The NHL hasn’t added a team since Seattle joined in 2021, and the league moved the Arizona Coyotes to Utah before last season. But commissioner Gary Bettman isn’t done yet. And if Houston or Austin gets a franchise, the check will be enormous.
According to Pierre LeBrun, Bettman confirmed that the league has already agreed to a $3.5 billion expansion fee with the Friedkin family — the group vying for a team in either Houston or Austin. That number is more than double what Seattle paid ($650 million) just a few years ago. It’s also bigger than what anyone paid for an NBA or NFL expansion in history.
Why Texas Makes Sense
Texas already has one NHL team in the Dallas Stars, who have been a consistent playoff contender and draw well at home. But the state is massive, and hockey’s popularity has grown significantly in the South over the last decade. The Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup in their sixth season didn’t hurt. Neither did the Kraken’s rapid rise.
Austin is the bigger city without a major pro sports team — the Longhorns dominate the conversation there — but Houston has the infrastructure and a proven appetite for professional sports. The Rockets, Texans, Astros, and Dynamo all play there. The question is whether the market can support another winter sport when the Rockets are already fighting for attention.
Bettman said the decision on whether to move forward will take about six months. The league is in no rush. But the $3.5 billion number tells you they’re serious about getting a return that justifies the risk.
What Happens to the Coyotes’ Old Market?
Arizona is still mentioned as a potential expansion site, along with Atlanta — which has failed twice before but keeps getting brought up. Houston and Austin appear to be the frontrunners, though. The Friedkin family also owns AS Roma in Serie A and has the kind of deep pockets the NHL wants.
The league has sat at 32 teams since 2021, matching the NFL and setting up a balance that makes scheduling and playoff formats clean. Adding another team would require a realignment that shifts at least one franchise to the Western Conference. But the money is hard to ignore.
LeBrun’s reporting suggests the expansion fee was part of a term sheet already signed. That’s a big step forward. Now it’s just a matter of Bettman and the board of governors deciding if Texas gets another hockey team — and if the price tag scares off any other bidders.
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