A few days after the Seattle City Council approved a $600 million renovation of KeyArena with an intent to receive an NHL franchise, the NHL has made a statement.
Gary Bettman has announced that the NHL is open to the expansion process for a team in Seattle.
The process will likely be similar to the Vegas Golden Knights expansion. The expansion team in Seattle will cost $650 million, while Vegas was $500 million. If Seattle franchise works out, the team will not begin playing until the 2020-21 season.
As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Seattle is allowed to host a season-ticket drive to gauge interest, but it is not a guarantee that a team will come to fruition.
SEA: looking at 2020-21. Have asked to file application to expand. League has agreed and will allow a season-ticket drive. But Bettman says this is not guarantee of a team
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 7, 2017
The NHL is focused on evening out the conferences to 16 teams each before expanding more teams in the East. This rules out Quebec City, who hasn’t had a team since the Nordiques left in 1995.
Bettman says he doesn't know where this leaves Quebec City other than to say right now they're only looking at Seattle for possible expansion. Points to geography and chance to balance the conferences
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 7, 2017
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly: I don’t think this has any impact on Quebec City. We have said we need another team in the West before going East
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 7, 2017
Calgary and Arizona are still struggling with arena problems, but the NHL will see how Seattle’s ticket drive goes before ever considering relocating one of those teams to Washington state.
Bettman says expansion application for Seattle is basically the same as #Vegas except for price BUT also may consider option for relocation in 2020-21 if it comes to that instead. #TSN
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 7, 2017
Headline Image: Oak View Group
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