NHL Provides Update on Expansion Process

The National Hockey League released an update regarding the expansion process for the league on Tuesday July 21.

In a press release, the league said “The deadline for filing an application and proceeding in the NHL expansion process was last night. We can confirm that we have received two applications: one from Bill Foley for a franchise in Las Vegas, Nevada and one from Quebecor for a franchise in Quebec City, Quebec.”

The purpose of the expansion process gave the league the chance to explore the possibility of admitting new member clubs while setting realistic guidelines on the interest of prospective franchisees. Those guidelines include everything from ownership viabilities to the possibility of an arena. The league said, “Apparently, only Mr. Foley and Quebecor have the confidence in their ability to secure an arena and suitable ownership capability to move forward with this process.”

The NHL made the expansion applications available to all interested applicants on July 6. Since then the league received and responded to requests by sending applications to 16 separate ownership groups.  The league added, “We now intend to focus exclusively on the two expansion applications that have been submitted in accordance with the previously announced process. The process we have outlined for qualified applicants includes at least two more stages of documentation submission.”

The league will have further updates on the expansion process as soon as they have more substantial information to report.