Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

NHL In Expansion Press Release Takes Subtle Dig At Efforts From Groups In Seattle, Toronto

Quebec City’s NHL expansion hopes yesterday "received another major boost ... when the league confirmed in an entertainingly worded press release that it was one of only two bids for an expansion team submitted before the formal deadline," according to Eric Duhatschek of the GLOBE & MAIL. When the league "sent out an announcement to confirm that applications had been received" from the Quebec group and from Fidelity National Financial Chair Bill Foley's Las Vegas consortium, there was "actually some meat on the bone." It is a "good bet" that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had "grown tired of hearing lofty rhetoric and wanted to see which cities were committed enough to actually write a cheque." The league statement said, "Our purpose, in initiating the expansion process in the manner we did, was not only to explore the possibility of admitting new members to the NHL, but also, at the outset, to set realistic guideposts to distinguish between bona fide expressions of interest (i.e., those which have at least substantial ownership capabilities and an arena or the realistic possibility of an arena) and those indications of potential interest which were, at best, merely hopes or aspirations. Apparently, only Mr. Foley and Quebecor have the confidence in their ability to secure an arena and suitable ownership capability to move forward.” Duhatschek: "Isn’t that great stuff? I particularly love how they have eliminated any groups who were 'at best' merely hopeful or aspirational" (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/22). 

NOT WAITING AROUND: YAHOO SPORTS' Josh Cooper wrote, "If you want an NHL team in your city, you can’t just have an arena. You can’t just have an owner. You need both. At least that’s the message the league sent." The league's "strongly-worded" press release indicated that it will "not wait on the Seattle area, which couldn't put together a credible bid in time" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/21). In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger writes the league "appears to be oozing with sarcasm -- at least a little bit anyway." Zeisberger: "Our translation: groups in Seattle and Toronto didn’t have their you-know-what together in time. If the league indeed is irked, it’s easy to see why" (TORONTO SUN, 7/22). SI.com's Allan Muir wrote the NHL's "expansion party wasn't as well attended as expected," and it sounds like Bettman is "just a little bit bitter about the whole thing." The NHL "seemingly wasn't interested in excuses" for not bidding, and the statement "smacked of wounded pride" (SI.com, 7/21). 

DUMP & CHASE: CBSSPORTS.com's Chris Peters wrote this "should be an exciting time for the NHL, but that statement is drenched with barely-veiled disappointment." Seattle was "clearly a market the league coveted and probably still does." However, the NHL still stands to gain $1B in expansion fees should it "greenlight Las Vegas and Quebec for new teams." Another reason for "disappointment in the number of bids" is that the NHL now "has very little leverage to raise expansion fees." The "potential of starting a bidding war among multiple entities to raise the expansion fees even higher is pretty much nil now" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/21). In Seattle, Geoff Baker writes the three Seattle-area groups "not only lack arenas but also the financial wherewithal to meet the NHL’s asking price" of $500M for a franchise. The lack of bids "hurt the credibility of all three groups when it comes to their resources" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/22). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell wrote the NHL "has no choice but to grant a franchise" to Quebec City. Even though the law would be "on the NHL’s side, the court of public opinion would crucify the NHL and Bettman if it did anything else at this point." To "frame this whole thing as anything but a disaster for the NHL would not do it justice." The league "overvalued its own product and made the mistake of thinking there would be people who would do anything in order to get in" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 7/21). However, in Vancouver, Tony Gallagher writes there are a "number of odd circumstances" surrounding the timing of Quebec's bid, the "most telling of course being the fact that the Canadian dollar isn't far off the lows it reached back in the early '90s" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 7/22). 

WAITING GAME: ESPN.com's Craig Custance wrote the next date "to keep in mind is Aug. 4," when the league determines "which of the applicant groups move on to Phase 2, where the exchange of information between the NHL and the interested expansion franchise ramps up even more." In theory, there is "wiggle room if the NHL eases up on the hard deadline and wants to keep another group around," but that is "the league's call." Las Vegas has "all but locked up an expansion spot," and the "fascinating one" becomes Quebec City. Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Scott Burnside wrote if there "isn't significant movement in the next three weeks or so in Seattle and assuming that the Quebecor bid doesn't fall apart as the league does its due diligence, how does the league not open the door to Quebec to become Team 32?" (ESPN.com,7/21). Sportsnet's Jeff Marek yesterday on CJCL-AM said that there are a "number of reasons" why the Greater Toronto Area did not make a bid. Marek: "You’re looking at building a rink and getting in and it’s going to be a little north of [C]$500 million if you want another team in Toronto you’re looking at a cool [C]$1 billion before you even pay a single hockey player or drop the puck." But SPORTSNET.ca's Mike Johnston noted Marek "believes it could still happen one day." Marek: "Would it surprise anybody to see the unholy alliance of Rogers and Bell split and Rogers owns one team and Bell owns the other? ... I still think that [Bettman's] final little love letter to the owners before he retires is going to be that cheque from Toronto" (SPORTSNET.ca, 7/21).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/07/22/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NHL.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/07/22/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NHL.aspx

CLOSE