List of ice hockey games with highest attendance
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, as well as for an NHL game played in a teams' regular home stadium, 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]
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]
Michigan Stadium , Ann Arbor
January 1, 2014
2014 NHL Winter Classic
Detroit Red Wings
2–3 (SO )
Toronto Maple Leafs
3
85,630[ 6]
Cotton Bowl , Dallas
January 1, 2020
2020 NHL Winter Classic
Dallas Stars
4-2
Nashville Predators
4
79,690[ 7]
MetLife Stadium , East Rutherford
February 18, 2024
2024 NHL Stadium Series
New York Islanders
5–6 (OT)
New York Rangers
5
77,803[ 8]
Veltins-Arena , Gelsenkirchen
May 7, 2010
2010 IIHF World Championship
United States
1–2 (OT )
Germany [ 9]
6
74,554[ 10]
Spartan Stadium , East Lansing
October 6, 2001
Cold War
Michigan State Spartans (men)
3–3
Michigan Wolverines (men)
7
71,381[ 11]
Gazprom Arena , Saint Petersburg
December 16, 2018
Euro Hockey Tour
Russia
5–0
Finland
8
71,217[ 12]
Ralph Wilson Stadium , Orchard Park
January 1, 2008
2008 NHL Winter Classic
Buffalo Sabres
1–2 (SO)
Pittsburgh Penguins
9
70,328[ 13]
MetLife Stadium , East Rutherford
February 17, 2024
2024 NHL Stadium Series
New Jersey Devils
6–3
Philadelphia Flyers
10
70,205[ 14]
Levi's Stadium , Santa Clara, California
February 21, 2015
2015 NHL Stadium Series
San Jose Sharks
1–2
Los Angeles Kings
11
69,620
Lincoln Financial Field , Philadelphia
February 23, 2019
2019 NHL Stadium Series
Philadelphia Flyers
4–3 (OT)
Pittsburgh Penguins
12
68,619[ 15]
Nissan Stadium , Nashville
February 26, 2022
2022 NHL Stadium Series
Nashville Predators
2–3
Tampa Bay Lightning
13
68,111[ 16]
Heinz Field , Pittsburgh
January 1, 2011
2011 NHL Winter Classic
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–3
Washington Capitals
14
67,877[ 17]
Gazprom Arena , Saint Petersburg
December 15, 2019
Euro Hockey Tour
Russia
2–0
Finland
15
67,318[ 18]
Heinz Field , Pittsburgh
February 25, 2017
2017 NHL Stadium Series
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–2
Philadelphia Flyers
16
67,246[ 19]
Gillette Stadium , Foxborough
January 1, 2016
2016 NHL Winter Classic
Boston Bruins
1–5
Montreal Canadiens
17
62,921
Soldier Field , Chicago
March 1, 2014
2014 NHL Stadium Series
Chicago Blackhawks
5–1
Pittsburgh Penguins
18
57,167[ 20]
Commonwealth Stadium , Edmonton
November 22, 2003
2003 Heritage Classic
Edmonton Oilers
3–4
Montreal Canadiens
19
56,961
Carter-Finley Stadium , Raleigh
February 18, 2023
2023 NHL Stadium Series
Carolina Hurricanes
4–1
Washington Capitals
20
55,411
Commonwealth Stadium , Edmonton
October 29, 2023
2023 NHL Heritage Classic
Edmonton Oilers
5–2
Calgary Flames
21
55,031[ 21]
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)
22
55,000[ 10]
Lenin Stadium , Moscow
March 5, 1957
1957 Ice Hockey World Championships
Soviet Union
4–4
Sweden
23
54,194
BC Place , Vancouver
March 2, 2014
2014 NHL Heritage Classic
Vancouver Canucks
2–4
Ottawa Senators
24
54,099
Dodger Stadium , Los Angeles
January 25, 2014
2014 NHL Stadium Series
Los Angeles Kings
0–3
Anaheim Ducks
25
52,051
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)
