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06/23 13:35 CDT NHL exploring expansion opportunities in Texas, AP source says
NHL exploring expansion opportunities in Texas, AP source says
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- The NHL's is exploring potential expansion to Texas with
Houston and Austin among the possibilities, a person with knowledge of the
decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The league's Board of Governors had their annual post-Stanley Cup Final and
pre-draft meeting on Tuesday in New York. The person spoke on condition of
anonymity because the expansion consideration had not been announced. ESPN and
Sportsnet were first to report the move.
While there is no guarantee the NHL adds a 33rd team, it is a first step toward
becoming the largest professional sports league in North America, surpassing
the NFL. Commissioner Gary Bettman in recent years has been careful to say
officials were listening to expressions of interest from prospective owners in
places like Houston and Atlanta but not yet engaged in a formal path toward
expansion.
The league last expanded to 32 with the Seattle Kraken beginning play in 2021
after the Vegas Golden Knights started in the 2017-18 season. Before that,
there had been 30 teams since 2000, when Columbus and Minnesota entered.
The most recent successes, combined with booming franchise values across
sports, spurred talk of expansion in hockey circles, especially because
expansion fees could exceed $1 billion. Seattle paid $650 million and Las Vegas
$500 million.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
