NBA Owner Express High Interest In Bring An NHL Franchise To His City

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Hunter Bowman
February 22, 2024 (9:50)

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Discussions about expanding the National Hockey League have been gaining momentum over the past six to twelve months, with several cities vying for a franchise alongside Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Salt Lake City and Atlanta have recently thrown their hats into the ring, expressing keen interest in hosting an NHL team. However, Tilman Fertitta, owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets, has now added fuel to the fire by revealing that talks with the league have intensified to bring a second franchise to Texas.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Fertitta emphasized the potential economic benefits of having an NHL team in Houston, stating,

"We are talking to the NHL, but it's got to be good for both of us," Fertitta told Bloomberg. "We just know that when there's a concert downtown how it activates downtown. We know what the Astros do for downtown. We know what even soccer does for downtown."

While Houston appears to be a top contender for NHL expansion in the future, whether the league opts for 34 or 36 teams down the line, the Texas city could also be considered for relocation.

The Arizona Coyotes are still in search of a new home, with Houston emerging as a prime candidate. However, Salt Lake City remains in the mix, as Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, has expressed interest.

The timing of the NHL's next expansion application process remains uncertain, but it's widely anticipated that the team fee could soar to over $2 billion USD, more than triple the amount paid by the Seattle Kraken ownership to enter the league in 2021.

Source: Bladeofsteel