SI/Weekes: Houston, Atlanta leading NHL expansion list
- Thread starter LadyStanley
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dj4aces
An Intricate Piece of Infinity
One could call it speculation or rumor if they'd like, but it's also not exactly new. There's a lot of smoke in both prospective markets surrounding the NHL, after all.
If there isn't a new arena for Houston, it's Tilman Fertittia. He's been interested, but not at the valuation that the NHL has wanted. He didn't agree with the $650 mill value Seattle paid. Is he willing to pay $1 billion or more than that now?
yea and the NHL has so far has not been interested in expanding again so its a total moot point until the NHL wants to expand.
nhlfan79
Registered User
They clearly do. Bill Daly wouldn't be talking on the record about the topic and specific cities if there wasn't mutual interest from the league.
At the expansion price point that they are discussing at $1.5 billion to upwards of $2 bill in 2-3 years down the line, it's got to be the larger markets.
Clickbait. Any one of us could have written that article. We all know the NHL isn't going to budge on its price and we know Fertitta has a number in mind that he won't go above. If he had been willing to pay $1.2 billion he would have gotten the Coyotes (it would have been smoother than Utah since the arena is pretty much ready).
Dirty Mind
Registered User
- Apr 26, 2022
- 35
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A Houston team should be called the Aeros but the NHL likely wouldn’t allow it due to it’s association with the WHA. But Aeros has a clearly defined connection to Houston and even had Gordie freaking Howe win a couple of championships for them. If the NHL was smart they would honour this when they eventually go to Houston.
Spaeking of WHA associations, when the leagues goes back to Phoenix (they will), they can’t be named Coyotes because that’s gotta be a toxic brand. I would absolutely love to see a Phoenix Roadrunners franchise. Fans can identify with that more and the marketing opportunities are off the charts like “Beep beep!” before a powerplay for example.
Spaeking of WHA associations, when the leagues goes back to Phoenix (they will), they can’t be named Coyotes because that’s gotta be a toxic brand. I would absolutely love to see a Phoenix Roadrunners franchise. Fans can identify with that more and the marketing opportunities are off the charts like “Beep beep!” before a powerplay for example.
LadyStanley
Registered User
@Dirty Mind that nickname is trademarked by AHL team owned by Merulo (former NHL Coyote owner).
He may drop nickname when he relocates team to Reno after building new arena.
He may drop nickname when he relocates team to Reno after building new arena.
The league gets asked questions so they answer. Daly and Bettman don't get to decide if expansion happens again the owners do. Until the owners says they want to expand again, the NHL will remain at 32.
it would make a natural rivalry like Vancouver and Seattle or Toronto and Detriot, so yes.
dj4aces
An Intricate Piece of Infinity
Last I heard, he thought the asking price from the league was currently too much. The question is, does he think $1bn-$1.2bn is too much, or did the league give him a much larger number ($1.5bn+?)
Yeah, then they have a vote one day and it changes. But we’ve all seen the expansion process before. Plenty happens behind the scenes before that official vote. It’s pretty clear what’s happening here. It’s following the same script as Vegas and Seattle.
Can look at the valuation of the stars to get a fair comp for what a Houston team is worth.
