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The Heated Rivalry juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down, and the fictional HBO Max series is now reportedly spurring real-life ticket sales to NHL games nationwide.

Ticketing site SeatGeek has released data showing that the release of the show coincided with a spike in NHL ticket sales, especially when compared to the same period last year. SeatGeek says the average number of hockey tickets sold on its site increased by 24% during the week of Heated Rivalry’s buzzy season one finale in December, and the average ticket prices went up too, by as much as 36% following the show’s airing.

Of course, Heated Rivalry aired during December, which is a busy holiday shopping period, so some people may have been purchasing hockey tickets online as gifts, or perhaps for a family outing. Still, SeatGeek says average ticket sales rose just 4% during the same time period last year, when there was no Heated Rivalry bump.

As the ticketing site says on their blog, “The strong lift seen so far this year did not exist during the same stretch last season, which could suggest that something beyond normal NHL demand patterns may be at play.”

While there have always been die-hard hockey fans rooting for their favorite hockey heroes, SeatGeek suggests that Heated Rivalry may have introduced new fans rooting for their favorite hockey hunks. While most people are still buying pairs or blocks of tickets online, SeatGeek says December 2025 saw the “highest share of single-ticket buyers ever recorded.”

Almost 10% of all NHL ticket sales last month were from single-ticket purchases, up from 8% in 2024. That also represents a more than 13% year-over-year increase in the share of solo buyers. As SeatGeek says, “This trend aligns with anecdotal evidence that Heated Rivalry may be pulling in new or more casual fans—people curious enough to check out a game on their own.”

It’s not just hockey games that are suddenly (extra) hot again — SeatGeek also has listings for Heated Rivalry-inspired dance parties and events, like the unofficial Heated Rivalry rave from pop party promoters, Club 90s.

NHL teams have started to recognize the star power of Heated Rivalry too: the Vancouver Canucks recently brought Robbie G.K. (who plays Kip in the series) to a game, and the league has brought back its Pride Night celebrations. That aligns with the NHL’s goal to reach a wider audience, especially when it comes to promoting hockey among the LGBTQ community.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently revealed that he binge watched Heated Rivalry’s first season in one night (no word on whether or not he also read the books). The league has acknowledged that the series is driving interest in hockey itself. “Heated Rivalry is a phenomenon that is bringing new fans to our great sport,” a NHL representative told Rolling Stone. “And what those new fans will find is a warm welcome.”

Where to Buy Hockey Tickets Online

Looking for NHL tickets online? In addition to SeatGeek, you can also find hockey tickets and deals on cheap seats to regular season games, rivalry series and the Stanley Cup playoffs on these sites below.