Bettman Praises Hoffmann Ownership of Penguins
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman credited the Hoffmann family's four-month stewardship of the Penguins while noting the team ranks 22nd in attendance.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Hockey
Live Poll
Would you attend a Penguins home game at PPG Paints Arena this season?
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised the Hoffmann family, who have owned the Penguins for four months, saying they are focused on the team, the building, the fans, and the city. Through Monday, the Penguins ranked 22nd in the league in average attendance.
Why it matters
The comments come as attendance concerns have surfaced in some NHL markets this season, and Bettman said overall league attendance is up. The Penguins' attendance ranking puts the new ownership's early results under scrutiny in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins averaged 17,138 fans per game through Monday, ranking 22nd in the league against PPG Paints Arena's seated capacity of 18,187. The extraction does not detail which specific factors are driving the gap in Pittsburgh.
The players
Gary Bettman
Gary Bettman is the Commissioner of the National Hockey League, who has led the league's operations and expansion for decades.
Hoffmann family
The Hoffmann family became the owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins four months before this report.
The details
In an interview reported by TRIBLIVE reporter Seth Rorabaugh, Bettman said the Hoffmanns are very well invested emotionally, energy-wise, and financially, and have checked all the boxes. He said attendance issues have cropped up in some individual markets this season, with generally specific local reasons for empty seats.
Timeline
Four months before November 3, 2026: Hoffmann family took control of the Penguins.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Penguins attendance ranking measured through this date.
November 3, 2026: Bettman's comments reported by TRIBLIVE.
Season Trajectory
Bettman said overall NHL attendance is up even as individual markets such as Pittsburgh struggle to fill seats. The Penguins' 22nd-place ranking places the new Hoffmann ownership's early results against that league-wide rise.
Fans considering a Penguins game can see the team currently ranks 22nd in average attendance, which means seats may be easier to find than in a sellout market. The extraction does not specify ticket pricing or promotional changes tied to the ownership transition.
The takeaway
Attendance is a single league metric, but the Penguins' 22nd-place ranking shows that a new ownership group still faces the task of filling PPG Paints Arena. Readers following the team can track whether attendance climbs as the Hoffmann family's tenure continues.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, explore Hockey coverage in Pittsburgh.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportsbusinessjournal.
Live Poll
Would you attend a Penguins home game at PPG Paints Arena this season?
