Hockey evokes emotions and attracts large crowds. With over 2.5 million visitors to arenas last season and millions more via broadcast and digital platforms, the Swedish Hockey League is Sweden's most attended event. Through their joint activities, community engagement, and partnerships with over 13,000 businesses, municipalities, organizations, and associations, the SHL and its clubs have a significant impact both locally and nationally.

For this reason, the SHL and the Stockholm School of Economics are now launching a new, unique research collaboration, which will follow the league's supporters and spectators over several seasons. The goal is to understand how fan culture – through the clubs’ communities, experiences, and games – influences wellbeing and welfare on both an individual and a societal level.

"We are very excited to be able to follow how happiness, wellbeing, and welfare are created and manifested within communities and towns across Sweden. It also allows us to test out various activities together with the SHL to increase happiness in these communities and towns. This is a long-term investment over many years," says Professor Micael Dahlen, head of the Center for Wellbeing, Welfare and Happiness.

Research for a happier SHL community 

The researchers will recruit a panel of 5,000 participants among the league's spectators. Panel members will receive weekly surveys throughout the 2024/2025 season. By following the experiences and emotions of the panelists during both victories and losses, the researchers will be able to collect data on how engagement in hockey affects the wellbeing of individuals and communities over time. The aim is to provide solid guidance to both SHL and other societal actors on how sports can create long-term wellbeing.

"Through our collaboration with Micael Dahlen and the Center for Wellbeing, Welfare and Happiness, we are strengthening our partnership with the Stockholm School of Economics, which is very exciting," says Johan Cahling, Head of Sustainable Development at SHL. “The research will help increase our understanding and awareness, and provide new knowledge and insights to further enhance the innate power of the SHL and the hockey community.”

For more information, please contact:

Micael Dahlén
Center for Wellbeing, Welfare and Happiness, Stockholm School of Economics
Email: micael.dahlen@hhs.se

Johan Cahling
Head of Sustainable Development, SHL
Email: johan.cahling@shl.se
Phone: +46 70-269 99 27

About SHL
The SHL represents the league's clubs, managing shared sporting and commercial interests, including media rights and main sponsorships. The SHL aims to create a sustainably strong league and promote a strong Swedish ice hockey presence internationally. The clubs participating in the SHL during the 2024/2025 season are: Brynäs IF, Frölunda Hockey, Färjestad BK, HV71, Leksands IF, Linköping HC, Luleå Hockey, Malmö Redhawks, MoDo Hockey, Rögle BK, Skellefteå AIK, Timrå IK, Växjö Lakers, and Örebro Hockey.