With the possible demise of the Coyotes in the news, the word on every hockey fan’s tongue is “expansion.” Amid rumors that the Coyotes are relocating again, the biggest story this off-season will be which cities will get an NHL franchise. There are currently 16 teams in the East and 14 West, and with attendance at NHL games up in recent years stadiums will be lining up for their own team. According to an article on Yahoo sports, four new cities could get an NHL team. With possibly four new teams, the list for possible cities is long.
Hamilton
The Ontario city has been trying for a long time to get an NHL team. They were a favorite in 1990 to be one of the two expansion teams, but lost to Ottawa and Tampa Bay. They also have BlackBerry founder Jim Balsillie as an interested owner. He negotiated with Mario Lemieux about potentially moving the team to Hamilton. In 2007, he attempted to purchase the Nashville Predators, but it also fell through. He again showed interest in bringing a NHL team to Hamilton when the Coyotes were struggling in 2009, but again could not find a way to get the deal done. The Copps Coliseum, most likely Hamilton’s home stadium if they were to get a team, is within 50 miles of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, which complicates things.
Houston
According to a study by the American City Business Journals, Houston is the most likely destination for a new NHL team. The survey stated that the city could best support a new team financially. It has the population, 6.5 million, and the arena, Toyota Center, to support a new team. There are plenty of potential owners, with 22 Fortune 500 Companies based in the city. Houston has a history of hockey, and has proven to be dedicated to its NBA team, the Houston Rockets.
Las Vegas
Vegas has to be the biggest name in the NHL expansion picture. Vegas is a popular tourist attraction due to its various entertainment choices, and better yet for the NHL there is no NFL or NBA to compete with. Each year, the MGM Grand Garden Arena holds a NHL preseason game between the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche. The arena has a capacity of 16,800, and it will have no problems reaching that capacity during NHL games considering 22 of the NHL’s 30 teams averaged that total or better.
Quebec City
When the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995, the NHL lost one of its biggest markets. In 2012, construction for the Videotron Centre began primarily to attract an NHL team to the city. The 18,259-seat arena is comparable to the Penguins Consol Energy Center, and it is hard to imagine that NHL was not on the minds of its creators. The Videotron Centre completion date is expected to be in 2015. If Quebec City gets a new team, the stadium would be ready for the 2016 season, when the expansion teams are expected to join the league. There is interest in bringing back the Nordiques, so the pieces seem to be falling into place for their return.
Saskatoon
In 1982, the founder of the Edmonton Oilers, Bill Hunter, attempted to buy the St. Louis Blues and move them to Saskatoon. Ice Edge Holdings attempted to buy the Coyotes and move them to Saskatoon, and some of the members later joined the group that bought the Coyotes. Since there are members in the Coyotes that want a move to Saskatoon, it makes it more likely the team could move there. When the Calgary Flames home stadium flooded in 2013, there was a movement to move the team’s home games to Saskatoon.
Seattle
In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans were the first team from the US to win the Stanley Cup. Since 1977, Seattle has hoisted the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds. This team has produced NHL talent such as Patrick Marleau, Chris Joseph and Chris Osgood. Also in 2008, the NBA franchise Seattle SuperSonics left town, leaving the Seattle Seahawks as the only competition. The Seattle sports fan base became famous after they caused an earthquake in a Seahawk playoff game, and that rabid fan base would fit like a glove in the NHL. It seems like a perfect situation for the NHL, they gain a new market and can one up the NBA while they are at it.
Toronto
The most populous city in Canada and capital of Ontario makes an easy destination for an NHL team. The Toronto Maple Leafs are already there, but Toronto is the Canada version of New York and can more than handle a second NHL team. There was a movement to move a team to Toronto in 2011, but the head of GTA Sports and Entertainment was convicted of fraud. The plan included bringing a 19,500 stadium to Markham, which is directly northeast of Toronto. With the failures of the Maple Leafs in recent years, the hockey crazy Toronto is in need of some excitement, and a new team could do just that.