Germany's Hockey Landscape
The NHL has sealed a multi‑year partnership with FC Bayern Munich, committing to stage regular‑season games in Germany beginning in 2027, with the Edmonton Oilers set to open the series in Cologne and the Boston Bruins to follow in Munich.
The collaboration extends beyond the ice, incorporating youth‑focused initiatives such as NHL Street Hockey, designed to introduce the sport to a new generation across the country.
Germany already boasts a robust domestic league, the DEL, with venues that regularly accommodate crowds exceeding 6,000, providing a solid foundation for both men’s and women’s hockey expansion.
Among the beneficiaries are several German athletes slated for the PWHL draft, including Laura Kluge, Sandra Abstreiter, Luisa Welcke and Lilli Welcke, who are currently attending development camps.
Recent attendance figures from the 2025 Women’s World Championships underscore the rising popularity of the women’s game in Europe, with Sweden drawing 8,442 spectators, Switzerland 4,997 and Czechia 5,859, indicating a fertile market for elite women’s competition.
The NHL’s strategic push into Germany, coupled with the PWHL’s exploration of European expansion, could see women’s hockey benefit from preseason showcases or even regular‑season fixtures on German soil, further accelerating participation and fan engagement.