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NHL Expansion Stakes Skyrocket as League Seeks Billions from Five Contending Cities

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 10:38 AM ET

Per NHL analyst Frank Seravalli, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has informed potential expansion cities that their expansion fee will be considerable.

The National Hockey League already has 32 clubs, but there's a good chance that number could increase before long.

Per Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff, not only has NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman informed potential clubs that their expansion fee will be a hefty $2 billion, but that there are multiple cities interested in expansion, including Auston, Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, and New Orleans.

The League, which informed interested parties that the expansion fee is a tidy $2 billion, updated the Board of Governors at their annual June meeting on Wednesday prior to the Draft. The four cities shared with the BOG are Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis and New Orleans.
The fifth one is Austin, Texas, according to sources, and that entry has generated buzz. Not only is it an exploding, affluent market full of transplants with a built-in geographic rival - but it's also the only one where the NHL can be the first major pro sports league in town, which has been a huge part of their success beating others to the punch in Vegas.

The Vegas Golden Knights, who entered the NHL in 2017, paid an expansion fee of $500 million, while the Seattle Kraken, who entered the NHL in 2021, paid an expansion fee of $650 million.

The success of the Golden Knights began almost immediately, as they qualified for the Stanley Cup Final in their 1st year and have already won the Stanley Cup in less than a decade of existence.

All during this time, fans in Quebec are feeling left out as the NHL apparently refuses to consider the possibility of the Nordiques 2.0.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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