Stanley Cup Final Hits All-Time Low: Viewership Plummets 40%!

Edmonton, Canada - In a season that promised thrilling matchups and passionate fanfare, the Stanley Cup Final featuring the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers has turned out to be one for the history books—not necessarily in a good way. As reported by Sports Business Journal, the final averaged a mere 2.5 million viewers across U.S. networks, marking a staggering 40% drop from last year’s viewership figures. It’s a trend that has many scratching their heads, especially when reflecting on the series as the least-watched Stanley Cup Final since the 2020 Lightning-Stars matchup and the lowest since the 2007 Ducks-Senators final.

This plunge in ratings wasn’t confined to just the U.S. In Canada, Game 6 attracted 3.9 million viewers, down from last year’s 5.5 million, indicating that the excitement surrounding this final hasn’t captured the hearts of hockey fans as it once did. Across North America, the combined audience dropped to 6.4 million, representing a 27% decline from the previous year.

Shifting Sands of Viewership

While millions tuned out, the overall NHL playoff experience was a mixed bag. The complete Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.1 million viewers on U.S. channels, a 30% decrease from the previous season. However, Canadians were rejoicing as the playoffs attracted an average of 2.2 million viewers, up from 1.9 million last year—marking it as the best postseason since 2011. Yet, this contrast leaves one wondering what went awry in the American market.

According to The New York Times, the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final broadcast on TNT and truTV experienced noticeably low viewership numbers. The opener attracted only 2.4 million viewers, the least-watched Game 1 since 2021. Coupled with a concerning trend, where casual fans might not even realize the games are airing on cable, it begs the question—has the NHL’s shift to Turner Sports impacted its viewership negatively?

Star Power vs. Market Reach

Even the presence of superstars like Connor McDavid couldn’t fully rally the viewers. Having the captain of the Oilers bring his formidable talent to the Final should, by all accounts, attract a crowd. However, the critical lack of a major U.S. media market for Edmonton poses a significant barrier to broader audience reach. Despite these challenges, grassroots interest in the NHL remains vibrant, and the league’s financial situation has shown improvements compared to prior years.

In stark contrast to the current year’s performance, last year’s Stanley Cup Final set a commendable standard. Game 7 in 2024, which featured the Panthers‘ historic first-win, averaged 7.7 million viewers—an impressive feat that underscored a surprising rebound from the 2023 season. In fact, viewership peaked at a stunning 10.3 million during a specific quarter-hour, showcasing just how different the fan engagement landscape can be from season to season. This highlights that despite the struggles with ratings this year, there is still a well of affection for the game itself.

As we continue into the summer and look toward the next season, the NHL faces an uphill battle. The league needs to devise new strategies to capture the attention of casual viewers while maintaining the engaged core fanbase. In a world where streaming and social media engagement have shown promising growth—even with a 32% rise in social engagements during the playoffs—one can only hope that this energy translates to the screen when the puck drops for the next season.

Ultimately, the Stanley Cup remains an iconic trophy, and while the viewership has dimmed this year, the spirit of hockey—and with it, the hope for a more exciting future—certainly persists among fans.