The National Hockey League is reportedly considering Austin and Houston as its next expansion markets, according to discussions held at the league's board of governors meeting. ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that the NHL is focusing on these two Texas cities as potential locations for a new team.
This potential expansion would add a 33rd team, or potentially more, to the league, following the successful introductions of the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken in recent years. Atlanta and Quebec City have also been mentioned as potential expansion destinations in the past, along with the possibility of a second team in Toronto. However, the current focus appears to be on Texas, which currently has only one NHL franchise, the Dallas Stars.
Both Austin and Houston have some history with professional hockey. Austin is currently home to the Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, who play in a suburb of the city. Houston previously hosted the Houston Aeros, a team that played in the World Hockey Association in the 1970s and at one point featured hockey legend Gordie Howe.
Factors such as a reported $2 billion expansion fee and market viability will play significant roles in the decision-making process. Austin is noted as the largest market in the country without a team in one of the four major North American sports leagues, presenting an opportunity for the NHL to be the sole major league tenant, a strategy that proved successful in Las Vegas. Houston, on the other hand, is a large television market but would require competing for fan attention and revenue with established professional teams like the Astros (MLB), Rockets (NBA), and Texans (NFL).