NHL Board of Governors to approve opening of expansion process; Atlanta and Houston believed to be leading candidates

[HockeyScotty]

I can't believe Atlanta is any serious discussion. I say go to KC before giving Atlanta a chance at a 3rd failure.

Houston makes a bit of sense. Wonder if you could make somewhere like Boise, ID work to try to capitalize on the rocky mountain region?

Boise would be worse than Quebec City by nearly tenfold. Same size metro area but fractional hockey base.

With Seattle, Utah, Vegas, and Colorado the "Rocky Mountain Region" is as saturated as it can possibly get.

 

[ponder719]

No, different Fertitta; this is a different brother: Tilman. Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta were the UFC guys

My mistake. I had misremembered Tilman as also having been an investor in UFC. Thanks for catching that.

This time I actually looked it up, and he's not their brother, as it turns out, he's a distant cousin.

 

[HockeyScotty]

What makes people think Atlanta will work the 3rd time around.

Technically, many of the NHL teams had 2-3 teams start and fold before a stable ownership group was found.

Granted it was usually a long time ago. I have no problem with the market; just that the NHL seems to finally actually vet the ownership groups better than they did even up into the 90's.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

So f***ing dumb

 

[SEALBound]

Boise would be worse than Quebec City by nearly tenfold. Same size metro area but fractional hockey base.

With Seattle, Utah, Vegas, and Colorado the "Rocky Mountain Region" is as saturated as it can possibly get.

Fair. I was just looking at a map to see where there were geographical gaps.

Also why I suggested KC.

 

[vancityluongo]

hope this leads to relegation eventually. that's the only way the product will actually stay elite.

there are already too many teams

 

[Turin]

STOP

At this point when Sid retires I’m done with the league

 

[End on a Hinote]

Great, I love watching my favorite team have less of a chance to win the Cup

Try cheering for a Canadian team. At this point I just cheer for the Canucks to make it to the finals, I literally don't expect anything more.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Little faster than I expected, but should be interesting to watch unfold.

 

[Albatros]

Let he or she who would take a team away from fans first volunteer his or her own. No exceptions. Ever. No, not even if you follow an established or O6 team.

Other owners wouldn't allow the relocation of an O6 team, realistically it's more the bottom six in revenue that are candidates. Unfortunate for the fans like now in Phoenix of course, but also Atlanta and Houston have fan bases that have lost teams before.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I've always wondered about Milwaukee or Green Bay

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Great, I love watching my favorite team have less of a chance to win the Cup

In my team's case we can't really go less than 0 percent.

 

[snag]

hope this leads to relegation eventually. that's the only way the product will actually stay elite.

there are already too many teams

Although technically...in the spirit of the cup....no Canadian team should be subject to relegation

 

[12ozPapa]

More teams, too long of a season, gambling ads galore, ads on jerseys, fanatics. This league man

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

What makes people think Atlanta will work the 3rd time around.

Willi Plett was to blame for the 1st time it didn't work.

Evander Kane screwed up the franchise the 2nd time around.

It will work this time.

 

[KaN19]

There are barely enough NHL calibre players to fill out 20-24 teams. Ice hockey just doesn't have the talent pool of a soccer or basketball.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Too many teams already but nhl gonna nhl

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I've always wondered about Milwaukee or Green Bay

Milwaukee doesn't have arena, ownership group, much of a fanbase to build off of and really is oversaturated at this point

Also, the Hawks would very much oppose such I imagine as it potentially eats into Hawks fanbase/footprint in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin border

Green Bay is a small city that would never be able to support even a higher level minor league team. Packers are unique to city and it is the city sports landscape now and forever

GB population in city is just a little over 100k and just a little over 300k for entire metro area. Its not viable

 

[Viqsi]

Other owners wouldn't allow the relocation of an O6 team, realistically it's more the bottom six in revenue that are candidates. Unfortunate for the fans like now in Phoenix of course, but also Atlanta and Houston have fan bases that have lost teams before.

That's not the point. The point is twofold:
1) We have fans of all teams here and it's a dick move to kick folks while they're down, and
2) So many folks are perfectly happy to toss off "oh, just relocate teams" without considering the implications and impact that has on actual people.

So if you're going to push for relocation and claim it as a benefit, put your money where your mouth is and offer up your own team rather than obliging others to take the hit for it.

 

[OpenIceHit]

Please no!!!

 

[paulmm3]

Do not like this. The talent pool is diluted enough already. We do not need more teams

 

[End on a Hinote]

What makes people think Atlanta will work the 3rd time around.

Idk about the first time around, but the second time wasn't the fault of the fans or a lack of profitability. New owners didn't want them, no one at the time willing to keep them in ATL.

Poor Quebec. NHL really doesnt care to go back there.

It's really too bad because they do everything right. Don't speak too loud about it, followed the NHL application process back in '17 respectfully, and no dice.

 

[hangman005]

What about the most exciting option I've heard about..... When is Omaha getting a team.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I am happy with this

More NHL teams is good thing and its great if Houston finally is in. Should have been one of the late 90's expansion teams if not for the mutliple bids, potential legal fights, etc that sunk Houston's chances

And I think Atlanta will do great in suburbs like Braves. And area will only continue to grow

With all the speculation/interest reported this past year it's not surprising. And for this process to begin its clear NHL and those interested have been having preliminary talks for a while now

Atlanta and Houston seem safe bets for #33 and #34

Wonder if any other interested parties will put together enough of a bid to be #35 and #36

Arizona will be back eventually.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I remember the opposition to Las Vegas and Seattle (Especially Vegas) during last expansions

The "talent will be diluted" and "Vegas will be another Coyotes" sure proved to be wrong

NHL is at its strongest its ever been. 2-4 more teams will only further grow league and improve it