NHL Relocation Rumours: 5 Cities That Need An NHL Team
Where will the Next NHL relocation or expansion franchise be? There are 32 teams in the NHL following the Seattle Kraken NHL expansion franchise joining the league. The US makes up 25 of the 32 teams in the NHL and the other 7 are from Canada.
Future NHL expansion teams can generate new jobs, increased tourism and greater tax revenues for host cities. The Las Vegas Golden Knights have shown what NHL expansion teams can look forward to.
On the other end are teams that are struggling that may very well be relocated. NHL relocation rumors will always be around as there are plenty of cities that need an NHL team. Let’s take a look at the most likely NHL team relocation opportunities and the most likely cities for the next NHL franchise.
#5. Quebec City, Qeubec
A Quebec City NHL team existed as the Nordiques from 1979-1995. The lack of market size impacted revenue with rocketing salaries and the Nordiques would relocate to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche.
Working against the city is its small Francophone market of less than 1 million people. But Quebec City is home to the state-of-the-art Videotron Centre, an 18,000+ seater stadium built in 2015 which is NHL ready.
#4. Houston, Texas
Houston is no stranger to ice hockey. The Houston Aeros of the AHL and IHL played in the city between 1994-2013 before relocating to Iowa. A Houston NHL team is lucrative considering the market size of the city, the largest market in the US without an NHL team. The Edmonton Oilers almost moved to Houston in the 90’s, so the city with a metro population of 6 million is getting close. Another Texan team would also create an intriguing rivalry with the Dallas Stars.
#3. Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City did have an NHL team briefly from 1974-76. The Kansas City Scouts suffered from low crowds, poor on ice performance and growing debt. The Scouts would relocate to Denver for six years before again relocating and becoming the New Jersey Devils.
The city is already home to the NHL-ready T-Mobile Center Arena where the St. Louis Blues have hosted preseason games. Rooting for an eastern Missouri team in the Blues could be seen as betrayal by some. Kansas City offered to host the Pittsburgh Penguins with free rent to play in the newly built Sprint Center back in 2007 if they relocated to the city.
#2. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A Milwaukee NHL team would serve as a great rival to the Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Milwaukee is a big-league city and is already a traditional ice hockey hub, regularly producing NHL players such as Joe Palevski, Phil Kessel and Gary Suter to name a few.
The now demolished Bradley Center, built in 1988, was originally constructed with the high hopes that it would attract an NHL franchise to the city. Milwaukee currently hosts American Hockey League team the Admirals, who are also an affiliate team to the NHL’s Nashville Predators. The Fiserv Forum opened in 2018 and is NHL ready, already hosting the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.
#1. Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton has had multiple attempts to join the NHL and keeps spectacularly failing. The NHL already has seven Canadian teams as it stands and would be a great option as the second largest population center of all Canadian cities without an NHL team.
The city’s location just one-hour south of the NHL’s most profitable market in Toronto makes it a strong possibility for an NHL expansion or NHL relocation franchise. The FirstOntario Centre already serves as a possible location but it’s close proximity, located less than 50 miles to Toronto and Buffalo home arenas, could see a move vetoed under NHL rules.