[Rumour] NHL to expand to 34 teams? Houston and Atlanta

[WCW Nitro]

I would go with San Diego and Virgina Beach/Norfolk for expansion.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

As if the talent pool wasn’t watered down enough already… omg

There’s more talent in the league than ever. Talent would not be an issue with expansion. Finding cities that can actually support a team would be the issue.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Someone will put up huge honey for another Southern Ontario team. Expansion fee PLUS a sizeable territorial sum to MLSE.

Massive market.

Makes sense but with the Leafs territory rights I highly doubt they allow anything within 50 miles. One place that could pull it off is London, there are already plans drawn up to expand Budweiser Gardens to make it a larger arena. It holds 10,000 now but they could expand it to fit 19,000.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by WCW Nitro

I would go with San Diego and Virgina Beach/Norfolk for expansion.

Both would need a new arena.

[InternationalVillager]

I think Atlanta will work this time around. Worlds changed.

[metroneck]

Houston should work. It has a pretty strong minor hockey scene, especially for a non-traditional market, or an NHL supporting it.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Mexico City would be more in line for a MLB, NFL or even a NBA franchise long before any hockey happens.

Obviously more true for Mexico City than Vegas, but interesting that this is exactly what was brought up when the initial Vegas NHL discussion came up in the early 2010's.

"Yeah right, you'll see any other major sport bring a team there before the NHL". "Vegas would be a huge mistake, barely anyone plays hockey there and there's so many better things to do with your money".

[WCW Nitro]

Originally Posted by getbak

Both would need a new arena.

Yes, but I think those two markets have a good combo of decent population size/lack of other sports competition.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Have you tried having a sense of humour? Give it a shot, it’s fun.

An E5 joke and an illogical Ponzi Scheme analogy? An Orange Julius joke next? Or someone doing the weather? Hilarious! Say something funny and I'll laugh.

But, yeah, you clearly find humor in "The Simpsons", so we're different.

[Blaster86]

Butterfly, is in fact, not like most girls.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Butterfly, is in fact, not like most girls.

What does that mean?

[Blaster86]

It means most girls are all just sort of one way and you're not like them.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

It means most girls are all just sort of one way and you're not like them.

What are you talking about? Do you have an issue with something I said?

[Blaster86]

I'm talking about how you're different than most girls because you're not like them.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

I'm talking about how you're different than most girls because you're not like them.

Please explain?

[Bunk]

To me, by far the most logical city to expand would be Austin. The largest city in the US by far to have no major sports franchise. Fast growing with people from all over the place, relatively wealthy. Could build a loyal fan base quickly.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Please explain?

I think he’s saying that if you grouped together most girls, whether figuratively or literally, and then grouped together people who weren’t like most girls, you’d be in the second group.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Please explain?

Well, okay like. A lot of the girls are just sort of one way and you're just sort of the other way because you're not like them, you see?


Edit - Pepsifree understands.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by butterfly

New York having 3 teams and Toronto having 1 makes no sense.

Houston and Atlanta are huge places, but so is Dallas, and even they have fairly pedestrian interest until the playoffs. 3 sports radio stations there and they rarely talk about the Stars.

Uhhh.. not sure if serious?
New York only has 2 hockey teams . Long Island has a population of 8 million people. Long Island not part of New York City . Only Brooklyn and Quenns are . That makes it very easy to sustain 2 seperate hockey teams.

Toronto doesn't need 2 teams is not even 6 million people in the Greater Toronto area. He'll the Actual city of Toronto is barely over 2 million

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Uhhh.. not sure if serious?
New York only has 2 hockey teams . Long Island has a population of 8 million people. Long Island not part of New York City . Only Brooklyn and Quenns are . That makes it very easy to sustain 2 seperate hockey teams.

Toronto doesn't need 2 teams is not even 6 million people in the Greater Toronto area. He'll the Actual city of Toronto is barely over 2 million

New York has 3. Devils, Rangers, Islanders. Brooklyn and Queens are...on Long Island. Toronto has over 6 million people who tend to be more into hockey than New York people. Maybe ask Stephen A. Smith how many teams should be in each place since he said the Rangers don't even count as a major New York team?