NHL to accept expansion application from Seattle
The National Hockey League has 31 teams, and it appears the 32nd will be playing in Seattle barring any unforeseen issues.
On Thursday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dropped some big news on the hockey world, announcing that the NHL would be accepting an expansion application from the city of Seattle. Bettman also has given potential ownership the opportunity to start a season-ticket drive, according to insider Pierre LeBrun.
Bettman announces that the NHL Board of Governors has agreed to accept/consider an expansion application from Seattle and allow Bonderman group to conduct a season ticket drive
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 7, 2017
Gary Bettman has set a price for Seattle for expansion: $650 million.
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) December 7, 2017
Seattle was always going to be a logical place for further expansion. The city recently was given approval for renovations of KeyArena, something that could also entice an NBA team if the timing is right. KeyArena was originally built in 1962 and was occupied by the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics over three spans, including until the franchise’s relocation following the 2008 season.
As for the NHL, bringing a franchise to Seattle would balance out the two conferences, with the East currently at 16 and the West at 15. The Vegas Golden Knights began operations this season and are in the playoff chase.
Seattle would have a natural rivalry with some of the other teams in the West, particularly those in Western Canada. The Vancouver Canucks are an obvious rival, alongside the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
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There has been no talk of when the Seattle franchise would come to be, only that it would have to pay a fee of $650 million to enter the league. As for potential names, the Seattle Times asked its readers about potential monikers and got a bevy of responses including the Metropolitans, Silvertips, Thunderbirds and Totems. The Metropolitans were actually an NHL team in Seattle in 1917 that won the Stanley Cup.