[Rumour] Austin Texas throws hat into NHL expansion ring. Expansion fee hits $2 billion

[WCW Nitro]

Hope the jersey is the Austin 3:16 logo

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The NHL has been telling prospective expansion teams that if they don't have a suitable arena they need to have an additional $1 billion in funds for a new arena.

Yeah the days of a group of business people like Scurfield, Kwong and others buying the Flames from Skalbania are a distant memory.

Only a very few people have the kind of wealth to plunk down for a pro sports franchise.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by getbak

Except for Houston, all of those cities would need new buildings.

The NBA arenas in Indy and New Orleans are both smaller basketball-only arenas with small capacity for hockey (if they even have ice making capabilities at all).

Why couldn’t Smoothie King in NOLA be made to work? It’s not that small.

Although NHL in that market makes very little sense. You’d need some incredibly rich dude who doesn’t remotely care about the economics.

[Krynn]

NEW ORLEANS !!! Seems like a odd choice but an interesting one 2,I am willing to bet it's guarantee done deal for Atlanta to return and Phoenix the NHL is just keeping it under wraps.

[FBI]

What happened to Quebec and Hamilton as interested?

[Finger Cookin]

Remember the 1970s when any random dude with a bad toupee could start an entire pro sports league, let alone own a professional sports franchise? My how times have changed.

I can see the argument for being the big fish in the small(er) pond, I can see the argument for getting into the biggest markets available. If the league expands in the next 3-5 seasons, Atlanta seems like a given. Then it feels like it will be a showdown between Houston and Austin. Don't think the other names cities, or any city yet to be named, will emerge as a true potential market in that time frame.

Should be interesting to watch it unfold.

Originally Posted by FBI

What happened to Quebec and Hamilton as interested?

The interest wasn't mutual.

[Toonage]

There will never be another Canadian team. Not even via relocation.

[Trojan97]

Austin would be amazing

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Toonage

There will never be another Canadian team. Not even via relocation.

There will be a team in Phoenix before they add one in Canada

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by doublek

there will be a team in phoenix before they add one in canada

100%

[Reggie Dunlop]

The Austin Weird

[Texas Blueliner]

Would love to have a team in Austin, assuming the Longhorn overlords allow it. Bring back the Ice Bats

[troutman]

Originally Posted by getbak

Austin is the largest city in the US (or Canada) without any major league sports teams.

True, if “Inland Empire” of California is not included - the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, and bordering Los Angeles County and Orange County to the west and San Diego County to the south.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Toonage

There will never be another Canadian team. Not even via relocation.

I won a lot of bets on that promise.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by troutman

I won a lot of bets on that promise.

Did you steal Doc's DeLorean?

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Austin is a fun city. I would go there to watch the Flames

Yeah, if I were back travelling to the US, for sure would head there.
Between the food coma and Still Austin whiskey, I don't know if I'd remember the game!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Austin is a fun city. I would go there to watch the Flames

I have it on reasonable authority that Austin is merely replete with drunks with pickups that are potentially broken down and cowboy boots that inexplicably appear to stop working, however, there are further allegations that the whiskey does indeed flow, those allegations are as of yet unconfirmed.

And line-dancing. If thats your bag.

[WideReceiver]

That’s a lot of money and 40(?) is a lot of teams. The NHL seems bent on killing the league. They don’t care how expensive tickets are if we keep buying them.

[Strange Brew]

I don’t mind having a lot of teams and different cities to potentially travel to for an out of town game. But simple math just means it becomes less and less likely that your team can win it all.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by troutman

I won a lot of bets on that promise.

One in 2011 and one in 1992 I suppose. Unless you bet multiple people each time