With the NHL’s expansion into Las Vegas so far going about as well as anyone could have hoped, with the team succeeding both on the ice and in the ticket booth many eyes are looking for the next landing spot around North America. Seattle has long been expected to be a player for an expansion franchise, and with this fall’s proposal for a $600MM arena being voted on next month we could expect an answer soon. That plan always had 2020 as a potential opening for the arena, and today, according to Chris Daniels of King 5 News, a member of Seattle City Council suggested that 2020 could even be the NHL timeline.
I just want to flag, that I’m struggling during budget season to keep up with the complexity of (the deal), and I have tried to dig into it, but I gotta say the budget is taking all of my attention. I’m feeling very squeezed on the timeline, that we’re supposed to vote this out of.
I recognize that it is driven by a construction timeline designed to deliver an NHL team in 2020, the fall of 2020.
Obviously even this suggestion doesn’t guarantee NHL hockey in Seattle to start the 2020-21 season. Far from it in fact, as the vote approving the proposal hasn’t even happened yet, and Daniels is quick to point out that the NHL and Oak View Group—the financial group led by former Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke and billionaire David Bonderman responsible for the proposal—have not made a promise to bring professional hockey to Seattle.
It is also important to note that even if Seattle does approve the proposal, complete construction and get an NHL franchise, it will not necessarily be through expansion. Though obviously it would be ideal to have all 31 current franchises financially stable, that’s not necessarily the situation the NHL finds itself in. The New York Islanders are locked in a battle for a new home, waiting on the outcome of their own proposal, while the Calgary Flames have had a very public spat with mayor Naheed Nenshi over their next home. There are also always doubts in Arizona and Carolina, where teams struggle to sell tickets and have had ownership issues in the past. Relocation is not imminent, but could become a viable strategy for Seattle by the time they’re ready to buy a franchise.
For now, the Seattle City Council is focused on resolving the proposal matter before the end of the year, and will be a very interesting situation to monitor over the next few months.
I don’t see Carolina relocating. The only relocation they should consider for the Canes would be going from Raleigh to Charlotte. Get away from the colleges where nobody can afford to go to an NHL game and into the city with the money.
Why they went to Raleigh is beyond me. Charlotte has gone from country to thriving and constantly growing city. You move out of Carolina all together and it’s going to be awhile before you see hockey between Florida and Pennsylvania.
Vive les Nordiques! Seattle? No. Vive les Nordiques!