NHL Moving Closer to Expansion in Thriving Sun Belt Market
The league continues efforts toward a 33rd team, and maybe a 34th.
The NHL is edging closer to adding expansion teams to its roster in the Sun Belt region, where several developments are taking place. A second Texas team is set to debut in the 2029-30 season, joining the Stars, who will move to Plano. In June, the league reached an agreement with Dan Friedkin to explore expansion to either Houston or Austin, with Houston seeming more likely.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly hinted at a potential December 2024 commitment for the franchise. In Atlanta, city council voted 4-3 on Monday night to rezone North Point Mall for a mixed-use development that could support an NHL franchise. While the vote doesn't guarantee the team's arrival, it was a crucial step for the arena project.
The league has also been considering Phoenix, though without ownership-level or local political developments seen elsewhere. Atlanta and Forsyth County both have competing proposals, with an approved local plan in Forsyth. The presence of Sun Belt teams in the NHL has been strong, with four Stanley Cup titles in the last four years and six of the past seven.
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