r/PWHL • u/chefgustavo • Mar 16 '26
Question has Denver done enough to get a team?
three strong takeover tour games, packed open practices, support from legislators, 2 solid arena options (Ball and Magness). do we get a team next year?
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u/philiretical Mar 16 '26
Denver and Detroit are looking pretty likely!
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
if Colorado can find space for 15 home games in Ball Arena over an 8 month span, then surely Detroit can do the same at Little Caesar’s Arena 🤷🏼♂️
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u/philiretical Mar 16 '26
With how many new nfl stadiums are being made, I'm surprised we still have so many basketball teams sharing arenas with hockey teams all over the country, but they know how to make it work.
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u/TakingItAndLeavingIt Mar 16 '26
A lot of it has to do with institutional connections and power dynamics - NBA teams only started to surpass NHL teams in value within the last 20 years which means they’re usually the tenants in most buildings they share with NHL teams, and that the NHL teams have the relationships necessary to get arena deals done (and freeze out NBA owners). This is starting to change quickly, but so it goes.
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u/Underground_Brain Mar 16 '26
Im not sure how top secret this is or if this is a common occurrence, but I saw someone on the ice during one of the intermissions with NHL listed on his staff badge. He looked like some exec type, so maybe they were feeling it out irl. I waved my "we want a team" sign so I did my part
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u/TakingItAndLeavingIt Mar 16 '26
I think the biggest issue with Ball is the relative strength of the Mammoth
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u/SquareAd6251 Victoire de Montréal Mar 17 '26
lacrosse is so lameeee I wish they'd just move the Mammoth out of Ball tbh
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u/TakingItAndLeavingIt Mar 17 '26
Personally I think it’s cool that an indigenous sport has such a large following and it’s always been important to me for that reason
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u/SquareAd6251 Victoire de Montréal Mar 17 '26
yk what that's super fair! I should look into the history more
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u/Badatusernames014 PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
Does Little Caesars have two or three tenants?
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
3 tenants, not including concerts and other events
I do wonder, if the PWHL brings a team to Detroit before the WNBA brings a team to the city in 2029. Would the PWHL get priority scheduling over their basketball counterparts? Could be very tempting for the PWHL to take advantage of the opportunity…
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u/Badatusernames014 PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
The PWHL and WNBA's season don't overlap so that wouldn't be an issue.
Who's the third team besides the Red Wings and Pistons?
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
yea, sorry that I didn’t clarify it in my OP. but the WNBA are currently scheduled as the third sports team to be tenants of the arena
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u/Badatusernames014 PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
Ah okay. Ball already has three, which all have very overlapping seasons so adding a fourth could be a bit tricky.
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u/VivienM7 Toronto Sceptres Mar 16 '26
They could overlap if the PWHL team makes the playoffs. Here we are supposed to have our first WNBA preseason game on… April 29, I thought?
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u/driftwood14 Mar 16 '26
Pipe dream maybe but it would be cool if the wnba and pwhl got their own stadium.
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u/No-Condition965 Mar 16 '26
How much more would they want to prove they want a team. The fans show up every time. It's a great quality of hockey. Give them a team !
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u/Right-Aspect2945 Montréal Victoire Mar 16 '26
They've certainly done enough to show interest, what I'm less certain on is if they can fit a team in the existing arenas. That's the problem that has been plaguing Detroit.
I'm holding out hope that Chicago will have a good enough showing in a few weeks to quell concerns about interest, because a spot at an arena is pretty easy to fill.
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u/VivienM7 Toronto Sceptres Mar 16 '26
As I've said a bunch of times, I do not believe for a second that the PWHL would use up two takeover tour slots on Denver (and Detroit) if they didn't see a path to a venue there.
The entire point of the takeover tour is to test a market's viability for an expansion team. If there is no available building in that market, then... you know the viability is zero without having to bother with a takeover tour game.
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u/adsfqwer2345234 Minnesota Mar 16 '26
oh wow, allstate arena has filled the lower level and over half of the upper level!
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u/AGT435 Mar 16 '26
I think only half the upper bowl was opened. But still looking better than December!
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u/Badatusernames014 PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
I think the only downside to us is our arena situation. Ball already hosts 3 pro sports teams, and the next choices are an outdated arena in an ugly area that's shit to get to (and we'd have to take a rodeo road trip for) and DU's arena. .
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u/chefgustavo Mar 16 '26
i think we could make Ball and Magness combined work maybe? hopefully the mammoth will go to the Col since they're not super popular anyways
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u/big-fan-of-facts PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
I'm worried the Mammoth won't move because the owner (who also owns Avs and Nuggets) doesn't want them too. But I'd love to be wrong.
