Billionaire Seeks NHL Expansion Team in Houston

The NHL has engaged in discussions with a group led by billionaire Dan Friedkin regarding a potential expansion franchise in Houston, deputy commissioner Bill Daly stated in an email to The Associated Press on Thursday night.

Friedkin, whose net worth is estimated at $6.4 billion by Forbes, recently acquired a 98.8% stake in English Premier League club Everton.

Alongside his son Ryan, the Houston-based Friedkin Group holds investments across the automotive, entertainment, hospitality, and sports industries.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that Friedkin is a leading candidate to get a franchise if the NHL should decide to expand beyond 32 teams. 

Bettman said in September that the NHL would do its due diligence if it should decide to proceed with adding another team.

“If somebody checks all the boxes and wants to move forward, then I’ll take it first to the executive committee and see if there’s an interest,” Bettman said at the time. “What we’re not going to do is what we did in prior times and say ‘(There is) a lot of interest, if you want to file an application, do it by this date and we’ll consider all the applications together.’ This is going to be a one off, if we do it at all.”