Gary Bettman lies to the entire nation once again regarding NHL expansion
Just as everyone was getting excited about NHL expansion, commissioner Gary Bettman immediately crashed the party with some bad news: he claims it's not happening.
The question of NHL expansion has created a buzz since early 2024, but as of late, the noise has only gotten louder. According to a report from Andy Strickland with Bally Sports Midwest last week, owners are getting ready to vote on the potential formalization of an expansion process to start taking shape. Two cities currently lead the pack for new teams: Atlanta, Georgia, and Houston, Texas. Of course, if the NHL does proceed then others might join the fray.
Despite the excited murmurs of expansion recently, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has another view. In a recent interview with Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star, he downplayed the possibility of expansion any time soon. His comments appear to run somewhat contrary to the growing speculation and reports of owners taking steps in anticipation of the next step.
While Bettman is seemingly gun-shy about galloping ahead with expansion, the demand for more teams only grows louder. It's not just fans or media driving the discussion, as owners have to be drooling at the money that could be coming their way. In September of 2023, TSN's Darren Dreger said the next wave of expansion might carry a whopping $2 billion fee per team. Numbers like that make it hard to keep the league blind to their bottom line.
In fact, that $2 billion fee is more than just a number; it is a huge windfall to the NHL and its current set of teams. Similar to what has occurred in previous expansions, the introduction of new franchises brings excitement to new markets, while their major financial gains flow into the league. Cities like Houston and Atlanta, especially with their large populations and strong sports cultures, could add a great deal to league revenues, making expansion an attractive option.
Suffice it to say, that while Gary Bettman might be trying to temper expectations for the moment, the NHL expansion conversation is not going anywhere. The money involved is simply too big, and with places such as Atlanta and Houston involved, only a matter of time might remain before the league sets off with more teams. All eyes will be on what the owners do next as they balance the league's current stability with a growing desire for new markets.
| POLL | ||
25 SEPTEMBRE | 59 ANSWERS Gary Bettman lies to the entire nation once again regarding NHL expansion Will the NHL expand to 34 teams within the next five years? | ||
| Yes | 50 | 84.7 % |
| No | 9 | 15.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
