Gary Bettman and Bill Daly give an update on NHL expansion

If you've been keeping an eye on the NHL's potential move into Texas, you're not alone. The rumor mill has been churning ever since the league announced it was exploring a 33rd franchise earlier this summer, and fans across the continent have been wondering just how close this thing really is to becoming a reality. Well, after a board of governors meeting in New York on Tuesday, we got some clarity from the top.

What Bettman and Daly Had to Say

Commissioner Gary Bettman made it clear that the league hasn't pulled the trigger on anything. His exact words were that "no decisions whatsoever were made on NHL expansion" following the governors' gathering. That's a notable statement considering the buzz that's been building since June, when Bettman revealed the NHL was in discussions with billionaire Dan Friedkin and his family about bringing a team to either Houston or Austin.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly echoed the sentiment, noting that there's currently no firm deadline for making a call on whether to move forward with the Friedkin Group's proposal. That said, the original timeline floated back in June suggested roughly six months for the process, which would line up with the next board of governors meeting in December. Any expansion would ultimately need approval from three-quarters of the league's 32 current owners.

The deal on the table, as outlined in the term sheet with the Friedkin Group, would involve a staggering $3.5 billion commitment. That breaks down to $2 billion for the expansion fee itself and another $1.5 billion earmarked for constructing a brand new arena. According to both Bettman and Daly, the Friedkin Group is still evaluating potential arena locations in both Houston and Austin, and no preferred city has been chosen yet.

Other Markets and Governor Sentiment

When pressed about whether other cities were as far along in the process, Bettman and Daly acknowledged that interest exists elsewhere, with Atlanta and Phoenix being the most frequently mentioned markets. However, they were quick to point out that the NHL isn't actively looking to expand. Instead, the league is simply reviewing proposals as they come in. Bettman also dismissed any concern about having an odd number of teams at 33, suggesting the league wouldn't feel compelled to immediately chase a 34th franchise just for the sake of symmetry.

Perhaps the most interesting nugget from Tuesday's update was the acknowledgment that not all governors may be on the same page. Reports from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and others have indicated some hesitancy among the ownership group about expansion. Bettman said the league hasn't formally surveyed the governors on the matter but admitted it "wouldn't surprise" him if enthusiasm varied from owner to owner.

For those unfamiliar with the Friedkin Group, Dan Friedkin serves as chairman and CEO and carries a net worth of approximately $6.4 billion per Forbes. His Houston-based business empire spans automotive, entertainment, hospitality, and sports, including ownership stakes in Premier League club Everton and Italian giant AS Roma. The NHL's last two expansions brought the Vegas Golden Knights into the fold in 2017 and the Seattle Kraken in 2021, so any new addition would mark the third in roughly a decade. With the December governors' meeting looming as the next key date on the calendar, the coming months should tell us a lot about whether Team 33 is truly on the horizon or still just a possibility.