CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) announced plans to launch index-based NHL hockey futures contracts on September 28, pending regulatory review. The contracts will track CME FutureSports Performance Indexes built on real-time National Hockey League statistics, beginning with the 2026-2027 season.

The new products will be offered in two sizes: standard contracts valued at 10 times the underlying CME FSPI NHL index, and micro-sized contracts valued at one-tenth of those indexes. Both will trade around the clock on CME Group's exchange with central clearing.

The indexes convert official NHL play-by-play statistics into rules-based financial metrics, adding points for positive actions and subtracting for negative plays. CME Group said the index methodologies align with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.

Tim McCourt, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group, said the contracts are intended to allow "financial institutions, companies and individuals" to hedge risk tied to NHL team performance. Potential users cited include sponsors, broadcasters, arena operators, retailers, and food and beverage vendors.

FutureSports, which supplies the underlying indexes, is the exclusive index partner. Steve Byrd, Head of Partnerships at FutureSports, noted that NHL teams generated $1.53 billion in sponsorship revenue in the 2024-25 season and drew more than 23 million fans into arenas, which he described as the highest total attendance in the league's 108-year history.

CME Group is the exclusive exchange partner for the FutureSports indexes. The information is based on a press release issued by CME Group.