NHL to announce opening of expansion process

[APOD]

Sportsnet Chris Johnston June 24, 2015, 1:05 PM

LAS VEGAS — The time has come. The NHL is ready to expand beyond 30 teams.

Barring something unforeseen, commissioner Gary Bettman will emerge from today’s board of governors meeting at the Bellagio Hotel and announce that the league is opening a formal expansion process, according to several sources.

It will be the first time the league has grown since the Atlanta Thrashers joined in 1999.The NHL expanded aggressively during that era, going from 21 to 30 teams over a span of nine years. Most of that growth happened under former president John Ziegler.

Bettman is expected to leave the process open-ended: The NHL is ready to entertain bids, but won't commit to a specific number of teams. It will likely end up being two, but no guarantees will be made.

The significance of the announcement being made in Las Vegas shouldn't be lost on anyone. An arena is well on its way to completion here just off the strip behind the New York-New York casino and prospective owner Bill Foley has taken deposits for more than 11,500 season tickets.

Foley's group has consulted with Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman over the last several months on how to conduct a ticket drive and follow proper league protocol.

Las Vegas is going to get a NHL team. There will be competition for the other spot, with Seattle and Quebec City among the favourites to land it.

Launching a formal expansion process will encourage interested parties to come forward and put their cards on the table. It should also be a major windfall for the league, with several governors believing a fee of at least $500 million per team is in order.

Bettman first hinted at the formal expansion process when he met reporters two weeks ago during the Stanley Cup final.

"If after our discussion in June where I'm going to report where all of the expressions of interest stand, including what Las Vegas has been able to accomplish with the ticket drive, if the board has any interest in pursuing it, my recommendation would then be to open a formal expansion process," he said then. "The board may say, 'That's interesting, but we still don't want to do anything.' That's an option. And even if they green light a formal expansion process, it doesn't mean we're going to expand. It means we'll go through the steps of looking through things, and the conclusion at the end of that process could be very well, no expansion.

"So it would just be a question of possibly looking at the expressions of interest and looking at them a little more seriously than we have."

According to numerous sources, that is about to happen. The NHL is now ready to open its doors and expand beyond 30 teams but it will take baby steps in the beginning.

No guarantees, no specific number of seats being offered at the table.

However, Bettman is about to make it clear that if you want to own a new franchise the time to step forward and make your plans known is now.

Let the games begin.

[ecbm]

Just a day full of bad ideas from the NHL.

Yep, let's water down the talent pool again so we can see if we can convince people who aren't into hockey (compare their ST drive to Winnipeg's) to watch the sport.

I'm sure this franchise will be just as wildly successful as Phoenix/Arizona, Carolina, Florida...

[dmiles2186]

I'm only okay with this if Seattle and Quebec are added.

[Kerfuffle]

Well we knew it was gonna happen given that we have 2 less teams in our conference. I would like to see Seattle and Las Vegas - I don't want another Canadien team.

[STLADOGG]

Las Vegas??? Why in the hell Las Vegas? God I hate the NHL. It should be Quebec City/ Seattle/ Portland/ hell even Kansas City or Toronto V2.

[glen a richter]

Meh, just two more teams who will win a Cup before the Blues

[ComradeT]

Let's hear it for Walla Walla Wallabies!

Seriously though, I'd expect them to figure out what to do with Coyotes before expanding. That said, why not have a team in Wisconsin or Iowa?

Billings Vipers, anyone?

[ComradeT]

Well we knew it was gonna happen given that we have 2 less teams in our conference. I would like to see Seattle and Las Vegas - I don't want another Canadien team.

Your sentiment makes perfect sense - who would want hockey players to actually play in their country?! Blasphemy!

[glen a richter]

Since this shit is inevitable, they need to correct a wrong by giving Quebec back a team, and naming them, appropriately, the Nordiques (whilst simultaneously reviving one of the best sweaters in NHL history).

Las Vegas is another inevitability, I'm sorry to say. I'd rather they put a team in (Franking) Juneau and have the teams deal with the damn travel.

[xbleed83bluex]

http://nypost.com/2015/06/30/arizona-co ... new-owner/

NY Post is reporting Coyotes are moving to Las Vegas.

[glen a richter]

The day the shitrag known as the NY Post tells the truth about anything will be a cold cold day.

[WaukeeBlues]

Las Vegas??? Why in the hell Las Vegas? God I hate the NHL. It should be Quebec City/ Seattle/ Portland/ hell even Kansas City or Toronto V2.

