The best NHL arena checklist tracker in 2026 depends on whether you want a printable keepsake, a free spreadsheet, or a phone app that logs your seat the second you sit down. This guide ranks six tracking methods so you can pick one that survives past October instead of getting abandoned after three games.
- The Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist is the best overall NHL arena checklist tracker for 2026 because it lists all 32 arenas already.
- A DIY Google Sheets tracker is the best free NHL arena checklist tracker if you don't mind building the columns yourself.
- A bucket-list travel app wins for real-time, in-seat check-ins but drains battery fast on weak arena wifi.
- All 32 current NHL arenas need tracking in 2026, including Utah Hockey Club's Delta Center after the 2024 relocation.
Why this matters
Arena collecting for hockey has grown alongside ballpark chasing, but the checklist has to hold up over years, not just a season. The NHL sits at 32 active franchises for 2026, and the league already changed on you once: the Arizona Coyotes relocated to Salt Lake City in 2024 and now play as Utah Hockey Club out of Delta Center.
A tracker built before that move is already wrong. That's the real test for any NHL arena checklist tracker in 2026 — does it get updated, or does it just sit there being outdated. Triptyka's printable checklist library covers arenas, national parks, lighthouses, and other bucket-list categories, all built as downloadable, printable passports rather than apps that need constant patching.
Best overall: the Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist. Best for real-time, in-seat check-ins: a bucket-list travel app. Best budget option: a DIY Google Sheets or Excel tracker you build yourself.
What makes the best NHL arena checklist tracker
- Covers all 32 current NHL arenas, updated for relocations like the 2024 Coyotes-to-Utah move
- Leaves room for game-day details: date attended, final score, seat section
- Uses a format you'll actually keep using past game three
- Gives a visible sense of progress — a fill-in map, checkbox row, or percentage count
- Low setup friction, no account creation or hours of data entry before your first game
- Durable enough to survive a decade of travel, whether that's laminated paper or a synced file
NHL arena checklist trackers at a glance
| Tracker | Best For | Standout Feature | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist | Overall pick | All 32 arenas pre-listed in passport format | No live GPS check-in |
| DIY Google Sheets tracker | Budget/free option | Fully customizable columns | You build it from a blank sheet |
| Bucket-list travel app | Real-time check-ins | Automatic location logging | Needs signal and battery inside the arena |
| Corkboard wall map | Home display | Turns progress into visible wall art | Not portable to away games |
| Bound travel journal | Keepsake memories | Room for handwritten notes and ticket stubs | No built-in progress tracker |
| Hashtag/social tracking | Community bragging rights | Built-in audience and comments | No private, permanent record |
1. Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist: best NHL arena checklist tracker overall
This is a printable, downloadable passport-style checklist that lists all 32 current NHL arenas with space to log the date attended, final score, and personal notes. You print it, fill it by hand, and keep it as a physical record instead of trusting a phone app not to crash mid-season.
Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist pros:
- Pre-built list removes the setup work entirely
- Passport format doubles as a physical keepsake, not just data
- Works with any home printer, no app or account required
- Check-off design shows visible progress after one game
Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist cons:
- No live location tracking or automatic check-ins
- A league relocation means reprinting or editing the file yourself
- No cloud backup — lose the paper, lose the record
Best for: fans who want the whole arena chase to feel like an actual passport, not a spreadsheet. Verdict: Buy.
2. DIY Google Sheets tracker: best NHL arena checklist tracker for budget-conscious fans
A blank spreadsheet with 32 rows, one per franchise, and columns for date, opponent, and notes. It costs nothing beyond your time and syncs across your phone and laptop automatically.
DIY Google Sheets tracker pros:
- Free and fully customizable to your own categories
- Syncs across devices without extra software
- Easy to sort, filter, or add columns later
DIY Google Sheets tracker cons:
- You build the entire list from scratch, including catching every relocation
- Zero visual satisfaction compared to a filled-in passport or map
- Easy to forget it exists between road trips
Best for: fans who already live in spreadsheets and don't want another tool. Verdict: Hold if you're not consistent about updating it.
3. Bucket-list travel app: best NHL arena checklist tracker for real-time check-ins
General-purpose bucket-list and travel-logging apps let you check in by location, attach photos, and see a running map of places visited, arenas included.
