Washington Capitals fans could be taking in considerably more than just hockey this season.
A new study examining NHL fans’ game-day eating habits estimates that Capitals supporters consume 798 extra calories per game day compared with non-game days.
Based on how frequently they watch NHL games, that could translate to a potential 16.6-pound weight gain over the course of the 2026-27 regular season.
How much weight are Capitals fans expected to gain this season?
According to The Lines’ Weight of Game Day study, Washington Capitals fans consume an average of 798 additional calories on game days.
Given that Washington Capitals fans watch an average of 2.6 games per week, across a 28-week regular season, the study estimates a potential 16.6-pound weight gain for the average Capitals fan.
That puts Capitals fans in the middle of the NHL pack. Washington ranks 17th among the league’s 32 fanbases for projected pounds gained over the season.
How do Capitals fans compare to other fanbases in the NHL?
The Capitals’ 798 extra calories per game day is below the NHL-wide average of 865 calories.
The difference between fanbases is substantial. Calgary Flames fans rank first, consuming an estimated 1,504 extra calories per game day and potentially gaining 42.1 pounds over the season.
At the other end of the table, Vegas Golden Knights fans consume just 254 additional calories per game day, resulting in a projected 6.3-pound seasonal gain.
The Capitals are also slightly below the average for fans of U.S. NHL teams. The study found that U.S. team fans consume an average of 832 extra calories per game day, compared with 982 for fans of Canadian teams.
Interestingly, watching more games can significantly affect the seasonal projection. For example, New York Islanders fans consume 735 extra calories per game day — less than Capitals fans — but watch an average of 3.6 games per week, resulting in a higher projected seasonal gain of 21.2 pounds.
What was the methodology behind this study?
The survey featured 3,000 NHL fans across the United States and Canada ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Respondents identified their favorite NHL team, reported how many games they typically watch each week, and estimated how many servings of popular foods and drinks they consume on game days compared with regular days.
The survey included foods and beverages such as pizza, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, nachos, fries, tacos, pretzels, poutine, beer, and soft drinks.
To calculate the potential seasonal impact, The Lines determined the additional calories consumed on a game day and multiplied that figure by the average number of games watched per week and projected that over a 28 week season. They then divided the result by 3,500 (the amount of calories they equated to one pound gained) to produce the projected pounds gained over a regular season.
The study is based on self-reported, observational data, and The Lines emphasizes that the 3,500-calorie-per-pound figure is a guideline.
Naturally, individual results would vary based on factors including activity level, metabolism, age and body composition, so the figures are intended as tongue-in-cheek directional estimates rather than guaranteed weight gain.
