Gary Bettman and the NHL set to approve two new expansion franchises today: we know the cities

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Tom Banks
September 19, 2024  (1:09 PM)

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Photo credit: Sportico

Expansion has long been a huge talking point in the NHL, and now, Gary Bettmanand the league are reportedly set to approve two new teams to join the NHL.

In the past seven years, the National Hockey League have welcomed in the Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken and the Utah Hockey Club, who were relocated from Arizona, rather than a brand new expansion team. Now, just months after moving the Coyotes, Gary Bettman and the NHL are set to approve a further two teams to join the league, taking the amount of teams in the NHL up to an uprecedented 34.

Unsurprisingly, the two cities leading the charge are Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas, following on from speculation for months that these are the two front runners to land the NHL's 33rd and 34th team. In Vegas and Seattle, the league have seen incredible success, and with rumours that the fee to now join the NHL as an expansion team could be as high as $1 billion, it's easy to see why the league are so supportive of the move.

While this will be the third time in Atlanta, it appears the city and the prospective new ownership group have the backing they need to make it work, and in Houston, they would have two teams in Texas to create a massive rivalry with the Dallas Stars, so while plenty of fans may not like it, the player base is there and ultimately, it's a matter of when, not if this happens.

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Previously

Boston Bruins sign fan-favorite goaltender as Jeremy Swayman deal looms: hasn't played an NHL game since 2020

End of an era: Jaromir Jagr announces retirement from professional hockey after over 30 years

New evidence in the Jordan Chiles Olympic medal scandal: audio leak may have changed everything

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SEPTEMBRE 19   |   826 ANSWERS Gary Bettman and the NHL set to approve two new expansion franchises today: we know the cities Are Atlanta and Houston the two most deserving cities for new NHL teams?
Yes	112	13.6 %
No	714	86.4 %
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