Bucket-list travel app pros:
- Automatic location logging removes manual entry
- Photos and check-ins live in one place
- Shareable with friends or followers instantly
Bucket-list travel app cons:
- Needs signal and battery life inside the arena, both often weak
- Most apps aren't built specifically for sports venues, so arena names can be mislabeled
- Data lives on someone else's server, not something you own
Best for: fans who want the check-in to happen the moment they sit down. Verdict: Buy if you're already using one of these apps for other trips.
4. Corkboard wall map: best NHL arena checklist tracker for home display
A large map or board with a pin for every NHL city, filled in as you visit. It's a display piece more than a checklist.
Corkboard wall map pros:
- Turns years of travel into visible wall art
- Good conversation starter for guests
Corkboard wall map cons:
- Bulky and impossible to bring on the actual trip
- No space for game details like score or seat
Best for: fans who care more about the finished display than the day-to-day tracking. Verdict: Skip unless you already have wall space reserved for it.
5. Bound travel journal: best NHL arena checklist tracker for keepsake memories
A physical notebook where you write a page per arena — ticket stub taped in, a few lines about the game, maybe a photo.
Bound travel journal pros:
- Room for handwritten memories a checklist can't hold
- Feels personal in a way spreadsheets don't
Bound travel journal cons:
- No built-in progress tracker or arena list
- Slower to fill out than checking a box
Best for: fans who want a diary, not a dashboard. Verdict: Hold as a companion, not a primary tracker.
6. Social media hashtag tracking: best NHL arena checklist tracker for community bragging rights
Some fans just post a photo from every arena under a personal hashtag and let their feed be the record.
Social media hashtag tracking pros:
- Built-in audience and instant reactions
- No extra tool to maintain
Social media hashtag tracking cons:
- No private, permanent, or organized record
- Posts get buried in the algorithm within days
Best for: fans who track progress publicly instead of privately. Verdict: Skip as your only method.
How we ranked
Each tracker was weighed against the criteria above: full 32-arena coverage, room for game details, format you'll stick with, visible progress, low setup friction, and durability over years of slow travel. The Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist scored highest for setup friction and durability; apps scored highest for real-time logging but lost points on battery and signal reliability inside arenas.
Which NHL arena checklist tracker should you choose in 2026?
If you want one thing that just works without building it yourself, the Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist is the default pick — all 32 arenas already listed, printable, and yours to keep. If you're already deep into a bucket-list app for other travel, fold arena check-ins into that instead of starting a second system. Skip the corkboard and the hashtag method as your only tracker; use them as extras once the real record already exists somewhere durable.
Get your NHL arena checklist
Printable, downloadable passport-style trackers for arenas and more.
FAQ
What's the best NHL arena checklist tracker in 2026?
The Triptyka NHL Arena Passport Checklist is the best overall option in 2026 because it lists all 32 current arenas already, so there's no setup work before your first game.
Is a printable checklist better than an app for tracking NHL arenas?
A printable checklist wins on setup friction and durability, while an app wins on real-time, automatic check-ins. Pick the app if you already use one for other travel; pick the printable version if you want something that just works.
How many NHL arenas are there to visit in 2026?
There are 32 active NHL franchises and arenas in 2026, following the 2024 relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City as Utah Hockey Club.
Does an NHL arena checklist need updating for team relocations?
Yes. Any checklist built before 2024 still lists the Arizona Coyotes instead of Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center, so it needs a manual update before you use it.
Can I track NHL arenas for free?
Yes, a DIY Google Sheets or Excel tracker costs nothing beyond your own time to build and maintain, though you have to catch relocations and updates yourself.
What information should an NHL arena checklist include?
At minimum, the arena name, city, date attended, and final score. Better checklists also leave room for seat section and personal notes.
Is Triptyka's NHL arena checklist printable or digital?
It's a downloadable file you print yourself, built as a passport-style booklet rather than an app that requires an account.
How long does it take to visit all NHL arenas?
There's no fixed timeline since it depends on travel budget and schedule, but most fans treat it as a multi-year project spread across regular-season trips.
One last thing
The relocation most checklists miss: the Arizona Coyotes became Utah Hockey Club in 2024 and now play at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. If your tracker still lists Arizona, you're one arena behind before you've checked off a single game in 2026.
