The NFL Could Benefit from the NHL's 4 Nations Tournament's Approach
The 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off has undeniably captured the attention of sports fans nationwide, with viewing figures soaring to unprecedented heights. The anticipation surrounding the U.S.-Canada matchup at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday night has ignited a renewed interest in professional hockey, spurring record-breaking TV ratings.
The numbers don't lie - when the U.S. and Canada locked horns in Montreal on Saturday night, the ratings skyrocketed to a whopping 5.2 million viewers at its peak, eclipsing any game since the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins. Over four million viewers tuned in throughout the evening, demonstrating an impressive display of public interest in the competition[1][4].
The NHL decided to swap out their traditional All-Star fare, opting instead for a high-stakes, best-on-best tournament featuring the finest talent from the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. It was a move born of listening to the NHL players, who had been clamoring for such a showdown since the Winter Olympics in 2014 and the last best-on-best tournament in 2016[1].
The 4 Nations Face-Off has proven to be a smashing success, outshining various other sports events such as the NBA All-Star Weekend and NASCAR races. For instance, the U.S.-Finland game successfully drew an audience of 1.55 million viewers, surpassing both the competing Grizzlies-Timberwolves NBA game on TNT and outranking every NHL All-Star Game since 2020[2][5].
On the other hand, the NFL's Pro Bowl, which averaged 4.7 million viewers, has seen a noticeable drop in viewership in recent years. The 2023 Pro Bowl, for example, drew the smallest crowd in non-COVID history[3]. In contrast, the NHL has managed to attract greater audiences, signifying a stronger desire for competitive international hockey tournaments.
The 4 Nations Face-Off has provided the NHL with a valuable boost in terms of viewership, having struggled with dwindling audiences throughout the regular season. The renewed interest in the sport promises to fuel momentum for the remainder of the season, paving the way for a thrilling conclusion[5].
The NFL has the opportunity to learn from the NHL's example, as the league has successfully transformed its Pro Bowl into a compelling event. By revisiting its roots and returning to a competitive, hard-hitting format, the NFL could rekindle the spark that once made the Pro Bowl a much-anticipated event.
The Pro Bowl, an NFL event, could potentially follow the NHL's footsteps by agreeing on a more competitive format, aiming to nearly match the heightened viewer engagement seen in the 4 Nations Face-Off. This shift could see the Pro Bowl's viewership numbers significantly increasing, emulating the successful transformations witnessed in the NHL.
Even the NHL, despite the 4 Nations Face-Off's triumph, has not been entirely immune to declining audiences during the regular season. However, the success of the Face-Off has sparked a sense of optimism, hinting that the United States and Canada's face-offs could continue to drive public interest in the future.
Meanwhile, the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off has garnered an extraordinary response from sports fans in Canada, where the sport enjoys immense popularity. Interestingly, the event has also managed to captivate NFL fans in the United States, proving that international hockey tournaments can indeed generate a larger audience base.
For those unaware, the NHL originally decided to replace their traditional All-Star event with the 4 Nations Face-Off, a decision that was widely supported by both hockey enthusiasts and players. As a result, the NLH has witnessed a significant rise in viewership, with games drawing larger audiences than even the prestigious NBA All-Star Weekend.
Finally, the 4 Nations Face-Off, which pits four nations against each other, has emerged as a formidable rival to the NFL's Pro Bowl, in terms of viewership. With the Pro Bowl struggling with dwindling audiences, the NFL might consider adopting a more competitive format in the future, following the NHL's lead.
