NHL Expansion 2015

The NHL is one step closer to establishing expansion teams in Las Vegas and Quebec City. The league announced recently it has received applications from prospective ownership groups in both markets, a day after a deadline for submissions.
The Las Vegas bid was submitted by billionaire businessman Bill Foley, who has spent the past seven months exploring the level of interest for professional hockey in the community. A new arena is under construction on the Las Vegas strip and is set to open in the spring of 2016.
Montreal-based Quebecor, a Canadian media and telecommunications giant, submitted the bid for Quebec City to bring the Nordiques back. Quebecor manages the Videotron Centre, which will host a pre-season game between the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins in September.
There are at least two more steps in the expansion process, and the bids require approval from the NHL's Board of Governors. The league doesn't anticipate adding teams before the 2017-18 season. The proposed expansion fee is at least $500 million.


Quebec City and Las Vegas are now at the forefront of the NHL expansion movement. Owners in those two cities were the only ones to submit expansion applications before the deadline, the league has confirmed. The NHL said it received requests from and sent applications to 16 different groups or individuals. Ownership groups in the Toronto and Seattle areas considered applying but ultimately did not.
The NHL said the intent of the expansion process was to "set realistic guideposts to distinguish between bona fide expressions of interest ... from those indications of potential interest which were, at best, merely hopes or aspirations. Apparently, only Mr. Foley and Quebecor have the confidence in their ability to secure an arena and suitable ownership capability to move forward with this process."

The NHL intends to focus "exclusively" on Las Vegas and Quebec now that the applications have been submitted. Quite how that will realistically work is anyone's guess. I have long been championing for NHL teams in the major markets of Seattle and Houston. Both cities would fit perfectly geographically for the seven-team divisions in the west. I am very sceptical of a bid from Las Vegas. A city built on tourism and gambling. How many of those would tear themselves away from the roulette wheel to take in a struggling hockey team in the Desert? Just look at the Phoenix Coyotes, quite possibly the worst ran franchise in the NHL, constantly struggling to get fans through the door and quality out on the ice. If Arizona has struggled with hockey over the last 19 years, what makes Nevada think they can do any better? Of course Vegas would fit in the Pacific Division easily enough but what of Quebec?
There will be few people happier than me if the Nordiques return. I think every hockey fans wants to see that. For that to happen though, will require another divisional re-alignment. Quebec would have to take their place in the Atlantic Division, meaning Detroit will probably be asked to move back to the Central Division. The Red Wings spent years pushing for a move to the east, I cant see them giving that up after just a few seasons.
I have the feeling both these are far from done deals, but a potential expansion is certainly an exciting prospect.





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