The state of Texas could receive a new NHL franchise by the end of the year. This was stated by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly in an interview with The Athletic, as reported by infohub.kz.
During the NHL's European media tour in Munich, Daly said he expects to get an update from a group working with Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin within the next few weeks. Friedkin's group has agreed to pay a $2 billion expansion fee to bring a team to Houston or Austin, depending on the ability to build an arena in one of those cities and get final approval from the NHL's Board of Governors to add a 33rd team.
"We're moving forward in Texas," Daly said. "I expect ultimately we'll be in a position to bring something to the board to get their view on it. So, that's proceeding at a pace. We'll probably get together with the group again in September and kind of see where they are in the process and what they want us to do to help, to the extent they need anything."
"If we finalize that and the board approves it, then at the end of this calendar year we'll have an announcement that we're expanding to either Houston or Austin," he added. Houston is the most likely location, but Austin continues to be explored as an option.
The Texas team could debut within three years. Daly said the NHL is engaged in talks with ownership groups looking to land the league's 34th team. "They're projecting the ability to start play in 2029-30," Daly said. "So, we will have one down and potentially one to go. We have ongoing discussions both with people in the Phoenix marketplace, but also Atlanta, and then we'll see what comes of those discussions."