The NHL’s digital board ads and why hockey fans hate them, explained

The NHL’s digital board ads are back for the 2023-24 season, but not everyone is happy.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Are you wondering why the advertisements on the boards during NHL games keep distracting you? If so, we’re here to help.

Fall is here and that means hockey season is officially back in full swing. The 2023-24 NHL season promises to be filled with exciting games, captivating stories, and some darn good hockey to boot.

While a lot of the talk this season will be centered on the action on the ice, you can be sure that NHL fans will once again be complaining about one thing in particular: the league’s digital board advertisements. So, what are these digital board ads and why do hockey fans hate them with a fiery passion? Let’s dive in.