Gary Bettman Addresses NHL Expansion: New Team Will Likely Be in the Penguins' Division
Photo credit: TSN
In a press conference, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman revealed that an expansion team would likely be in the Pittsburgh Penguins' division.
NHL expansion will always be a hot topic among hockey fans. With the League's growing popularity across the globe, many cities and investors are showing interest in bringing a team to their town.
And as we saw with the Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Hockey Club, acquiring an NHL team can be a very interesting investment.
It seems that the next city that will get an NHL team has been announced. While many rumors suggested Houston or Quebec City as potential next hosts, Atlanta has been making a push.
Here's the latest development on that issue:
Commissioner Bettman provided comments on the situation, highlighting that the town and the market are different from when the Flames and Thrashers left, meaning these failures wouldn't stop the NHL from going back to Atlanta:
"I think it's a different place than when the Flames and the Thrashers left, in terms of how big the city is, how robust it is and the sporting interest. I don't think the prior two visits have any bearing on whether or not we would go back, if all of the other pieces that I referred to are put together."
Later, he also discussed the interest from many investor groups looking to buy an NHL team, and named his basic criteria for people looking to own a team:
"We're getting expressions of interest. We've talked to a couple groups. There have been some civic leaders that have been in with people who are expressing interest in owning a team and creating a facility. We start with the four basic criteria: ownership, market, arena and what it would do to enhance the league and make it stronger."
"When somebody wants to make the case and come in and puts together all of the pieces, we'll listen to it. If it makes sense, I'll take it to the executive committee and then the board."
"When somebody wants to make the case and come in and puts together all of the pieces, we'll listen to it. If it makes sense, I'll take it to the executive committee and then the board."
If Atlanta were to come back into the League, it would likely be in the Metropolitan Division, where the Pittsburgh Penguins also compete.
Updates and developments on that matter are expected in the coming months. Stay tuned for more.
| POLL | ||
MAI 10 | 139 ANSWERS Gary Bettman Addresses NHL Expansion: New Team Will Likely Be in the Penguins' Division Would you like to see the return of the Atlanta Thrashers? | ||
| Yes | 51 | 36.7 % |
| No | 88 | 63.3 % |
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