of the generic team’s name will be changed at the end of the season.
Chris Green - During recent seasons, the Florida Panthers were known in the news for being the team that had a franchise-low for attendance. In addition, they experienced the smallest season-opener crowd in franchise history. The few fans that showed up could carry on conversations in the upper deck that could clearly be heard in the lower bowl. However, an injection of young talent and a streamlined stadium experience has led to a growing crowd and an even better game day atmosphere. A new logo and a new feel make it a different experience than that of the past. Amerant Bank Arena is located in Sunrise, Florida, more than 30 miles north of downtown Miami. The arena has been the home of the Panthers since it opened in 1998, and has a capacity 19,250 when aligned for hockey
Greg Venuto - Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Red Wings 3rd home, is a sea of red. Between the home fans’ jerseys, the red banners hanging from the rafters, and the arena with robust red lighting is almost an assault on the eyes. But there’s no doubt whose building this is as fans file into the seating area. The Red Wings are one of the Original Six – the group of six teams that made up the National Hockey League between 1942 and 1967. Detroit, which plays in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, was once a major player but has not been to the playoffs since 2016. From 1997 through 2008, the Wings won four Stanley Cups including back-to-back crowns in 97 and 98. The post-season drought has diminished the enthusiasm to an extent but the city is a hockey hotbed referred to as Hockeytown.
Greg Venuto - The Minnesota Wild continue to play before hockey-crazed, sellout crowds at Xcel Energy Center. The building, while 23 years old, continues to shine as fans rock out to Shout after every Wild goal. The team was born in 2000 following the departure of the original Minnesota North Stars who fled their home in Bloomington just outside the Twin Cities to relocate to Dallas in 1993. Minnesota has never had the privilege of seeing a Stanley Cup champion. The North Stars did reach the finals twice in 1991 and 81.
Greg Venuto - The Chicago Blackhawks, one of the NHL’s most storied franchises and winners of the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015 have fallen on hard times. The team, one of the league’s “Original Six”, founded in 1926 will not make the playoffs again this year for the fourth consecutive season and sixth out of the last seven. The Blackhawks made Chicago Stadium (nicknamed Madhouse on Madison) their home until January 1995 due to the NHL lockout and then moved across the street into the United Center. The facility is the largest in square footage in the United States and has a capacity of 19,717 for hockey (with room for 3,000 more fans willing to take standing-room-only tickets). There are 167 executive suites, 34 club boxes, and 5 super suites in the facility. The arena is owned jointly by the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Lloyd Brown - Ice hockey has a long and storied history in Vancouver, as it has hosted a professional hockey club since 1911. The Canucks came into the NHL as an expansion franchise in 1970. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the NHL. The team has seen great success, as it has won 10 Division titles and two President’s Trophies over its existence. The Canucks have appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals on three occasions (1982, 1994, 2011) but have never won the series. The team began its existence at the Pacific Coliseum, where they played through 1995. They then moved to their present home, which at that time was named General Motors Place. It has been known as the Rogers Arena since 2010. This marks the 50th Anniversary Season for the Canucks and their 25th season in the arena. The arena has two levels of general seating, along with a club/suite level. It has one of the largest capacities in the NHL, as it holds 18,910 fans.
Lloyd Brown - The NHL’s shiniest new franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, also have the shiniest new ice palace to perform in for their loyal subjects. T-Mobile Arena is located at the southern end of the Vegas Strip and opened in April 2016. The arena was built even before the franchise was awarded in June of that year. Like most entertainment venues in Sin City, it will host a wide variety of events, ranging from sports, to concerts, beauty pageants and awards shows. The building has a capacity of 17,500 for ice hockey, 18,000 for basketball, and 20,000 for concerts, boxing and MMA matches and conventions. The arena was created by two giants in the entertainment industry, MGM Resorts International and AEG, who teamed up with noted sports architectural firm Populous to design a venue that works well both as a sports facility and an entertainment venue. Many NHL traditionalists questioned the selection of Las Vegas as an expansion location, as they hoped Quebec City would receive the nod. Others felt that a top tier professional sports team would not locate in a city known for gambling (the Golden Knights are the first to do so, with the Oakland Raiders relocating in 2020).
Paul Baker - While hockey may not be the first thing on your mind as you wander around southern California during a warm winter day, a trip to the Honda Center provides a mighty good experience for any fan, whether you are coming from the frigid north or not. Now in their third decade of operation, the Ducks (they dropped the “Mighty” from their nickname when Disney sold the team in 2006) have experienced a great deal of success, capturing 14 playoff berths, six division titles, two conference titles and a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007. Seven players who have played for the Ducks have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Robbie Raskin - KeyBank Center has been home to the Sabres since it opened in 1996, and though it is not an outstanding arena today, it's a comfortable arena with solid amenities and a welcoming fan experience. Even if the Sabres have a way to go before they return to any kind of glory days, KeyBank Center is a great place to catch some hockey and Buffalo is one of the best places in America to do so. At last, it seems the bottom has been reached and the Sabres are building back with some optimism. A new cadre of young players are coming of age with promise, the players in blue and gold appear happy to be there, the border is reopened, and attendance is slowly but surely ticking back up. Cautious optimism, but signs of a club back on track.
Greg Venuto - The St. Louis Blues were born in 1967 and in 2019 they reached the pinnacle of the NHL by winning their first Stanley Cup championship. From 1967 to 1994 the Blues played at St. Louis Arena before moving to The Enterprise Center formerly Scottrade, Savvis and Kiel Center. The building is owned by the City of St. Louis. The Blues feature a local band which entertains before and during each game on a stage built during the renovations. Blues fans are supportive and many sport jerseys. The team is lucky to be the only professional team in the city that plays during the late fall and winter months.
