NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke to the media tonight, following the NHL Board of Governors meeting, and filled in many of the blanks regarding major league story lines in Seattle and Carolina. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun were among many in attendance to run through the long list of Bettman’s answers.
Following the recent approval by the city of Seattle to build a new arena in hopes of recruiting NHL and NBA teams to the city, there has been no bigger story around the league than the possibility of another expansion franchise in the near future. The proposal included a projected cost of $660MM to construct the arena, but according to Bettman, that will be only half the cost to join the NHL. Bettman confirmed this evening that the Board of Governors has agreed that they will accept an expansion application from the Seattle group, led by billionaire businessman David Bonderman, but that the board has set the expansion fee at $650MM, which is $150MM more than what Bill Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights just recently paid. Bettman clarified that the application also does not guarantee that a team will be placed in Seattle.
However, it certainly seems like a plan is in motion, with an eye on the 2020-21 season. Bettman specifically mentioned that the Seattle group may begin a ticket drive, similar to the one that found great success in Las Vegas. He also was clear that the league would not be accepting bids from any other cities, despite concrete interest from Quebec City and Houston among others. He also says that – as of now – there are no teams that the league sees as re-location candidates. The conference balance that the Seattle market would bring, in addition to a city with hockey history, seems to make Seattle a perfect market for expansion.
Speaking of re-location, the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t going anywhere. Bettman confirmed the report that Tom Durndon has signed the purchase agreement to buy up the majority share of the ’Canes from Peter Karmanos, but added the stern caveat that “this is not a team that will be moved.” Durndon will take on 52% of the team’s shares, with Karmanos holding on to 48% and Durndon having the option to buy the remaining shares over three years. The sale is not quite done yet, but should be in the books soon, with Durndon vowing to keep the team in Raleigh once he is in control.
It costs 650 million just to ask for a team? Thats a joke if its true
They get money back if they aren’t awarded a team
Thats what i figured
Anybody interested in purchasing an NHL team with me?
Give me several days, acarn, while I work out my finances. But things are looking up & I think that we could pull this off. As long as the price stays around 850 million we will be good to go.
You wanna bring the Super Sonics back to Seattle as well PK?
Yeah Acarn, I think that we are in a good enough situation to make that happen as well.
I just made some money reffing basketball tonight, I’ll put that up! I’m in baby!
While we’re at it let’s just throw a lot of money around in Free Agency.
Let’s get Crosby, Ovi, Lundqvist for the NHL team and LeBron, Steph, KD for the Super Sonics
Since Bettman said he won’t take one from Houston; guess I’ll hold onto my 650 mil for something else.
Hey Van, why don’t you put in your share to help us out. It would be so much easier on myself & Acarn if you helped out.
650 mill what is that like 12 bit coins?
This is off topic but how does bitcoin even work?? It kind of seems to me like people have just decided to start accepting Monopoly money as currency, but there must be more to it then that haha
Seattle Metropolitans were the first US team to win the Stanley Cup.
They need to both reclaim the old name AND raise a banner celebrating the Cup win the way the Senators have banners from the 1920’s.
Did you just give away your age, Josh? No, just kidding but that is pretty impressive that you even knew that bit of trivia. That is also an outstanding idea about reclaiming the old name.
That’s a cool name
Milwaukee needs a team Wisconsin is a huge hockey state