The Stanley Cup weighs 34.5 lbs and is nearly 3 feet tall, making it one of the largest professional sports trophies. It is made of silver and nickel alloy, and the large size of the Stanley Cup has led to it being dropped on more than one occasion.
When a player wins a sports trophy, it is customary for them to celebrate by lifting the trophy up above their heads. However, this is infinitely easier with some trophies than others. For example, lifting up the Vince Lombardi trophy is much easier than the Stanley Cup.
But how heavy is the Stanley Cup? Keep reading to learn more about that, and other interesting facts about the trophy.
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Key Takeaways
- The Stanley Cup weighs 34.5 lbs, which is more than other major North American sports trophies like the Vince Lombardi trophy (NFL), the Larry O’Brien trophy (NBA), and the World Series trophy (MLB).
- The Stanley Cup is made of silver and nickel alloy. These materials are very tough and resistant, which makes them popular in trophies that experience a lot of wear and tear over the years.
- The large size and heavy weight of the Stanley Cup has led to it being dropped and damaged on a few separate occasions during team and individual celebrations.
How Much Does the Stanley Cup Weigh?
The Stanley Cup tips the scales with a weight of 34.5 pounds. It is heavier than the other American pro sports trophies. The Larry O’Brien trophy (NBA) weighs 30 lbs, while the Vince Lombardi trophy (NFL) and World Series trophy (MLB) weigh 7 lbs and 30 lbs respectively.
While 34.5 pounds might seem like a lot to lift over your head and skate around for minutes at a time, NHL players are high-performance athletes and are stronger than the average person.
Also, with all the adrenaline going through their systems after just reaching a lifelong goal of winning in the NHL, players are not concerned at all with the weight of the trophy and likely don’t struggle with it.
In addition to the heavy weight of the Cup it is also quite large, standing just short of 3 feet tall.
What is the Stanley Cup Made of?
The Stanley Cup is made of a silver and nickel alloy. These materials not only ensure the Stanley Cup looks good, but are also tough and resistant. If the Stanley Cup was made from something less durable, it would not be able to sustain nearly as much wear and tear.
Remember, the trophy spends the entire summer being taken around the world by players on the winning team. If it was crafted with weaker materials, it would be full of scratches, scuff marks and other damage from so much travel every year.
However, keep in mind that the current Stanley Cup isn’t the original. The original Stanley Cup that dates back to the 1890s was a small silver bowl (like the top of the current Stanley Cup) and was purchased for $48.67 (just under $1500 today) in London, England.
This original bowl was awarded to Stanley Cup winners up until 1970, when it was deemed too brittle and fragile to continue to be given out. The current Stanley Cup (called the “Presentation Cup”) was created in 1963 as a duplicate to replace the original.
In addition to this, there is also a “Permanent Cup”, created in 1993, which sits at the Hockey Hall of Fame and is displayed whenever the “Presentation Cup” is away. This is so those visiting the Hall of Fame can still see a version of the Stanley Cup.
Has the Stanley Cup Ever Been Dropped or Damaged?
While the Stanley Cup is very important and players are normally very careful with it, with the cup being so large and heavy, there have been several occasions where it has been dropped and/or damaged in some way.
Recently, after the Colorado Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup, Nicolas Aube-Kubel was skating with the Stanley Cup to take a team photo, when he slipped and fell, denting the Stanley Cup on the ice, much to the surprise of teammates and coaches.
In addition to being dented on the ice, there are several examples of the cup sustaining some damage during team and individual celebrations.
It has been thrown into a bonfire, dropped in the water, knocked off a table, and damaged in a variety of other ways. The trophy is still being awarded and is still looking good after all these years, but it has certainly seen its fair share of damage over the last few decades.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the Stanley Cup is among the largest and heaviest major sports trophies in existence. However, when players finally realize their lifelong goal of winning it, videos and photos of them hoisting it above their heads makes it seem a lot lighter than it actually is.
Did you think the Stanley Cup was heavier or lighter than it actually is? Let me know in a comment below.
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