The National Hockey League (NHL) has recently found a surprising new group of fans: followers of “Heated Rivalry,” an HBO sensation that premiered on the streaming service in November.

This popular show, inspired by Rachel Reid’s book series “Game Changers,” offers more than just a glimpse into the world of hockey. While it loosely references the sport, the series focuses primarily on the romantic entanglements between two professional hockey players from opposing teams. Despite its romantic leanings, “Heated Rivalry,” starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, appears to have sparked a newfound interest in the NHL itself. According to SeatGeek, a notable increase in demand for NHL tickets and revenue has been observed, linked directly to the show’s influence.

SeatGeek, a mobile ticketing firm, reported a significant boost in weekly hockey ticket sales, with figures climbing over 20% following the show’s debut.

“When HBO launched ‘Heated Rivalry’ earlier this winter, the series didn’t just captivate social media; it seems to have propelled fans to attend hockey games,” noted SeatGeek in their analysis of ticket sales trends on their platform.

Remarkably, this surge in interest did not have a parallel in the same timeframe the previous year, highlighting the show’s unique impact.

“In short, 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,” SeatGeek added.

SeatGeek also saw a rise in both single-ticket sales among fans attending games on their own, plus stronger demand from first-time game attendees. 

“‘Heated Rivalry’ has certainly piqued interest in hockey and the NHL,” SeatGeek marketing director Chris Leyden said in a statement. “We are seeing it both in terms of more people on SeatGeek shopping for NHL tickets, as well as a pretty notable increase in single ticket buyers as more people check out a game, often for the first time ever.”