Houston and Oklahoma City were the two expansion
finalists who were not selected. Among local reaction:
HOUSTON: In Houston, Neil Hohlfeld: "On the day they
were officially bypassed ... for an expansion team,
[prospective owners] Chuck Watson and Bob McNair got up off
the ground, regrouped and started shopping for an existing
team to move to Houston." They said that they will "try to
acquire either the Edmonton Oilers or another of a handful
of teams not identified that are struggling financially."
Watson: "There will be other opportunities aside from
Edmonton over the next several months." Watson said
Commissioner Gary Bettman "encouraged Bob and I to continue
our efforts to bring the NHL to Houston, and we intend to do
that." Hohlfeld: "Houston appears to be getting a second
chance from the NHL to get its arena problems solved and
land a team" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/18). Devils Owner John
McMullen, a member of the Expansion Committee, had
supportive words for Watson and McNair, but said, "I don't
think they got the support from the city that they needed"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/18). In Houston, columnist Mickey
Herskowitz: "Ah, Nashville again. That one hurts" (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 6/18). Houston Mayor Bob Lanier said that
failure to land an NHL expansion team "has halted plans for
a November referendum for a new arena," but that he will
continue to work on an arena proposal in case Houston lands
an expansion team (John Williams, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/19).
OKLAHOMA CITY: The OKLAHOMAN's John Rohde: "In the eyes
of [NHL] expansion committee members, Oklahoma City's
television market is too small to join the big time. ... its
lack of market size was too much to overcome." Mayor Ron
Norick and OK Sports Commission President Clayton Bennett
"confirmed" the city is interested in buying the Oilers.
Norick: "We might have distinguished ourselves more than any
other city" (OKLAHOMAN, 6/18).
WHITHER OILERS? Oilers Owner Peter Pocklington said he
has heard from representatives from both Houston and
Oklahoma City. Pocklington: "I hope and expect to sell the
team here. ... I really don't want to go to Houston or
Oklahoma City to enjoy an Oiler game" (EDMONTON SUN, 6/18).
In Edmonton, Cam Cole: "[N]ot one interested party has
identified itself in Edmonton, to date. The one corporation
you might think would be a natural fit -- Telus --
apparently isn't getting in" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 6/18).
