MAJOR: Insider Provides Update on Imminent NHL Expansion
Published December 4, 2023 at 12:03
BY JAMES CONNELLY
BY JAMES CONNELLY
NHL Set To Expand Past 32 Teams
Across all of the major sports leagues in North America, none have more than 32 teams. The NFL and NHL are tied with 32 teams with the MLB and NBA being right behind with 30. While no league has expanded past 32 teams yet, it seems like the NHL will venture past this into 33 or more teams.
Insider Pierre LeBrun writes the following:
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There is no formal agenda item dealing with potential expansion, but there is leeway for Bettman to be asked about it from inquisitive governors as far as the latest on that front. If that's the case, the expectation is that Bettman would reiterate what he's told the media in recent months, that the NHL continues to get expressions of interest from places like Salt Lake City, Houston, Atlanta, and Quebec City but doesn't currently have a pinpoint plan to expand again. Most people around the league do expect that to happen at some point in the next few years. There's just too much money at play not to expand again.
While which city will get an NHL team next is currently unknown, what is known is how the league will generate lots of revenue due to the next expansion. Rumors are that the expansion fee will enter 10 figures and an extra billion dollars in the NHL's pockets is nothing to complain about.
It may not be next year that the league expands but expect a new team or two by the 2030s.
As seen on The Athletic - LeBrun: What to expect from NHL Board of Governors meeting — expansion, cap talk, gambling, more
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