Known “Heated Rivalry” enjoyer Gary Bettman shared during his annual pre-Stanley Cup Finals press conference that he has also recently binged its hetero hockey romance counterpart, “Off Campus.”
The two series have been entertaining, but for Bettman, he was more focused on the broader impact they are having on the league and the sport itself.
“The game’s never been better, never been more competitive,” Bettman said. “Things like ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Off Campus’ — I binged that one recently, too– have been great. I think we’re experiencing a moment in time where our players and our game are truly getting the recognition they deserve.
“And it’s being reflected in engagement by fans. Current hockey fans (are) watching even more, and sports fans, casual fans (are) coming to give us a look.”
The NHL had an extremely successful season, and the mainstream popularity of the hockey romance series appear to have contributed to those results. Not only did the league set a revenue record — collecting between $7.5 and $8.5 billion — but the NHL was also recently named the Sports Business Journal’s ‘Sports League of the Year’ for the first time since 2014.
“This year, we witnessed a particularly thrilling year, during which our league set records for attendance, revenues, television ratings in the United States,” Bettman said during the press conference. “Every platform, every source of revenue is growing… I think we’re playing to something like 96 percent capacity in the regular season, and in these playoffs over 100 percent.”
Bettman previously addressed the “Heated Rivalry” craze in February, confirming that he had watched the entire six-episode saga in one night.
“I thought the storyline was very compelling,” he said. “And a lot of fun, because, you know, I could see where they were picking at things that we had done in the past whether or not it was being in Sochi, or the All-Star Game in Tampa. It was very well done.”
While he was cautious about how the league should embrace the series due to its “spicy” contents, Bettman acknowledged the show was a factor in rapidly increasing ticket sales and attendance. “There are a lot of things about the game that would be driving more and more people to the game, but I do believe ‘Heated Rivalry’ is one of those,” Bettman said.
Much to the dismay of fans (which assumedly includes Bettman), season two isn’t set to release until April 2027. In the meantime, a new hockey romance has hit viewers’ TV screens.
“Off Campus” is an Amazon Prime series adapted from Elle Kennedy’s book series of the same name (“Heated Rivalry” was an adaption of Rachel Reid’s books), that pulls off the impossible — it is debatably more raunchy than “Heated Rivalry.”
The show is being dubbed by some as the hetero, more traditional version of “Heated Rivalry.” “Off Campus” is the classic athlete romance– complete with a fake dating plot that leads to real feelings.
Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli star as the fake lovers, casting relatively unknown actors and following the lead of “Heated Rivalry.” However, the show still features some veterans, such as Steve Howey. Best known for his role as Van in Reba, his character this time around isn’t as wholesome.
The show contains more actual hockey scenes than “Heated Rivalry,” which admittedly isn’t saying much. But, while those watching the show for the hockey may be disappointed in the accuracy and might need a metaphorical cigarette for the rest of the scenes, it could be a feasible alternative to the Stanley Cup Finals, which boasts a much more unpopular cast.
