Why more Irish fans are transitioning from football to hockey in 2026
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In 2025, over 788,000 individuals attended the League of Ireland's competitions. As of the moment of writing, fewer than half that number have turned out for the same events so far in the country. Meanwhile, the number of viewers the game of hockey has been attracting continues to grow. As of 2024, the recorded number of participants in Ireland was around 144,000. That number has grown exponentially now.
This confirms that more Irish supporters are slowly pivoting from football to ice hockey. What is the cause of this phenomenon? Is it likely to last? Why was hockey, of all sports, chosen? What does this transition mean for the future of sports viewership in the country? Keep reading to find the answers to these questions and more.
How sports viewing is changing in Ireland
Traditionally, sports viewership has always been linear in Ireland. Be it hockey or football, the sport was enjoyed on television. The convention was that traditional TV packages, which provided access to this entertainment medium, were the go-to source. This trend still holds, but it has been significantly affected by recent technological advancements.
As elements like smartphones and the Internet have become more widely available, this has given sports lovers even more flexibility. Concepts like mobile streaming and second-screening have become the norm. Below is a brief discussion of these factors:
The impact of mobile streaming on sports watching habits
Traditional broadcasting has lost its monopoly over sports viewership. In Ireland today, it’s in fierce competition with digital alternatives like LOITV and GAAGO to stay relevant. These alternatives are more attractive because they are more mobile and seem to offer significantly more value. Additionally, it’s a lot easier to customise these viewing options to your states.
Evidence that mobile streaming options are here to stay is the nearly 3 million views these channels recorded during Euro 2020.
The influence of the second-screen phenomenon
Second screening essentially means using a mobile phone or tablet while you’re watching television. This has become a widely accepted practice, as it gives people the flexibility to track multiple elements efficiently. In sports, research shows that as much as 30% of viewers in Ireland use their smartphones while watching sporting events on TV. They use their phones to follow live betting markets, track fantasy leagues, and interact with social media, among other things.
Football reigns supreme – but habits are shifting
Football still remains the core identity of Irish sports in the 21st century. But just like TV broadcasting, it is slowly losing that outright dominance. Many Irish supporters still have football clubs that they swear their utmost fealty to, but the way that they show this affection is evolving. This transition is evident in how viewership works now. What’s more, football doesn’t claim hearts and souls in its entirety anymore. Unlike a decade or two ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find people who follow only one sport now. Here’s what to know on this front:
Short-form watching – the order of the day
In the past, most football fans in Ireland would tune in to watch the action even before the start whistle was blown. Supporters would also cheer from the start of the match till the very end. Things are a little different now, as significantly fewer individuals watch full matches today. The convention is to turn to social media, specifically YouTube Shorts and TikTok, to get your fill of all the action.
The reason behind the modern-day multi-sport fan
There are two core reasons why more supporters in Ireland are passionate about more than one sport now. The first is the rise of social media and digital content. As was mentioned earlier, it’s now easier than ever to find and digest exciting sports content. This makes it easier to spark fans' interest in sports they wouldn’t otherwise watch in full. Secondly, there is the influence of player-driven fandom. When Irish supporters hear the name of stars in one sport over and over again, they tend to want to check the person out. And that’s how many people find themselves enthralled by a new sport.
What makes hockey different to watch
British ice hockey is captured on screens using 3D depth perception. The camera's angles and lenses are deliberately positioned to give you a unique side view of the action. It also makes the rink look bigger. The game is already pretty fast-paced. The way the motion of events in the sport is captured adds even more speed to proceedings. This is one reason why ice hockey is incredibly appealing to high-intensity sports lovers. The physicality of the sport is also well-communicated and adds to the allure of watching the game.
Getting the best of a fast pace and few breaks
Ice hockey guarantees you relentless action thanks to its faster pace. The fewer breaks of play common to the sport also ensure uninterrupted excitement for longer stretches. It’s one of the few sports where almost the entire game is spent on the sport itself, not on officiating and administration.
The layout of the sport also depends on the strength, speed, and agility of its players. Watching players give their all for club or country also heightens the thrill of following the sport. The passion of the players, coupled with the unique atmosphere of the sport, makes following the game in real time immensely entertaining.
Why does hockey always grab attention?
The two biggest elements that make hockey a real attention-grabber are its intense physicality and high-speed action. In the case of the former, viewers are exposed to intense, hard stickhandling and bodychecking. Many hockey players usually step into the rink battling injuries. Watching them play through all of this naturally pulls the attention of many sports lovers in Ireland.
Hockey is widely considered the fastest sport played by human power alone. It’s not unusual to see players hitting up to 20mph in the rink. The transitions between offence and defence are fluid, seamless, and mesmerising. There’s never a dull moment in the game, and this makes it worth the while of those who watch. Such a reputation has attracted many fans to the sport over the years.
