Numerous media reports said Tuesday that the National Hockey League has tentatively awarded an expansion team to a Las Vegas group that includes the Maloofs as minority partners. The NHL would likely add the unnamed Las Vegas franchise for the 2017-2018 season.
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With this decision reportedly in place, Foley and his group will pay a $500 million expansion fee and build upon the success of an ongoing season ticket holder drive. They have the arena, as well as the money and the fandom.
Las Vegas has been rumored to be one of the NHL’s most sought after expansion markets for several years.
When asked by Reuters to comment on the news of expansion, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in an email that the league has no comment and are not confirming the report. Quebec City was named as the other finalist for the NHL’s potential expansion, with Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Hamilton (Ontario) also having been named as potential expansion sites before Las Vegas and QC were named as finalists. This would make the Vegas team the NHL’s 31st team, and bring the Western Conference up to 15 teams, versus the 16 in the East.
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Las Vegas has a foot in the door with the recent completion of the $375 million, 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena, tucked off the Strip between New York-New York and Monte Carlo. The Oakland Raiders and owner Mark Davis have expressed interest in moving there, and David Beckham has suggested the MLS could move there as well. Foley has always been the leader, with the league accepting a $2 million deposit and thoroughly vetting his financial plans a year ago. After all, the bid has been put forward by a company called Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, the same name as Foley’s financial services company. Foley also graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, aka the Army Black Knights.
