The PWHL Takeover Tour is heading back to Detroit, Michigan this weekend. There’s reason to believe Detroit could be in the PWHL’s immediate plans for expansion. On February 20, 2025, the PWHL stated expansion news was 4-6 weeks away.
While Sunday’s PWHL Takeover Tour game in Detroit is before that window, there is also many reasons to believe that Detroit is America’s front runner for expansion.
Detroit Makes Sense For The PWHL
PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations Amy Scheer outlined the league’s criteria for expansion. It was hard not to see Detroit as a possible fit within their wish list. Logistics was the first request of the PWHL. Little Caesars Arena would certainly be Detroit’s home if a PWHL franchise were to expand to the city. Last season Detroit set an American professional women’s hockey attendance record of 13,736 fans at their Takeover stop. Detroit was the only location the PWHL returned to this season leaving Pittsburgh off the list.
The proximity to Windsor, Ontario, and the potential to play games at Windsor’s WFCU Centre, which has a 6,450 seat capacity, is another bonus. The Canadian border would help draw fans, but Detroit and Michigan have a vibrant girls and women’s hockey scene. That point is evident with the number of Michigan born players in the PWHL and NCAA.
Travel was another point the PWHL discussed for expansion, and Detroit is an easy trip from every current PWHL market, and helps to bridge the American market toward Minnesota. And yes, Detroit is still referred to as HockeyTown.
Are We Seeing Expansion Hints In Detroit?
The presence of both Amy Scheer and Jayna Hefford, who will be on hand this week in Detroit, could be telling. The duo have not attended each of the PWHL’s Takeover Tour stops in person this season. They were on hand in Vancouver and Edmonton for events, but the presence of both, who will sound the pre-game goal horn at the NHL”s Detroit Red Wings game prior to the PWHL game, could be telling.
If nothing else, their presence shows PWHL fans that Detroit remains on the league’s very short list of expansion contenders.
Michigan Is Pushing For Women’s Hockey
Women’s hockey has always been a cornerstone of Michigan. But the state continues to grow their women’s hockey scene including with the push to add NCAA Division 1 hockey to the University of Michigan. The PWHL currently features Michigan products including Megan Keller, Abby Roque, Mellissa Channell-Watkins, Elle Hartje, Shiann Darkangelo, and Taylor Girard. This year’s PWHL Draft will be filled with Michigan products including Clara Van Wieren, Morgan Neitzke, Emma Gentry, Callie Shanahan, Kaley Doyle, Anna Segedi, Skylar Fontaine, Amanda Thiele, Riley Brengman, And the future is bright with Kirsten Simms, Elyssa Biederman and others from the state headed to the league.