Greg Venuto - The Philadelphia Flyers share the building with the NBA Philadelphia 76ers and the National Lacrosse League Philadelphia Wings. The NBA franchise said it does not intend to stay at the arena beyond the end of its 2031 lease. The multi-purpose indoor arena is located at what is now known as the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes other venues like Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles), and Xfinity Live! The building seats 19,173 for hockey games, making it the 4th largest in the NHL. The arena, which is owned by Comcast Spectacor, which also owns the Flyers, replaced the Flyer's former home The Spectrum which debuted with the team’s NHL entry in 1967. Fans know who the landlord is as they glance upward and on each side are illuminated letters reading “Welcome To Comcast Country”.
Greg Venuto - UBS Arena design was inspired by iconic New York landmarks, including Central Park, Ebbets Field, Grand Central Terminal, Park Avenue Armory, and Prospect Park Boathouse. It features two outdoor terraces open to all guests and more restrooms per person than any arena in Metro New York. The rafters feature the Islanders four Stanley Cup banners to commemorate championships from 1979-1980 through 1982-1983. The player banners include an impressive array of retired numbers from those championship teams. Forwards Clark Gillies (9), Mike Bossy (22), Bobby Nystrom (23) and John Tonelli (27), centers Bryan Trottier (19) and Butch Goring (91), defenseman Denis Potvin (5), goalie Billy Smith (31) coach Al Arbour (1500 - the number of games he coached) and general manager Bill Torrey (TORREY “The Architect”) all have banners above.
Joseph Oakes - The Carolina Hurricanes began playing at Lenovo Center when the building opened in 1999. Prior to that, the Hurricanes played at the Greensboro Coliseum during their first two years in North Carolina. The facility has gone by four names since it opened: Entertainment and Sports Arena, the RBC Center, PNC Arena and now the Lenovo Center. The arena is located in West Raleigh and sits next door to Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State football team. Lenovo Center boasts 18,680 red seats for hockey and is also the home of the NC State basketball team. Even though the venue is approaching 20 years old, it is still a modern arena for NHL hockey.
Greg Venuto - Ball Arena, formerly the Pepsi Center, has seen its basketball and hockey teams win championships over the last two years. Most recently the Denver Nuggets won their first NBA championship over the Miami Heat in June of 2023. In June of 2022, the Colorado Avalanche won their third Stanley Cup in six games over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Both the Avalanche, who play in the NHL's Central Division and the Nuggets are contenders once again. The Avalanche began their existence as the Quebec Nordiques, one of the few teams to make the move from the WHL to the NHL. After the 1995 season, the team was sold to a new ownership group and relocated to Denver, where the team was renamed the Avalanche. The newly relocated team got off to a rousing start, as it won the Stanley Cup in its first season in its new home. The Avalanche have won three Stanley Cups, three Conference Championships, and nine Division Championships.
Lloyd Brown - Canada Life Centre opened in 2004, with the Jets franchise returning to the city in 2011. It currently serves as the home to both the NHL Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. It is the smallest arena in the NHL, with a seating capacity of 15,294. Winnipeg has been given a second chance with an NHL franchise and there is no chance of the fans allowing the team to move elsewhere again. They fill the Canada Life Centre for every game, cheering loudly for the local boys while organizing chants to disrupt the visiting team’s concentration. The whole town turns out in their blue-best when the Jets are in town. Winnipeg is one of the more isolated of the NHL outposts, but it is well worth a visit as you check the rinks and arenas in the central portion of Canada.
Jim Flannery - The Olympic Saddledome opened in 1983, constructed in anticipation of the 1988 Winter Olympics, and has been the home of the Calgary Flames ever since. Over the years, the Saddledome has seen a few renovations, increased seating capacity, and a couple name changes; it is now known as the Scotiabank Saddledome. At over 40 years of age, the Saddledome is now the third-oldest NHL arena and is looking dated. In May, 2023, it was announced that a new arena was going to be built just north of the Saddledome. This was the third try at getting a go-ahead on constructing a replacement for the ‘Dome, but this time it seems to be sticking—shovels are in the ground to prep the new location. When all is said and done, the new Events Centre and surrounding infrastructure is expected to cost around a billion dollars.
Dave Cottenie - The current iteration of the Senators are not the original professional team in Ottawa. The original Ottawa Senators were a force in the pre-Original Six days and dominated the early 1900s, claiming eleven Stanley Cup Championships between 1903 and 1927. The Senators are currently owned by Biovail founder Eugene Melnyk, who bought the team out of bankruptcy in 2003. The modern Senators have experienced the full spectrum of results on the ice, going to the Stanley Cup Finals and winning the Presidents’ Trophy as well as earning a number of first overall draft picks.
David Hegler - Ever since the San Jose Sharks were founded in 1991 and moved into the newly-built San Jose Arena two years later, their hometown has wholeheartedly embraced them. By the time the playoffs roll around, the vast city of San Jose, California is very much a Hockey Town. The SAP Center is perfect for the Sharks as it represents the city’s culture while providing impeccable views in all corners of the arena. Of course, the arena hosts much more than Sharks hockey. In the past, it has hosted the Golden State Warriors, the Arena Football League’s Sabercats, and the Indoor Football League’s Bay Area Panthers as well as a plethora of concerts. As a result of its history, the SAP Center is a staple in the San Jose community.
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