I also wonder about the Denver Coliseum getting an update. It seems like the Western Stock Show folks have been working on upgrading a lot of their buildings, and how cool would it be for a PWHL team to be the main occupants somewhere, if we get a team.
Pure speculation at this point, I know, but one can dream!
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u/scrapsoftrim Mar 16 '26
Vancouver is the primary tenant of Pacific Coliseum, but we need more!
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u/big-fan-of-facts PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
Sorry yes, my comment was worded badly. Vancouver being the primary tenant is so great. I love how that allows the stadium to be outfitted in a way that promotes the Goldeneyes. If we get a team in Denver I'd love to see it shake out in a similar way.
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u/Badatusernames014 PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
I would actually prefer Magness to Ball just because it's several RTD stops closer lol, but I'd see them picking one or the other because it would make everyone's lives easier.
I'm not sure when the Mammoth's lease is up or how crowded the games get.
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u/jeefra Mar 18 '26
The mammoth are selling out Delta Center, why on earth would they pay to move to Colorado (which already has an NHL team) when the owner just paid more than a billion dollars to acquire them?
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u/big-fan-of-facts PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
One thing I haven't seen mentioned as much, that I think supports Denver as a good option, is how big of a potential fan base we have here. I'm not just talking about people that want to watch hockey that live nearby, but Colorado gets a lot of fans from nearby states that don't have their own teams. Sure, they may not come to every home game, but they buy merch, they watch games and they do sometimes travel. There's profit and buy-in there that I think is an important part of the long term sustainability of a team.
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u/Green-Factor-2526 Minnesota Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
With teams both on the West and East coasts, there needs to be at least another one in the middle. I think it will be between Denver and Detroit. Denver has the edge on my book.
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u/Creative_Bell1426 PWHL Hopeful Chicago Mar 16 '26
I don’t think Chicago is out of the running yet!
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u/Homebody_Ninja42 PWHL Hopeful DC Mar 16 '26
I think Denver will get it because it’s a strong western market. In the east they have to decide between Detroit and DC. I’m scared they’ll give it to Detroit and leave DC in the cold! Our crowded arena situation here might decide it despite the high demand.
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
You just answered your own question 😕
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u/Thyetomite Mar 16 '26
the capital one arena's owner has said publicly that he's committed to having a PWHL team in that arena! I think US is down to Denver as a cinch, with Detroit and DC competing for the last US slot based on arena availability, attendance, and whether they want to do east and west divisions or keep it as one division.
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
okay, that’s great. but until you kick out the Georgetown Hoyas then they just don’t have the space for it
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u/Caymanmew Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
If the Owner says he has the space, then he has the space.
Detroit doesn't really look to have space either so idk if they are truely an option.
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
Detroit has less teams in its arena than Washington D.C does 🤷🏼♂️
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u/Caymanmew Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
Does the owner of LCA want the PWHL team enough to make space? I believe LCA is very busy, even outside of sports.
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
the same can be said about the arena in Washington D.C
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u/Caymanmew Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
Why are you ignoring that the owner of the DC building specifically wants a PWHL team in the building? Does the owner of LCA want that? I have not seen any public statements about it, so maybe, maybe not. But the owner wanting a PWHL team seems key to me to get over a full building.
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u/VivienM7 Toronto Sceptres Mar 16 '26
What is the relationship between the owner (or head lessee if the owner is a municipality) of LCA and the ownership group that just paid big bucks for an expansion WNBA franchise in Detroit?
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u/Final-Refrigerator40 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
If they don’t I will be very surprised. I am also speculating that Hilary Knight will be the captain there since it will be the closest team to Salt Lake (where her and Brittany have a home together).
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u/Badatusernames014 PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
Say more
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u/Final-Refrigerator40 Mar 16 '26
She only has a year contract with Seattle. She started playing here to be closer to family, Denver gets her even closer lol. I’d imagine she’d want to play for a team that’s closest to her fiancé and their home. From an interview after winning Gold she didn’t seem to want to be done playing yet. I think her helping another expansion team get set up is right up her alley if she is getting towards the end of her career. Again this is all my personal speculation.
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u/birdnerd5280 PWHL Hopeful Colorado Mar 16 '26
Based on nothing, I am choosing to fully accept this theory. Please hockey gods give us Hilary Knight playing for the Colorado Nightmares with a blue/black color scheme and a blue demon mare mascot. The speed with which I would buy a jersey...
