NHL preparing expansion process: Two cities to be approved by Gary Bettman
Just 3 years removed from welcoming the Seattle Kraken into the league, NHL owners appear ready to begin the expansion process and welcome another two teams into the league.
According to St. Louis rinkside reporter Andy Strickland, owners will meet soon to approve expansion opening - with the leading candidates being a team in Houston and a THIRD chance for a team in Atlanta.
CEO of Landry's Inc. and owner of the Houston Rockets Tilman Fertitta is expected to be the frontrunner for a Houston franchise, while CEO of Krause Auto Group Inc. Vernon Krause was cited by Strickland as the lead contender for a third go at hockey in Atlanta.
Atlanta previously struggled to support the Thrashers, and before that the Flames, but it is the home of TNT Sports and a massive market that has long been discussed for an eventual NHL return - with a group that includes Anson Carter officially requesting to begin the expansion process back in March.
Houston is the single biggest city in the USA currently without an NHL team, and has long been rumoured as a future destination for the NHL.
And while a 34 team league would make the NHL the largest in North American pro sports, their appetite for more teams may not end there...
| POLL | ||
Do you think third time's the charm for a successful team in Atlanta? | ||
| Yes, it's a huge market and time's have changed | 18 | 10.7 % |
| No, give it to Kansas City | 13 | 7.7 % |
| No, give it to Quebec City | 111 | 66.1 % |
| We don't need expansion, period | 26 | 15.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