To Foley's credit, the more I've read or heard on the radio about the research he has put into the viability of an NHL team in Las Vegas, the more I'm convinced an NHL team in Vegas could actually succeed.

It's really no different than Arizona when you think about it. And in the ways it's different it's for better financial reasons. Despite the fact there's a lot of "transient" population in Vegas, lots of people who live there or are snowbirds in the winter months originally hail from the East Coast/ up north where hockey is popular but the weather is shitty in the winter.

New arena is being built, sounds like a doozy.

Casinos and entertainment venues would likely scoop up tickets had over fist to wine/dine/entertain, so the odds that any luxury suite would be empty on any game night is slim to zero.

The money is there, apparently the interest is there with the 10,000 tickets reserved thing... it could happen. Sounds like it's going to.

[gaijin]

Las Vegas??? Why in the hell Las Vegas? God I hate the NHL. It should be Quebec City/ Seattle/ Portland/ hell even Kansas City or Toronto V2.

To Foley's credit, the more I've read or heard on the radio about the research he has put into the viability of an NHL team in Las Vegas, the more I'm convinced an NHL team in Vegas could actually succeed.

It's really no different than Arizona when you think about it. And in the ways it's different it's for better financial reasons. Despite the fact there's a lot of "transient" population in Vegas, lots of people who live there or are snowbirds in the winter months originally hail from the East Coast/ up north where hockey is popular but the weather is shitty in the winter.

New arena is being built, sounds like a doozy.

Casinos and entertainment venues would likely scoop up tickets had over fist to wine/dine/entertain, so the odds that any luxury suite would be empty on any game night is slim to zero.

The money is there, apparently the interest is there with the 10,000 tickets reserved thing... it could happen. Sounds like it's going to.

What? This happened last week at the Bellagio? I was freakin there last week for a conference. I should have gone and raised hell.

I always thought Vegas could be a viable market, especially if the NHL puts a team there before the other major team sports. In the business world, it's called being a first mover (taking advantage of being the first to enter a market no one else is currently in). There's enough money floating around to make a team profitable, and Vegas actually is a fairly large city (lots of people actually live there), so I think there is a large enough population to create a fanbase. Plus, like Waukee said, there are plenty of opportunities for marketing/ticket giveaways to bring in transient/casual hockey fans.

Las Vegas Hitmen? Gamblers? Or stick with Coyotes?

[ComradeT]

Las Vegas??? Why in the hell Las Vegas? God I hate the NHL. It should be Quebec City/ Seattle/ Portland/ hell even Kansas City or Toronto V2.

To Foley's credit, the more I've read or heard on the radio about the research he has put into the viability of an NHL team in Las Vegas, the more I'm convinced an NHL team in Vegas could actually succeed.

It's really no different than Arizona when you think about it. And in the ways it's different it's for better financial reasons. Despite the fact there's a lot of "transient" population in Vegas, lots of people who live there or are snowbirds in the winter months originally hail from the East Coast/ up north where hockey is popular but the weather is shitty in the winter.

New arena is being built, sounds like a doozy.

Casinos and entertainment venues would likely scoop up tickets had over fist to wine/dine/entertain, so the odds that any luxury suite would be empty on any game night is slim to zero.

The money is there, apparently the interest is there with the 10,000 tickets reserved thing... it could happen. Sounds like it's going to.

What? This happened last week at the Bellagio? I was freakin there last week for a conference. I should have gone and raised hell.

I always thought Vegas could be a viable market, especially if the NHL puts a team there before the other major team sports. In the business world, it's called being a first mover (taking advantage of being the first to enter a market no one else is currently in). There's enough money floating around to make a team profitable, and Vegas actually is a fairly large city (lots of people actually live there), so I think there is a large enough population to create a fanbase. Plus, like Waukee said, there are plenty of opportunities for marketing/ticket giveaways to bring in transient/casual hockey fans.

Las Vegas Hitmen? Gamblers? Or stick with Coyotes?

Las Vegas Showgirls have my vote.

[ecbm]

Las Vegas??? Why in the hell Las Vegas? God I hate the NHL. It should be Quebec City/ Seattle/ Portland/ hell even Kansas City or Toronto V2.

Because Bettman's grand vision for the NHL in the 21st century is for it to be a replica of the NBA in the 80s/90s. New markets gotta be obscure, doncha know?

