What soccer is to Germans, hockey is to Canadians. And what the Bundesliga is here in Germany, the NHL is across the pond. Now both sports are joining forces to launch a joint initiative. Over the next two years , there will be several NHL games in Germany, including some in Munich. In addition, the NHL has entered into a partnership with FC Bayern Munich to engage fans off the field and bring both worlds together.
The Boston Bruins at SAP Garden
With the EHC RedBull , Munich already has a successful ice hockey team that has won the German championship title several times. Since 2024, the team has also called the SAP Garden—a state-of-the-art stadium—its home. The stadium can look forward to two high-profile visits in 2027 and 2028 when the NHL makes a guest appearance in Munich. Then the Boston Bruins will take the ice for you, bringing along German hockey star John-Jason Peterka. This marks the return of Munich-born JJ to his hometown, where he’ll get to play the games here with his team.
In addition to Munich, Cologne will also welcome the NHL over the next two years. There, the Edmonton Oilers will play two games at the Lanxess Arena. They’ll be joined by German player Leon Draisaitl, who will also be returning to his hometown. The goal is to promote ice hockey as a sport in Germany and make it more popular.
NHL Partnership with FC Bayern Munich
The NHL games in Munich and Cologne aren’t the only highlights you can look forward to as part of this initiative. To move closer to the stated goal of developing ice hockey in Germany, a very special collaboration has been formed. The most popular Canadian sports league, the NHL, has joined forces with Germany’s largest soccer club, FC Bayern Munich, to benefit mutually from the current momentum. Thanks to the World Cup being held in North America, the sport is currently enjoying a bit of a boost there.
Through this collaboration—which is taking place not least in connection with the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany—the hope is to boost the sport’s popularity in Germany. As part of this effort, there will be various promotional events, exclusive merchandise, and fan zones. Only time will tell exactly what form the partnership will take.
