• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025
opinion
Tuned In

NHL Shouldn’t Panic About Worst-Ever Winter Classic Ratings

The New Year’s Eve matchup drew fewer than one million viewers—a record low for the annual outdoor hockey game. The league can get that number back up next year.

Dec 31, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; The Chicago Blackhawks look on after the Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field.
Daniel Bartel/Imagn Images

The NHL’s outdoor Winter Classic is a signature event on the sports TV calendar. But alarm bells went off when Tuesday’s game drew the worst viewership in the 17-year history of the event.

The Blues’ 6–2 win over the Blackhawks at Chicago’s Wrigley Field averaged 920,000 viewers. That’s down 16% from last year’s previous low of 1.10 million for the Golden Knights–Kraken—and down 48% from 1.78 million for Bruins-Penguins two years ago, according to Sports Media Watch

But there are a few reasons why the NHL shouldn’t hit the panic button over the Winter Classic dipping below one million viewers for the first time.

To start, this was the first time the NHL played the Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve instead of New Year’s Day (or occasionally Jan. 2). In December, the network told Front Office Sports the main reason for the new date was so the event wouldn’t go up against the six bowl games on Dec. 31. 

Yes, it was trying to avoid coverage of the expanded College Football Playoff. But it’s always dangerous to tamper with viewer expectations—particularly a nearly two-decade-long tradition of outdoor hockey. Some viewers remarked on social media they didn’t know the game had been pushed back a day.

And despite the timing shift, the NHL still couldn’t keep from butting heads with college football, anyway. TNT’s hockey telecast competed at times with ABC’s coverage of the Citrus Bowl between Illinois and South Carolina. With the Fighting Illini beating the Gamecocks 21–17, many viewers in Chicago chose football over hockey. 

Colin Salao

Second, look at the weak matchup handed to TNT. The Blackhawks rank dead-last in the NHL with a record of 12-24-2. The Blues aren’t much better. With their win over Chicago, St. Louis is 18-17-4. Both teams also found themselves in tumult early on, each firing its respective coach only a few months into the season. Plus, the Blackhawks have never set the ice on fire during the Winter Classic: Although the Original Six franchise has played the most Winter Classic games, they’re 0–5.  

Still, the organizers bet Wrigley’s iconic setting—which played host once before in 2009 for the second iteration of the event—would be a difference-maker, and that a theoretically less competitive time slot would pay dividends. But the spectacle of Wrigley Field and new broadcast bells and whistles couldn’t trump the poor matchup. Even Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard’s star power wasn’t quite powerful enough.

The poor ratings aren’t a death knell for the event, though. The NHL still has levers to pull to get ratings up. A return to New Year’s Day could be helpful—and it’d be understandable if the NHL indeed retreats from its new date. But stronger teams would certainly help next time. With the exception of the NFL, sports TV viewership largely depends on matchups and the closeness of the game.  

And the event still has its shine. NHL players and TV viewers love watching hockey played outdoors in its “purest form.” As Blackhawks forward Patrick Maroon told FOS at Wrigley: “You mark these on your calendar. It’s the biggest thing before the playoff starts.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.
Jun 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) reacts after giving up a home run during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.

MLB Pitcher’s Paid Leave Extended Through August As Betting Probe Continues

Leagues have been dealing with a host of sports betting issues.

Featured Today

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
exclusive

Bill Belichick UNC Series Heading to Hulu After ‘Hard Knocks’ Breakdown

The series lands at Hulu after a deal with HBO fell through.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy looks up at the scoreboard Saturday, May 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky, 93-58.
July 17, 2025

Barstool’s Dave Portnoy Announces Fox Sports Deal

FS1 canceled “Breakfast Ball,” “The Facility,” and “Speak” this week.
July 17, 2025

Barstool-Fox Deal Shows NFL’s Portnoy Cold War Is Thawing

The Barstool-Fox alliance is a signal of how times have changed.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
exclusive
July 16, 2025

Fox Sports Nearing Deal for Dave Portnoy on ‘Big Noon,’ Barstool on..

Barstool content could fill some FS1 airtime vacated by three canceled shows.
exclusive
July 16, 2025

Clint Dempsey on New Job, USA’s ‘Once in a Lifetime’ World Cup

Dempsey said the World Cup is an enormous opportunity for the U.S.
Joy Taylor
July 14, 2025

Joy Taylor Out As FS1 Armageddon Ends Three Shows

All three shows were struggling to attract audiences.
exclusive
July 14, 2025

Fox Promotes Allison Williams to Laura Okmin’s Former NFL Sideline Role

Williams left ESPN in 2021 after declining to be vaccinated for COVID-19.