SI/Weekes: Houston, Atlanta leading NHL expansion list
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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.
We’ve known that for ~2 years but I guess it’s nice to know there’s still momentum.
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
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- Apr 26, 2022
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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.
dj4aces
An Intricate Piece of Infinity
I suppose that's one way to do it. As per CNBC, The Stars are valued at $1.9bn. For Atlanta, one could get that value from Nashville ($1.5bn) and/or Carolina ($1.3bn).
Fertitta balked at the $650m figure in 2018 too, though. According to Forbes, the Stars were valued at $525m. What's interesting though, is the Forbes link has a league average of $630m listed as well. The expansion fee for Seattle was $650m, so a little more than league average. For context, the Canucks were valued at $735m in 2018.
For 2024, the average franchise value is $1.91bn. So, IF that's the ballpark figure for expansion fees, and IF the league plans to announce expansion in June, I could see the asking price at $2bn per franchise. It sounds high, but if it's Fertitta, he's gotta know that number isn't coming down, and thus needs to shit or get off the pot.
The value of all sport teams has been skyrocketing due to the expansion of legal sports betting and streaming. In the NFL the Bills sold for $1.4 billion in 2014. The Panthers for about $2.2 billion in 2018 (makes sense bigger market, newer stadium, 4 years inflation, etc) Then the Broncos went for $4.65 billion in 2018 then Washington for over $6 billion a year later. In the NHL the Islanders went for under $500 million in 2015. Seattle for $650 million in 2018. Then the Senators went for just under $1 billion. Now Utah at $1.2 billion. In the NBA the Bucks sold for $525 million in 2014 in 2023 25% of the Bucks sold for $825 million. Now you have MLS teams selling for $450 million+
Thats a long way of saying if he doesn't increase what he's willing to pay he won't get a team. The prices are headed one way and its up.
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Golden_Jet
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- Sep 21, 2005
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Don’t see what the WHA has to do it with it, see the Jets, Nordiques, Oilers and Whalers,
possibly could purchase it, that’s assuming they would even want that name.
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Golden_Jet
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- Sep 21, 2005
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varsaku
Registered User
He probably low balled by too much and missed the boat during the last round of expansions. He might still get a small discount from the asking price but no where near what he is expecting. He is going to pay the much higher price now. I believe he did the same thing initially with the Rockets in the 90s and had to pay alot more to get them later on in 2017.
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GreenHornet
Registered User
The only issue I could possibly see about using Aero is if some person or entity bought the rights to the name and branding when the last iteration of the Aeros (the AHL team) moved to Iowa. Perhaps the current owner(s) of the Iowa club still own(s) them? If so, I'm sure they can be had for a price, IF the owner(s) of a potential Houston NHL expansion franchise wants to pay it (which could be a legitimate question if said NHL owner was Ferttita).
qc14
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- Jul 1, 2024
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Weekes is a master of doing this kind of stuff where he leaves just enough on it to make you think that he's not just making it up or aggregating other people's reporting lol.
Interesting to see that it's still out there so strongly though, you have to think it's just a matter of time. Current owners can only resist what seems like it will now be at least $40M in cash for so long
Interesting to see that it's still out there so strongly though, you have to think it's just a matter of time. Current owners can only resist what seems like it will now be at least $40M in cash for so long
sneakytitz
Registered User
Well, to be fair, he and Bucci were talking about this almost 2 years ago and then, lo and behold, Vernon Krause comes out of nowhere shortly thereafter with a site/plan/renderings. Now, almost 2 years later, Krause has cleared everything with the county and just needs a team (and he will only accept an expansion, to quote him).
