Is NHL expansion finally upon us?

Question

The link down below is by the Seattle Times. It states that Seattle's NHL group and the NHL have had productive talks behind the scenes about Expansion fees. It also states that it's possible an expansion announcement will come shortly after the Olympics end. And the NBA said yesterday, that the league will not be expanding. This is the NHL's chance to monopolize Seattle in Winter sports.

http://seattletimes.com/html/hockey/2022905302_nhlseattle14xml.html

Answer 1

Expansion has always been one of the major reasons for the lockout and demands of owners. Expansion offers a very quick "get rich" program and the new CBA blocks players from enjoying a piece of that pie as they might have in other scenarios. There are 30 guys who will reap the benefits of not only expansion fee's but the potential new money a tv deal will bring. People get overly excited about moving the Coyotes and Panthers but they don't understand relocation doesn't offer the same value as expansion. Nor do they understand how tv contracts work and the strict requirements of the networks in regards to market size and more importantly for those who think one of those franchises will move to Canada...the current deal REQUIRES 23 U.S. based teams in specific markets and change constitutes breach of contract. The NHL isn't interested in pissing off their biggest supply of money or risk being sued. So that leaves expansion. Seattle is a natural and obvious choice as they have met with Seattle officials (they being both Bettman and Daly) many times over the past 3 years discussing arena options, potential owners and possible alignment with the unbalanced divisions now. They need west cities and Seattle has a strong hockey community (lower minors and local rinks/leagues), a natural potential rival (Vancouver), have potential major business sponsors and fits the need of network contracts based on market size (the ONLY barometer networks care about). I have posted here many times that we will hear expansion uttered by Bettman by the end of this season with teams entering more probably in 2016 but possibly next year. Seattle will be one team and one city in Canada surely gets the other (Quebec most likely) and then with the 5 year "opt out" looming in Arizona the league will explore "relocation" fee's for the Coyotes and Panthers once they establish the new expansion franchises (and of course honor the opt out deal in Glendale). We will know soon but it will happen....too much money at stake for some greedy owners to not allow this.



@Leafsfan...actually they have held multiple discussions with Don Levin (they being Daly & Bettman along with Seattle government officials) about potential ownership. Don is known to be favored among current NHL owners, he is a known commodity and has friendships with some current owners plus he owns the Chicago Wolves so he has a solid hockey background. They also had options with or without the Hansen group building an arena and now have tax dollars aligned to finance a new barn and they currently have 2 less than desirable but feasible short term options available in the meantime. As for seat selling proof they must first officially announce a legal agreement before either an ownership group, government officials or the NHL itself start a promotional exploratory committee. Daly was very open early in the summer when confronted about meetings with Seattle officials and Don Levin along with talks to the Hansen group that there were in fact multiple communications ongoing between the NHL and Seattle interests although he wouldn't confirm what was being discussed (speculation at first was "plan B" if Glendale didn't meet the demands of corporate welfare to keep the Coyotes, then onto a multi use arena housing an NBA team for Hansen and an NHL team for another ownership group). And the city gave a huge clue when they approved the Hansen deal financial contingent on landing an NBA team and more money if the NHL would confirm interest in locating there. Unless Bettman confirmed for them interest they wouldn't pay the bigger sum, they agreed to pay the bigger sum based on their belief they would potentially get an NBA AND NHL franchise. Big clue right there. I didn't read the article and I am sure there is plenty of speculation and conjecture but a lot of it is based on people in Seattle already being aware of the details up to this point.....the missing link is now there is talk of expansion fee's. Don Levin when asked about the Coyotes situation said flat out in an interview that his talks with the NHL were about an expansion franchise and not a relocation project so this makes sense to what was previously known.

Answer 2

The article doesn't list an actual owner nor specifics on an arena. The NHL is going to want both. Plus, some sort of demonstrated demand for the market to support an NHL franchise (buying tickets, ad revenue, club/premium seats/suites at NHL prices). The article reads like a whole lot of speculation.

Answer 3

Oh I hope so! Seattle really needs a team! I think Phoenix and Florida should stay put. We should add a team to the Pacific and Central divisions. Seattle to the Pacific and maybe Houston in the Central. 32 teams and even conferences.

Answer 4

hopefully not. 30 teams are more than enough. Also, Seattle has a team just a 2:30 hour drive away from it.

Answer 5

I hope so... i would think the best places for a hockey expansion would be... seattle, toronto(2nd team), hamilton, quebec city, and wisconsin

Answer 6

Seattle will probably be getting Phenix or Florida. I don't see them expanding when these two cites are not doing well and will probably never recover.