Vancouver Goldeneyes Sell Out PWHL Debut: 8th Largest Crowd in League History

The Vancouver Goldeneyes are set to make history tonight, with their inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) game officially sold out. The matchup against expansion rivals, the Seattle Torrent, will take place before a packed house at the Pacific Coliseum, creating an electric atmosphere for the league's newest franchise.

A Historic Night for Women's Hockey in Vancouver

The team announced on Thursday that all tickets for the debut have been snapped up by eager fans. The capacity at the historic Pacific Coliseum is currently listed at 15,041 seats, making this gathering the eighth largest attendance in the three-season history of the PWHL.

This sellout is a significant milestone, as only seven other PWHL games have drawn larger crowds. Notably, the neutral-site Takeover Tour game between the Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres, held last season at Rogers Arena, sits at number four on the all-time list with an impressive 19,038 fans in attendance.

League Growth and an Unprecedented Atmosphere

The PWHL is entering its third season and has expanded to eight teams with the additions of Vancouver and Seattle. This growth is mirrored in the league's rising popularity. The average announced attendance across the PWHL jumped from 5,689 in its debut year to 7,230 last season, signaling a surge in fan support for women's professional hockey.

For many players on the Goldeneyes roster, tonight's environment will be a new experience. When asked how he plans to prepare his team for the deafening roar of a sellout crowd, head coach Brian Idalski was candid. "I don't know if you can," he admitted.

"You're not going to be able to hear the person next to you," Idalski explained, emphasizing the intensity of the moment. "Controlling your emotions when you get that kind of energy and rush from that kind of atmosphere... it'll be interesting to see. We have enough of a group who have played in that kind of environment that they'll be able to say 'Hey... you're going to be all right.'"

The Return to a Historic Venue

The Goldeneyes are the first hockey tenants for the Pacific Coliseum since the WHL's Vancouver Giants departed for the Langley Events Centre ahead of the 2016-17 season. The Coliseum, which opened in 1968, was the original home of the Vancouver Canucks and retains its classic, old-school charm.

Coach Idalski, a former minor pro defenceman, compared the venue's character to other iconic rinks. "I've been in a lot of cool buildings," he said. "You can't fake the character and just the feel of a barn like this."

The demand for women's hockey in Vancouver shows no signs of slowing. The Goldeneyes' next home game on December 6 against the New York Sirens is already seeing strong ticket sales, with seats between the goal lines in both the lower and upper bowls nearly sold out.

Largest Crowds in PWHL History: