The NWHL had planned to continue to have a Buffalo franchise after PSE ended its control of the BeautsNWHL
The dispute over who owns the name and logo of the NWHL Buffalo Beauts "appears headed for federal district court," as the league has "filed a request for declaratory judgement" in response to a cease-and-desist letter from Buffalo Beauts Hockey, the subsidiary of Pegula Sports & Entertainment that has operated the team, according to the BUFFALO NEWS. In May, PSE ended its relationship with the NWHL and decided to turn operational control of the Beauts back over to the league. The NWHL is asking the court to "rule that it is permitted to use the name and logo of the Beauts under the terms of a licensing agreement between the league and Buffalo Beauts Hockey" in August '18. Buffalo Beauts Hockey "sent the NWHL a cease-and-desist letter on June 25, demanding that the league stop displaying and distributing marketing materials with the Beauts name and logo, including social media posts and websites; destroy all merchandise in its possession with the name and logo; not use the name or logo in the future; and provide documentation of its compliance with the demands." When PSE announced its intent to return control of the team to the league, the NWHL said that it "planned to continue to have a Buffalo franchise and hoped to arrange a rental agreement to remain at Harborcenter" (BUFFALO NEWS, 7/3).
