The NHL’s board of governors approved an expansion team in the city on Wednesday, the league’s 31st team and the latest expansion since the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild entered the league in the 2000-01 season. On Wednesday, Las Vegas received its first major pro sports team after a morning vote by the league’s Board of Governors.
Advertisement
“Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world and the flawless venue for professional sports”.
Bettman said there is no official plan to re-address Quebec’s bid at a certain date, but he noted that the group is on the NHL’s radar. Such players also may be deemed exempt from selection by the League. The Phoenix market is most notable in this scenario because many people both inside and outside the hockey media including hard core fans of the league to the casual observer feel that the NHL should have relocated the Coyotes franchise years ago.
As NHL commissioner Gary Bettman joked, it was much too warm to consider hosting an outdoor hockey game, let alone walking across the strip without being soaked in sweat.
The Las Vegas franchise may not buy out any of the players selected in the Expansion Draft earlier than the summer following its first season. “We’re dedicated to it. We’ll leave no stone unturned in our dedication, in our pursuit of hockey for Las Vegas, not only for our team, but for the community”.
The counterpoint though is that almost every expansion by a “Big Four” sports league is a risk-filled proposition. Vegas beat out Quebec City for the franchise spot. The NHL expanding its league to 31 teams is expected to be only the beginning of professional sports teams moving to Las Vegas. Moreover, the league’s geographic imbalance with 16 teams already in the Eastern Conference and 14 – now to be 15 – teams in the Western Conference undermined the achievement of that objective relative to Quebec City’s application, as well. This relevancy is the easiest way to continue to sell tickets in a new market in any sport.
The league is going all in on Las Vegas. However, if a team is in violation of Expansion Draft rules, Vegas could acquire additional players due to the penalty.
For Las Vegas, it’s the first major sports team in Sin City, but probably won’t be the last one.
Bill Foley, a billionaire businessman who made his fortune in finance, has spearheaded the Vegas bid for the past two and a half years.
“Well, Las Vegas we did it”, Foley said. Please see our terms of service for more information.
Bettman said the expansion fee for the new team will be $500 million.
So, with that in mind, here’s how the NHL Expansion Draft will break down.
Jeremy Jacobs called Quebec City a strong candidate for future expansion.
It was a massive blow to a city that has not had an National Hockey League team since their beloved Nordiques left for Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995.
They had fan support, a lovely brand new local arena, and stable ownership in Quebecor.
Advertisement
Bettman used Auston Matthews, an Arizona native who is the likely top pick in Friday’s NHL Draft, as an example of how hockey can succeed in the desert.