Bunch of f'ing grifters.

Meh, just two more teams who will win a Cup before the Blues

Probably.

[gaijin]

Las Vegas??? Why in the hell Las Vegas? God I hate the NHL. It should be Quebec City/ Seattle/ Portland/ hell even Kansas City or Toronto V2.

To Foley's credit, the more I've read or heard on the radio about the research he has put into the viability of an NHL team in Las Vegas, the more I'm convinced an NHL team in Vegas could actually succeed.

It's really no different than Arizona when you think about it. And in the ways it's different it's for better financial reasons. Despite the fact there's a lot of "transient" population in Vegas, lots of people who live there or are snowbirds in the winter months originally hail from the East Coast/ up north where hockey is popular but the weather is shitty in the winter.

New arena is being built, sounds like a doozy.

Casinos and entertainment venues would likely scoop up tickets had over fist to wine/dine/entertain, so the odds that any luxury suite would be empty on any game night is slim to zero.

The money is there, apparently the interest is there with the 10,000 tickets reserved thing... it could happen. Sounds like it's going to.

What? This happened last week at the Bellagio? I was freakin there last week for a conference. I should have gone and raised hell.

I always thought Vegas could be a viable market, especially if the NHL puts a team there before the other major team sports. In the business world, it's called being a first mover (taking advantage of being the first to enter a market no one else is currently in). There's enough money floating around to make a team profitable, and Vegas actually is a fairly large city (lots of people actually live there), so I think there is a large enough population to create a fanbase. Plus, like Waukee said, there are plenty of opportunities for marketing/ticket giveaways to bring in transient/casual hockey fans.

Las Vegas Hitmen? Gamblers? Or stick with Coyotes?

Las Vegas Showgirls have my vote.

But what about the team name?

[ComradeT]

Las Vegas??? Why in the hell Las Vegas? God I hate the NHL. It should be Quebec City/ Seattle/ Portland/ hell even Kansas City or Toronto V2.

To Foley's credit, the more I've read or heard on the radio about the research he has put into the viability of an NHL team in Las Vegas, the more I'm convinced an NHL team in Vegas could actually succeed.

It's really no different than Arizona when you think about it. And in the ways it's different it's for better financial reasons. Despite the fact there's a lot of "transient" population in Vegas, lots of people who live there or are snowbirds in the winter months originally hail from the East Coast/ up north where hockey is popular but the weather is shitty in the winter.

New arena is being built, sounds like a doozy.

Casinos and entertainment venues would likely scoop up tickets had over fist to wine/dine/entertain, so the odds that any luxury suite would be empty on any game night is slim to zero.

The money is there, apparently the interest is there with the 10,000 tickets reserved thing... it could happen. Sounds like it's going to.

What? This happened last week at the Bellagio? I was freakin there last week for a conference. I should have gone and raised hell.

I always thought Vegas could be a viable market, especially if the NHL puts a team there before the other major team sports. In the business world, it's called being a first mover (taking advantage of being the first to enter a market no one else is currently in). There's enough money floating around to make a team profitable, and Vegas actually is a fairly large city (lots of people actually live there), so I think there is a large enough population to create a fanbase. Plus, like Waukee said, there are plenty of opportunities for marketing/ticket giveaways to bring in transient/casual hockey fans.

Las Vegas Hitmen? Gamblers? Or stick with Coyotes?

Las Vegas Showgirls have my vote.

But what about the team name?

Oh the hell with it. Las Vegas Magic Mikes!

[gaijin]

Expansion bid deadline was yesterday. Vegas and Quebec submitted bids. Seattle did not.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck- ... 32116.html

Signs point toward the Las Vegas Black Knights. I guess it's not bad. Certainly better than the Wild (which still sounds like a MLS name to me).

The comm support for my unit is the Black Knights (unit patch below). I could see some variation on the chess piece outline as the main logo.

[WaukeeBlues]

Kinda surprised Seattle didn't submit a bid.

Now with two new teams coming in the whole west and east situation comes right back into play. I can't fathom how they don't put Quebec in the east. What then? Switch Columbus or Detroit back to the west?

[ecbm]

Signs point toward the Las Vegas Black Knights. I guess it's not bad.

Will they have a mascot that looks like this?

Certainly better than the Wild

True, but that would be the case even if they were the Las Vegas Feces. And don't insult the MLS-they have enough problems.