THN Archive: NHL Expansion Grew Game to New Heights Starting in Late 1990s

The prospect of NHL expansion came into the spotlight Wednesday, with a group in Utah announcing its intent to land a team. 

In this feature story from THN’s Jan. 31, 1997 edition – Vol. 50, Issue 20 – THN accurately broke down a list of seven cities that were interested at the time in acquiring a team in hockey’s top league.

(And here’s your regular reminder – for access to THN’s exclusive Archive, you can subscribe to the magazine by visiting THN.com/Free.)

In the late 1990s, a slew of interested ownership groups made their intent clear to the NHL. In early 1997, the league held expansion discussions in New York City.

By 1997, the expansion and relocation process saw the Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix. One year later, one of the cities listed in THN’s article on expansion – the Hartford Whalers – relocated to Raleigh, N.C. 

Atlanta, Nashville, Minnesota would follow, as would another city listed in the 1997 article as a long shot – Columbus.

This is something to bear in mind when you hear NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dismiss expansion talk; the league has always taken a tight-lipped approach to any expansion discussion until such time as it confirmed it would happen. There could be just as much interest today in growing the league – to the point that Atlanta could be in the mix to have its third shot at hosting an NHL franchise.

If this writer were ranking potential new NHL cities today, we’d put Houston at the top, followed by Quebec City and Salt Lake City. It’s possible that the Coyotes relocate if they can’t get a new arena deal finalized, so one of those aforementioned three cities could get the Coyotes, and the other two would get expansion franchises.

Some of the statistics below have changed, bu it is interesting that this list – and THN’s sources for the list – managed to cover every potential expansion franchise. Only Oklahoma City and Houston failed to land an NHL team, but that could change in relatively short order as the NHL considers growing to 33 or 34 teams. Here’s how we ranked them:

Vol. 50, No. 20, Jan. 31, 1997

By THN Staff

Nine cities were represented in NHL expansion talks Jan. 13-14 in New York. Six emerged as the most likely to succeed, although a seventh (Columbus) still has a shot. Four are expected to get in. Here are profiles of the six cities.

Owner: When media kingpin Ted Turner and Time-Warner CEO Gerald Levin appeared before the NHL executive committee, it only reinforced the league’s desire to bring on board the real high rollers.

Market: The No. 10-rated TV market is just what the NHL’s looking for. A metro population of 3.6 million isn’t bad either.

Building: There is a commitment to build a new downtown arena. The Omni is expected to be razed this summer with the new facility going up in its place. It will be ready for the fall of 1999.

THN Rating: ***** What’s not to like? It’s a major U.S. market with a major-league owner. Atlanta’s in, either in 1999 or 2000.

Owner: The league has three from which to choose, but the Chuck Watson-Bob NcNair group is the frontrunner.

Market: Houston has a population of 4 million and is the No. 11 TV market in the U.S. 

Building: The Summit is not a viable big league hockey arena, so a new facility is a must.

THN Rating: **** Houston sports fans are fickle and NHL success there is no sure bet, but it’s tough to ignore the market size and TV scope. Still, if the guarantee of a new arena isn’t included, then Houston drops right out of the picture. The league won’t let any team in unless the state-of-the-art arena is a dead-set certainty.

Owner: A local consortium led by Bob Naegle and supported by Hubbard Communications, although it’s closely linked with mayor Norm Coleman.

Market: The Twin Cities’ greatest asset is its No. 14 ranking amongst U.S. TV markets.

Building: City council has approved a $51 million expenditure to upgrade the St. Paul Civic Center to include expanded seating capacity, luxury boxes and improvements.

THN Rating: ** Beyond the TV exposure, there’s not a lot to like about the St. Paul bid, but TV can’t be ignored either. Minneapolis is a better site, but the NHL failed there once already because Minnesotans wouldn’t pay premium ticket prices to watch hockey.

Owner: Craig Leipold of Racine, Wise., would be the principal owner and he has pockets deep enough for the NHL.

Market: It’s No. 33 in TV and that concerns some governors, as does a population base of 1.3 million, but the per capita income is high and country music cross promotion is a plus. 

Building: A great new facility is ready to go. 

THN Rating: *** A favorable lease and support of local governments should make this a foolproof bid even though it has its limitations. Leipold wanted to start play this fall, but that was too soon for the NHL. The only way Nashville isn’t in for the fall of 1998 is if the league decides to go with only two teams, but that’s a longshot.

Owner: Well-heeled Edward Gaylord, who originated Gaylord Entertainment.

Market: It gets poor marks for TV exposure (No. 43 in the U.S.) and a population of only 1 million.

Building: A new facility goes up soon with or without the NHL as part of a downtown restoration project.

THN Rating: ** An impressive presentation turned NHL heads and prevented it from being summarily dismissed. The Okies got attention when they offered all arena revenue (concerts, tractor pulls etc.) to the hockey team. It’s the best lease/arena deal of the any of the applicants and the main reason why Oke City gets mentioned here over Columbus.

Owner: Bernie Ebbers, one of the wealthiest men in America, and Felix Sabates head up a five-man local group.

Market: It’s no. 30 in TV and has a 1 million-plus population if you include Chapel Hill.

Building: A joint venture involving the city, state and North Carolina State University will see a new facility go up shortly.

THN Rating: ** Marginally more impressive than Hampton Roads, but not clearly better than the Columbus application. Certainty over the arena is R-D’s only edge over Columbus, which may be best suited as a relocation site once there is a commitment to build a facility in the Ohio city. R-D is the largest TV market without a pro sports team.

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