U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin set to bring NHL franchise to surprising location
Photo credit: hatchwise
News of NHL expansion has been reported during the offseason, but we've not seen a development towards a 36-team league until now.
ESPN reporter Emily Kaplan reported today that the NHL has begun discussion of another expansion period in the NHL.
Several cities want to hop on the bandwagon to help grow the sport after they've seen the success of Vegas, Seattle, and Utah.
Now, next in could be Houston for a new NHL team.
According to Emily Kaplan of ESPN:
«Billionaire Dan Friedkin has emerged as strong ownership candidate to bring NHL to Houston.»
She added: «NHL has met with The Friedkin Group several times as league fields interest on potential expansion.»
She added: «NHL has met with The Friedkin Group several times as league fields interest on potential expansion.»
Friedkin was reported as one of the interested parties in the recent Boston Celtics and would lose the team to a group of investors led by Bill Chisholm.
The managing partner of Symphony Technology Group would buy the team from the Boston Basketball Partners, LLC led by co-owners Wyc Grousebeck and Steve Pagliuca for $6.1 billion.
With the loss of the Celtic's franchise, he has now changed his sights on an NHL franchise.
ESPN's Kaplan has reported that the Friedkin Group has met with Gary Bettman and the NHL several times and could utilize his connections in the NBA to find his way into the ownership of a hockey club.
The group currently has a stake of ownership in the Premiere League's Everton FC, and Serie A's AS Roma in Italy.
Houston would be a big market for the NHL to penetrate as they already have the NFL and NBA in the area with the Houston Rockets, and Houston Texans.
With the 2024-2025 Board of Governors meeting concluded, the group voted not to expand in 2025-2026, so Friedkin and company may have to wait until the 2025-2026 season to begin serious discussion.
Could Houston be the next big NHL market?
| POLL | ||
MARS 21 | 488 ANSWERS U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin set to bring NHL franchise to surprising location Do you think Gary Bettman and the NHL will bring a team to this surprising expansion location? | ||
| Yes | 298 | 61.1 % |
| No | 190 | 38.9 % |
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