NHL expansion is coming whether you want it or not
Season Four’s Dave Pagnotta was on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Mick Kern and Dennis Bernstein and was asked about potential expansion cities to come because we know the NHL is expanding to Houston, Arizona, and Atlanta, but who is joining? ?
Writing for NHLRumors.com
Mick Kern: Last one for me, and it’s quite a statement. And you tell me how wrong I am, don’t tell me I’m wrong, because I know I’m right. All right, Dave, here we go. Sounds like Steve, right? There they are. The expansion cities will be Houston and Atlanta. The second is going back to the Arizona area, and I don’t know what the fourth is. What do you say about that
Dave Pagnotta: It looks like Atlanta, for sure, because you have two viable options. Ownership group wise, I’m still not fully sold on Houston. Well, at least for this next round. I think there is a lot behind the scenes that needs to be fixed.
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Kern: Who would replace Houston? Okay, let’s put them in the second round because I think that’s a good spot for the team that will have Atlanta at that point?
Pagnotta: Probably, I’d probably say going back to Arizona.
Dennis Bernstein: That’s all I can say
Kern: right there, huh? It’s interesting
Pagnotta: That’s soon against Houston. I think Houston will be among those four. I agree there, then it’s a mix. I know people will talk about the second team in Toronto forever. It won’t happen. Forget about that.
Kern: No. However, it has to happen. I will say it should happen. It could be. But there are many reasons why it won’t happen. You can’t do that, you can’t cannibalize your TV ratings. You just can’t do that right.
Pagnotta: right? If we go, if another team comes to Canada, it’s Quebec City, but there’s a lot behind the scenes that has to work there, from a business economics point of view, in that market, I know you have other markets keep jumping into the mix and showing interest. And Gary Bettman admitted this.
But you have markets like Portland, San Diego, Omaha, and a few others. Kansas City is mixed with the ownership group there. The guys who own the Chiefs and the family that owns the Chiefs are huge hockey fans. So you got that too.
Milwaukee sometimes goes into the fold. And in Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City, there’s something interesting there as well. So the third category is kind of a wild card for me, to see who might step up. I mean, they all sound good. One in California and San Diego would be great. I love that city, but you have to see if you have good bands in the area.
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But I think I think three for sure. I think we know the four will be Atlanta, Arizona, Houston, and then a mystery city added to the mix. Who joins Atlanta in this move next? I don’t think it’s final yet.”
Andy Strickland: “NHL owners will meet soon to approve an extended opening. The leading candidates/owner groups are believed to be Fertitta in Houston and Krause in Atlanta.
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