Why ice hockey is great for digital viewing
Whether it’s the world championship of the sport or just a regular weekend fixture, hockey games almost always make an appealing watch on digital. One of the biggest reasons for this is how massively production and streaming quality have improved in hockey in recent years. In the National Hockey League (NHL), specifically, viewers are treated to high-definition feeds and crisp, fast-paced video content. Even better, these materials are great to explore and access on mobile as well. Additionally, “social TV” seems to work even better in this space. This is essentially where lovers of the sport get together on social media to share insights and experiences about the different fixtures.
The role of live stats and clips
The above variables contribute significantly to the increased digital viewership of ice hockey in the 21st century. In the case of live stats, the sport has evolved to the point where you can get facts and figures about every fixture in real time. This removes the need to actively follow the game. Platforms like LiveScore and the International Federation of Hockey make much of this information available for free, too.
Clips of more intense moments in a fixture also go viral on social media as well. You only need to check your “For You” page on TikTok after a match to catch up on the highlights of this low-scoring sport.
How second screening has contributed to hockey’s popularity
The second screening has successfully converted this sport into its most digestible form yet. Gone are the days when you had no choice but to rely on post-game reports. You’ll see short-form videos of the best bits of every fixture floating on the Internet as it happens. This phenomenon has also blown up real-time commentary. Now, it’s normal for many hockey fixtures to record close to 100K tweets. This attracts even more attention to the sport and deepens engagement.
Fans of the sport can also move past the rink with this feature. With second screening, you can see the social media accounts of your favourite players and even catch up on a lot of behind-the-scenes content.
Why are more Irish fans more invested in hockey than ever before?
Many mainstream betting apps, like 1xBet, have been seeing an uptick in the number of users exploring staking today. It’s also clear that viewership in the sport continues to climb. Among the biggest contributors to this development is the easier access to streaming services that most supporters enjoy today. There’s also the reality that casual fandom is becoming increasingly common.
It also helps that when random viewers are directed to the sport, it has engaging elements that convert them to fans. Ice hockey is also better optimised for enhanced gamification than many other sports.
How streaming has made hockey more visible
The statistics show that since 2020, more Irish viewers have been leaning towards streaming. So much so that, by 2026, up to 74% of people with access to the Internet will have at least one paid streaming service. Similarly, RTE Player recorded over 150 million streams in 2025 alone. The increased popularity of streaming has also pulled ice hockey along. Of the two million-plus people who use TikTok monthly, over 25% of these explore hockey content fairly regularly. It’s safe to say that as streaming becomes the more in-demand way of viewing content, this sport will become even more popular.
Welcome change from football
Many Irish supporters live and breathe football. Everything from the pace and rhythm of the sport is familiar and comfortable to them. Some fans crave a little more excitement and intensity. Ice hockey is one of the few sports alternatives at their disposal. This sport couldn’t be more different from football. Its rhythm doesn’t break, and you don’t see incidents like “diving” – something that’s seriously ruining modern football – as commonly.
Overall, ice hockey has everything that appeals to the country's new generation of football fans. This encourages some of these supporters to lean more toward the former or even give up the latter altogether.
Has hockey become more social?
Thanks to elements like increased digital engagement, hockey has become more social than ever before for Irish fans. Other factors, such as the strong influence of pop culture and demographic shifts, have also enhanced the sport's social aspect. Here’s more on that:
Great for shared experiences
“Hockey is for Everyone” is a trend that has been making considerable waves in Ireland. This initiative shows how open and welcoming the sport is to fans and viewers. Regardless of ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, this NGL initiative lets you know you’re welcome to explore and enjoy the sport. This, coupled with how ideal the game is for family viewing, ensures that ice hockey is truly inclusive.
Today, many local rinks have also become the meeting spot for several communities. Much like football, this sport is becoming the glue that keeps many families and friends united and devoted to a common cause.
Digital-first fan base
Ice hockey has largely succeeded in attracting the digital age generation. Up to 80% of online viewers have been recorded to be either Gen Z or Millennials. This naturally means that their social media presence is powerful and has become one of the strongest tools for the game's overt and covert promotion. The sport's content-driven nature also makes it easier for hockey to attract casual fans in Ireland.
What the future holds for ice hockey viewership
The recent developments the sports have seen are likely to continue, and the biggest things to note on that front are:
Football first, hockey second: more viewers
The USA-Canada fixture at the 2026 Winter Olympics drew over 26 million viewers on NBC alone. These are unprecedented numbers in the history of the sport. What’s more, this passion didn’t fade with the Olympics. The NHL has recorded increasing numbers since.
Increased investment in the social media strategy
The NHL now knows that engaging with social media works. So, it makes sense that they would lean more towards this in the future. For example, evidence suggests that work is ongoing to recruit teen viewers and women. Other things to look forward to include:
More influencer-focused content partnerships;
Blog styles to humanise popular hockey players.
All of this ensures that ice hockey has a bright future in Ireland.
