NHL Expands Footprint in Germany With Global Series, FC Bayern Deal

The National Hockey League is expanding its footprint further into Germany, as it was announced that the cities of Munich and Cologne would host NHL regular-season games for the first time during the 2027-2028 season.

During the 2027 NHL Global Series Germany, the Boston Bruins will play two games at SAP Garden in Munich (the home city of Boston Bruins Forward JJ Peterka), and the Edmonton Oilers will contest two games at Lanxess Arena in Cologne (the native city of Edmonton Oilers Forward Leon Draisaitl).

The announcement accelerates the NHL’s and NHL Players’ Association’s joint, long-term international growth strategy in Germany, which includes investment in growing the game through grassroots activations, content, and fan engagement initiatives, and establishing new business partnerships. 

More details around ticketing and opponents are set to be announced during the 2026-27 regular season.

“There is no better way to experience the speed, skill, and excitement of NHL hockey than live and in person,” said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. “The National Hockey League is thrilled to bring our first-ever regular season games to the passionate fans in Munich and Cologne. These events represent an important step in our commitment to grow the game in Germany.

“By bringing more NHL games to one of Europe’s most dynamic hockey markets, we hope to continue to deepen engagement amongst our fans, partners and local communities, while at the same time creating a significant opportunity to grow the game throughout the country.”

“The NHL Global Series games in 2027 bring two of the NHL’s best players in Leon Draisaitl and JJ Peterka back to play in front of their hometown fans,” said NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh. “Germany has a proud hockey tradition, and these NHL Global Series games are part of the League and NHLPA’s ongoing commitment to build meaningful connections between NHL players and the German marketplace.”

The 2027 NHL Global Series Germany will mark the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh NHL regular-season games to be played in Germany. The first was held in October 20111, when the Buffalo Sabres faced the Los Angeles Kings at O2 World in Berlin, and the NHL and the NHLPA have committed to bringing games to Germany for at least the next three seasons. This December, the Ottawa Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks in two games at PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf.

FC Bayern Munich Multiyear Partnership

In another move designed to further cement its presence in Germany, the NHL has announced a multiyear partnership with FC Bayern Munich, which will also accelerate the growth of hockey in the country and the development of the German soccer club in North America.

At FC Bayern’s Säbener Straße training facility last week, Draisaitl, Peterka, and FC Bayern Defender Alphonso Davies unveiled the partnership, which includes creating a platform for cross-sport collaboration, community engagement, youth outreach, and original content development. The NHL and FC Bayern will work together through a series of initiatives to introduce hockey to new audiences in Germany, while creating distinctive experiences for fans of both organizations.

“Germany continues to be one of the NHL’s most important international growth markets, and FC Bayern is among the most recognizable and respected sports brands in the world,” said NHL Business President Keith Wachtel. “By combining the NHL‘s passion for hockey with FC Bayern’s extraordinary reach and connection to fans, we have a tremendous strategic opportunity to introduce more people to our game, deepen engagement with existing fans, and create unique experiences.”

“FC Bayern is renowned for constantly breaking the mold – and we are very excited about this special partnership with the NHL,” said FC Bayern CMO Rouven Kasper. “By developing ideas together with one of the most tradition-steeped leagues in world sport, the connection of our respective regions will create unique synergies on a wide variety of levels, in sports and beyond. We are creating a platform that promises long-term value for both partners and sets a new benchmark in terms of what cross-sport collaborations can achieve.”

As part of their collaboration, the NHL and FC Bayern will work together on digital and social media campaigns, co-branded content and merchandise opportunities, street hockey events in Munich, watch parties, matchday activations at FC Bayern’s Allianz Arena, youth programming, hospitality experiences, and business networking events.

The partners will also come together for player appearances, experiential activations, cross-promotional campaigns, and other community engagement and storytelling initiatives.

International Regular-Season Games

Before the 2027 NHL Global Series Germany, the 2026 NHL Global Series Germany will feature two regular-season games in Düsseldorf this December between the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks.

Outside of Germany, the 2026 NHL Global Series Finland will see the Carolina Hurricanes take on Seattle Kraken for two regular-season games in November at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki.

Meanwhile, Prague in Czechia will co-host the World Cup of Hockey 2028 alongside Calgary and Edmonton in February 2028.