Every game night ignites heated debates: is major league soccer poised to dethrone hockey in North America? Fans, analysts and marketers pore over numbers, dissecting the eternal MLS vs NHL viewership question. Emotions run high—yet anecdotes won’t cut it.
We’re trading myths for metrics: from Nielsen TV ratings to league-released streaming stats, we’ll unpack what data really says about MLS’s digital surge and hockey’s broadcast legacy.
Expect year-over-year breakdowns, a regional playbook, and hard-hitting myth-busting—because the popularity of professional sports like the NBA in North America deserves more than tribal loyalty.
Alongside trends, we’ll challenge assumptions: is MLS more popular than NHL in the US? And where does true fan engagement lie?
Tracing MLS and NHL Viewership Trends Since 2015
MLS viewership by year paints a clear growth arc. In 2015, average linear TV audiences hovered around 220,000 viewers per match, per Nielsen. By 2020, that number climbed to 400,000, boosted by ESPN and Fox Sports deals. Streaming data from league reports shows Season Pass views jumping from 1.2 million hours in 2018 to over 5 million in 2023.
Meanwhile, the NHL’s TV performance peaked in 2017 with an average of 2.3 million viewers per game, according to Comscore. Streaming on NHL.tv has been steady—around 3 million hours annually since 2019—but it hasn’t matched MLS’s double-digit growth. Major inflection points coincide with media rights deals in 2016 and 2021, plus expansion franchises like Seattle and Nashville igniting local ratings spikes.
These numbers reflect diverging paths: MLS’s audience spike is mainly digital, while the NHL still leans on TV. Both saw boosts from marquee events—World Cup qualifiers and the NHL Winter Classic—proving that live spectacles in professional sports matter.
TV Ratings vs Streaming: Which Platform Wins?
The nhl vs mls viewership battle extends beyond total viewers—it’s about where fans tune in. Both leagues balance legacy broadcast ratings against surging digital platforms, rewriting tv vs streaming playbooks.
Linear TV Ratings Trends
Nielsen data shows the NHL’s broadcast strength: an average of 1.9 million linear viewers per game in 2023, compared to MLS’s 450,000. NHL prime-time slots still command heavy lift, but MLS’s TV ratings rose by 18% year-over-year heading into 2024.
Digital Platforms and Fan Engagement
Streaming sports analytics reveal a different story. MLS Season Pass subscribers soared from 500,000 in 2021 to 1.3 million in 2024. NHL.tv held relatively flat at 450,000 subscribers, despite the league’s media rights deals. Younger demographics—especially 18–34 year-olds—prefer mobile streaming, tilting the scales toward MLS’s digital-first strategy. When asked, 62% of survey respondents cited platform convenience as their primary factor.
Answering “Is MLS more popular than NHL in the US?” depends on platform. On streaming alone, MLS now edges ahead, but traditional TV still crowns hockey.
Mapping Fan Hotbeds: Regional & Demographic Insights
Where are most NHL fans located? And how does MLS carve its own territories? Regional nuances and demographic shifts paint a complex picture. Fan engagement statistics show geography still matters. Urban centers favor soccer, while suburbs yield hockey’s base.
MLS Hotbeds
- Atlanta: average stadium attendance >50,000 and 300% growth in streaming
- Los Angeles: 4.2 million local TV viewers in 2023
- Seattle: postseason runs driving TV ratings up 25%
NHL Strongholds
- Toronto and Montreal: consistent TV audiences around 1.1 million
- Chicago and Detroit: 70% of fans tune in on cable
- Northeast corridor: high season ticket renewals and urban viewership peaks
Demographic Breakdown
Young adults tilt toward MLS: 54% of viewers are under 34, with women making up 45% of digital audiences. NHL viewers skew older: 62% are over 35, and 30% female. Urban MLS fans outpace suburban viewers by 20%, while NHL’s core remains evenly split across metro and rural areas. Gender parity in MLS streaming hints at shifting engagement patterns compared to traditional hockey league viewership.
Debunking Myths Around MLS and NHL Popularity
Popular beliefs around soccer versus hockey often ignore the data. Let’s dismantle some of the biggest myths. From TV ratings to streaming sports analytics, perception rarely matches reality.
“Hockey is dying in the U.S.”
Despite claims, NHL tv ratings remain robust. Comscore reports a 3% rise in 2023 viewership compared to 2019. Youth hockey registrations also climbed 8% year-over-year, countering the narrative of a sport in retreat. Regional broadcasts in Florida and Texas saw 5% gains as well.
“Soccer can’t break into established sports TV”
MLS’s prime-time ratings grew by 22% in 2023, edging out the average college basketball slot. Networks invested more heavily in soccer packages, with Fox Sports reporting a 25% jump in live tune-ins during key matches. The glass ceiling is cracking.
Real vs perceived fan loyalty
Survey data shows 68% of MLS fans foresee a 5-year commitment, rivaling NHL’s 72%. With social media engagement higher for MLS by 15%, perception gaps persist. Loyalty isn’t a zero-sum game; both leagues boast dedicated followings.
What’s Next? Forecasting MLS vs NHL Audiences
Predicting the next five years of MLS vs NHL viewership demands tracking media rights deals and evolving fan behavior. Analysts expect MLS digital audiences to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 12%, while NHL linear viewership may plateau or dip slightly without streaming pivot. Streaming sports analytics platforms will unveil granular fan engagement statistics, guiding content strategies.
New media rights deals, such as the rumored ESPN+ MLS package and potential Apple TV+ NHL streaming headline, could reshape access. Integrations like in-game betting feeds and augmented reality stats might drive further engagement. Cross-promotion between leagues—joint specials on major networks—represents untapped synergy for expanding sports popularity in North America.
Growth Opportunities
- Personalized streaming packages with interactive features
- Collaborations with esports and youth sports leagues
- Regional showcase events tapping emerging markets
Embracing these strategies can vault both leagues into new viewership territory, translating data insights into real audience gains.
Who’s Emerging Victorious in the Viewer Scorecard?
Data doesn’t lie: the MLS vs NHL viewership narrative is more nuanced than tribal allegiance suggests.
MLS’s digital surge has outpaced hockey’s online growth by over 50% in the last five years, fueled by Season Pass and mobile streaming. Yet NHL remains a broadcast heavyweight, with linear tv ratings still triple those of MLS.
Regional strongholds, demographic shifts and media rights innovations will shape the next chapter of sports popularity in North America. Watching these trends might just redefine which league stands tallest in the viewer arena.
In that showdown, metrics trump mythology every time.