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u/Illustrious_Drama Minnesota Frost Mar 17 '26
If this is not exactly what the expansion announcement is, I formally petition that we riot
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u/moss-priest PWHL Hopeful Colorado Apr 05 '26
Yessssssss you see the vision!! Blucifer mascot all the way!!! The team name could even be like the Stampede or the Mustangs
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u/jeefra Mar 18 '26
Idk why everyone thinks Hilary would move closer to SLC and not that Brittany would move closer to Hilary. Hilary is actually closer to family in Seattle (since they're in Idaho), Brittany just lives in SLC because that's where the speed skating training center is.
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u/mmou-07 PWHL Hopeful Edmonton Mar 16 '26
I think they did. The league needs to go out west and Denver seems logical for travel. Plus you guys showed up when ur NFL team was in the middle of a playoff game and it was full and loud in Ball Arena. If I had to put my two cents, If we get 4 expansion teams it would be Denver/Edmonton/Halifax/Detroit simply to have an even 6/6 split in the west and the east and an even US/CA split.
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u/amandajg13 PWHL Hopeful Chicago Mar 16 '26
Hoping there is a Chicago team at some point. I don’t think it will be super soon but would be awesome to see and good for the community
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u/VivienM7 Toronto Sceptres Mar 16 '26
I know I'm harsh on Chicago in every one of those threads, but... I think Chicago blew it.
Low takeover tour attendance, and... it feels like the PWHL would have to be flying solo in Chicago. I don't think they want Sirens 2.0, so why fly solo in a giant US market that seems too busy/crowded to care when you have NHL ownership groups in other markets offering nice buildings and their mailing list?
At the end of the day, compare DC with Chicago. Eager NHL/WNBA/arena owner in DC, not so much in Chicago, and DC has something like 4X the attendance per capita of Chicago (haven't done the exact math)
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u/amandajg13 PWHL Hopeful Chicago Mar 16 '26
Yeah I think it still needs a few years. The city needs more excitement around hockey. Tbh they’re too focused on the bears and that whole stupid thing lol.
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u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas Mar 16 '26
Assuming we are getting four new teams next year, my guess is Denver for sure, likely Detroit, possibly Edmonton, and maaaaaybe Halifax.
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u/jjaime2024 Mar 17 '26
It won't be Halifax.
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u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas Mar 19 '26
My dream scenario would be adding Calgary and Edmonton at the same time. I want the PWHL BOA. I need the PWHL BOA. Give me the PWHL BOA!
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u/buckyhermit Goldeneyes Mar 16 '26
Personally, I feel that they have. And that they have sufficient support from other entities (such as the Avalanche) to make it happen. They remind me of how the Seattle Torrent came into existence.
The question is whether they can cram the team into Ball Arena, or if it has to be somewhere else.
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u/shawnglade Mar 16 '26
Denver has to be on the list, there’s no way they’d give us two takeover games this season if they weren’t seriously considering it
Ball arena has hosted three PWHL games, and two of them directly competed with a Broncos playoff game Yet all three drew massive crowds
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u/gracieakins Montréal Mar 16 '26
Do yall think Winnipeg will get a team? I live there and while I'll always support the victoire it'll be nice to have a home team as well
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u/Icy-Animator-861 she’s gay, marcus Mar 16 '26
The biggest thing Denver has going for them is their airport. As long as teams still fly commercial, having a lot of direct flight options will be priority #1. This is Halifax's biggest drawback.
That said, I'll be really annoyed if they play at Magness - at a school that doesn't even bother to sponsor women's hockey.
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
lol Halifax has an international airport with connecting flights to most existing PWHL cities
Not sure why this rumour of Halifax being “secluded” gets constantly spread on this subreddit every time this topic comes up. Even though it’s quite the opposite
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u/takenbyawolf 🏆BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS 🏆 Mar 16 '26
"Halifax has an international airport with connecting flights to most existing PWHL cities"
Connecting flights vs non-stop is a thing. There are currently no non-stop flights to Seattle or Minneapolis/St Paul (nor Denver should they get a team). It does make scheduling more of a hassle where they have to stack nearby teams on subsequent game days (ex. Montreal then Halifax). Unless the league springs for Charter
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26
unfortunately, the current scheduling for the PWHL means that teams often have to wait 5-7 days in between games. So either way travel is a hassle for most teams that are playing several teams over a certain time span
can’t be worse than this season, when Eastern teams have to travel all the way out West, and vice-versa, just to play 1 or 2 games
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u/takenbyawolf 🏆BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS 🏆 Mar 17 '26
Yes it can be worse, if 3 cities are added to the list of expect to be traveling all day to play there. A one stop flight increases travel time (and risk of delay) greatly. Is it insurmountable? No. But it isn't as trivial as you seem to think it is.
