CME Group to launch NHL futures contracts on September 28

CHICAGO - CME Group announced on September 27 its upcoming launch of index-based futures contracts for National Hockey League (NHL) teams, set to commence on September 28 pending regulatory approval. These contracts will be based on CME FutureSports Performance Indexes, reflecting NHL statistics starting with the 2026-2027 season.

The products will be offered in two contract sizes - standard and micro, with the standard contract valued at 10 times the index and the micro contract at one-tenth the index value. According to Tim McCourt, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group, this initiative will introduce the principles and risk management techniques of regulated markets to businesses in the professional sports sector.

The index calculations will utilize a point system, crediting positive actions and deducting for negative plays, a methodology that adheres to the International Organization of Securities Commissions' guidelines for financial benchmarks. Steve Byrd, Head of Partnerships at FutureSports, highlighted the significant revenue and fan engagement of NHL teams, noting that the 2024-25 season saw $1.53 billion in sponsorship revenue and over 23 million arena visitors.

The futures contracts will be tradable 24/7 on CME Group’s platform with central clearing protections. CME Group emphasized that these contracts will enable sponsors, broadcasters, arena operators, retailers, and vendors to mitigate risks tied to NHL team performances. Further details on contract specifications and index data subscriptions can be found on cmegroup.com/fspi.