26
51,125[ 22]
ESPRIT arena , Düsseldorf
January 10, 2015
2015 DEL Winter Game
Düsseldorfer EG
3–2
Kölner Haie
27
50,426
TCF Bank Stadium , Minneapolis
February 21, 2016
2016 NHL Stadium Series
Minnesota Wild
6–1
Chicago Blackhawks
28
50,105
Yankee Stadium , New York City
January 26, 2014
2014 NHL Stadium Series
New Jersey Devils
3–7
New York Rangers
29
50,095
Coors Field , Denver
February 27, 2016
2016 NHL Stadium Series
Colorado Avalanche
3–5
Detroit Red Wings
30
50,027
Yankee Stadium , New York City
January 29, 2014
2014 NHL Stadium Series
New York Islanders
1–2
New York Rangers
31
50,000[ 23]
Stadion Nürnberg , Nuremberg
January 5, 2013
2013 DEL Winter Game
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
4–3
Eisbären Berlin
32
47,313[ 24]
T-Mobile Park , Seattle
January 1, 2024
2024 NHL Winter Classic
Seattle Kraken
3–0
Vegas Golden Knights
33
47,011[ 25]
RheinEnergieStadion , Cologne
January 12, 2019
2019 DEL Winter Game
Kölner Haie
2–3 (OT)
Düsseldorfer EG
34
46,967[ 26]
Citizens Bank Park , Philadelphia
January 2, 2012
2012 NHL Winter Classic
Philadelphia Flyers
2–3
New York Rangers
35
46,556
Busch Stadium , St. Louis
January 2, 2017
2017 NHL Winter Classic
St. Louis Blues
4–1
Chicago Blackhawks
36
45,808[ 27]
Citizens Bank Park , Philadelphia
December 31, 2011
NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game
Philadelphia Flyers Alumni
3–1
New York Rangers Alumni
37
45,653[ 28]
Citizens Bank Park , Philadelphia
January 6, 2012
2012 AHL Outdoor Classic
Adirondack Phantoms
4–3 (OT)
Hershey Bears
38
45,523
FirstEnergy Stadium , Cleveland
February 18, 2023
Faceoff on the Lake
Ohio State Buckeyes (men)
4–2
Michigan Wolverines (men)
39
45,021[ 29]
TCF Stadium , Minneapolis
January 17, 2014
2014 Hockey City Classic
Minnesota Gophers (men)
1–0
Ohio State Buckeyes (men)
40
44,592[ 30]
Ralph Wilson Stadium , Orchard Park
December 29, 2017
2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
United States
4-3 (SO)
Canada
41
42,832[ 31]
Nationals Park , Washington, D.C.
January 1, 2015
2015 NHL Winter Classic
Washington Capitals
3–2
Chicago Blackhawks
42
41,022[ 32]
McMahon Stadium , Calgary
February 20, 2011
2011 Heritage Classic
Calgary Flames
4-0
Montreal Canadiens
43
40,890[ 33]
Lambeau Field , Green Bay
February 13, 2006
Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic
Wisconsin Badgers (men)
4–2
Ohio State Buckeyes (men)
44
40,818[ 34]
Wrigley Field , Chicago
January 1, 2009
2009 NHL Winter Classic
Chicago Blackhawks
4–6
Detroit Red Wings
45
40,163[ 35]
RheinEnergieStadion , Cologne
December 3, 2022
2022 DEL Winter Game
Kölner Haie
4–2
Adler Mannheim
46
38,472[ 36]
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)
47
38,456[ 37]
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)
48
38,112
Fenway Park , Boston
January 1, 2010
2010 NHL Winter Classic
Boston Bruins
2–1 (OT)
Philadelphia Flyers
49
37,592[ 38]
Ford Field , Detroit
April 10, 2010
2010 NCAA Men's Hockey Championship Game
Boston College Eagles (men)
5–0
Wisconsin Badgers (men)
50
36,644[ 39]
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
References
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