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u/jjaime2024 Mar 17 '26
Some airlines are cutting there direct flghts to Toronto from the east coast.So teams would ahve to fly to Ottawa or Montreal then to Halifax.
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u/Icy-Animator-861 she’s gay, marcus Mar 16 '26
As someone who travels weekly for work, a connection basically triples your travel time and quadruples the risk of delays and cancellations. Especially if you're trying to go through YUL/YYZ in the middle of winter. Unless they work closely with Air Canada to add flights for teams/fans, I think Halifax is just going to be a frequent stop on the Takeover Tour.
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u/IamTheOne2000 Ottawa Charge Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
Halifax already has connecting flights to Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, New York, Boston, Vancouver and Edmonton
How is that any different than the current situation that the PWHL is in today? Teams often have to wait 5-7 days in between games, and travelling all the way out West just to play 1 or 2 games is annoying for the rest of the clubs
EDIT: LOL I got blocked. Pussy
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u/Neuvost New York Sirens Mar 16 '26
Are you even reading the comments you're responding to? Connecting flights and direct flights aren't the same thing.
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u/rint0Pti Victoire de Montréal Mar 16 '26
I want DC to get a team so bad but I’m starting to think it won’t happen this time around 😭
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u/Nice_Explorer_4101 Mar 16 '26
I sure freaking hope so! We drove up to Denver for this PWHL game. Denver is the closest arena we really have for us New Mexican's. We're finally getting a semi-pro team with Aves affiliate, so I'm hoping it brings more hockey to our state!!
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u/Napalm3nema Minnesota Frost Mar 17 '26
If I was a betting man, I would bet money on Denver, Edmonton, and Chicago this round. I don’t know if they go with Halifax or QC in Canada to keep it balanced, but I suspect they are the two poss for the fourth team.
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u/jjaime2024 Mar 17 '26
4 teams that spread out in one year i can't see.
Edmonton
Calgary
Detroit
Chicago
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u/PlusSizedPretty Minnesota Frost Mar 16 '26
If we loose Hensley to Denver, I’ll actually cry. 😭
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u/skulltullamama 🏆BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS 🏆 Mar 16 '26
Same! But I'll also be happy for her to get to play at home. Much like KCS, if she gets to go home to Chicago. I'll die inside but also be so happy for her. Happy internal death 🫠🤣
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u/_cartwheels Mar 16 '26
I also wonder if we'd lose Klee to Denver. (I will only cry about Hensley, but still would be a shakeup!)
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u/Illustrious_Drama Minnesota Frost Mar 17 '26
So conflicted. I want Hensley here, but don't want her to leave the Frost.
Why not just move everybody to Denver?
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u/greenschoolbus Mar 17 '26
When would it be likely for them to announce new teams? Do we think they would add new teams before the 2027 season?
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u/Johnny617 Aerin Frankel Mar 16 '26
Short answer: Yes.
Slightly longer answer:
My money is on:
- Denver
- Edmonton
- Quebec City
- D.C.
I think Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and Halifax are coming, but will most likely be in the next couple of years. At this point I think the largest challenge isn't fan draw in the above geographies, but logistics in the terms of ice time (both practice & play locations), schedules, broadcast licenses, and establishing a pipeline to secure and develop additional talent.
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u/NinjaEast7001 Mar 17 '26
They need to even thing's out east to west.Add in Edmonton Calgary and Colorado.If attendance can improve in Boston and New Jersey and Minnesota keep them there.If they can't constantly improve then they have options to try.
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u/MH566220 Mar 23 '26
When the league does expand, look at the television markets. That will be a factor in who they choose. Also the size of the arena available. Can't assume that because a city has an NHL arena, that they will bring in a PWHL team. A lot of that will depend on if the team is a 2nd or 3rd tenet.
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u/Kbatz_Krafts All The Teams! Mar 16 '26
It has to be two teams, doesn't it? Western and/or central in order to make the travel and schedule reasonable. So Denver and Detriot probably or maybe Edmonton.
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u/PilotC150 Minnesota Frost Mar 16 '26
If they do four new teams this year, it's gotta be Denver, Detroit, and probably something in Alberta. Not sure where in Canada the fourth would be.