CME Group to Launch First-Ever NHL Futures Contracts | LeapRate
CME Group has announced plans to launch the first index-based futures contracts tied to the National Hockey League. Pending regulatory approval, the new contracts are set to begin trading on September 28, coinciding with the start of the NHL’s 2026-2027 season.
The futures will be based on CME FutureSports Performance Indexes (FSPI), which convert official NHL statistics into structured financial benchmarks. These indexes track play-by-play performance data for each NHL team, awarding points for positive plays and deducting them for negative ones, following a transparent and rules-based system.
Two contract sizes will be offered: a standard version valued at ten times the underlying index, and a smaller “micro” version worth one-tenth of that value. Both will trade continuously, giving market participants the ability to take positions at any time on a regulated exchange backed by central clearing and transparent pricing.
Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products, said the launch reflects growing demand for tools to manage financial risk tied to professional sports. He noted that fans, sponsors, broadcasters and vendors could all benefit from a regulated way to hedge exposure to team performance.
FutureSports’ Steve Byrd added that fan interest in the NHL remains strong, pointing to record sponsorship revenue of $1.53 billion and over 23 million fans attending games last season, the highest in league history.
The new contracts mark another step in CME Group’s expansion into sports-linked financial products.
