Which of the following best describes how the return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics in 2026 influences your interest in watching the upcoming Olympic Games, if at all?

Three-quarters of avid NHL fans said that the inclusion of NHL players to the 2026 Winter Olympics will make them more likely to watch in February. Among the greater U.S. population, respondents age 18-29 who were at least “somewhat interested” in the NHL (but did not self-identify as an “NHL fan”) were twice as likely as respondents age 65-plus to have an increased interest in the Games due to the presence of NHL players.