NHL approves expansion to Seattle; league’s 32nd team will start in 2021-22
SEA ISLAND, Ga. — Seattle’s NHL dream is finally a reality.
The city will just have to wait a little longer than originally planned for its new team to hit the ice.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed hockey’s worst-kept secret on Tuesday, announcing the league will expand to Seattle at a packed news conference.
The NHL’s 32nd team, which was unanimously approved in a vote by the board of governors, will begin play in 2021-22 at a renovated and renamed KeyArena.
Seattle’s ownership group led by billionaire David Bonderman and a number of partners, including Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, is paying US$650 million to join the exclusive club.
“The league’s expansion decision was only made possible because Seattle will possess the three pillars essential to the success of any franchise: terrific, committed ownership, a thriving market and a state-of-the-art venue,” Bettman said.
It was initially hoped the team would begin play in 2020, but concerns from the NHL that the franchise’s home — which will be known as Seattle Center Arena — won’t be ready in time pushed the start date back 12 months.
“I have business cards I’m going to have to toss out that say Seattle 2020,” joked team president and CEO Tod Leiweke, who said he expects the venue open in March or April 2021. “Waiting a little longer seemed to make a lot of sense and we ultimately agreed with the league.”
Seattle’s expansion fee is $150 million more than what the Vegas Golden Knights paid when they joined the NHL in 2016. While the U.S. Pacific Northwest has little recent hockey history at the professional level, the Seattle Metropolitans were the first American team to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in 1917.
The Metropolitans, who were formed by Hall of Fame brother Frank and Lester Patrick, played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association before folding in 1924. There was also a failed attempt at NHL expansion to Seattle in the mid-1970s.
No announcement was made regarding what the new team will be called Tuesday, but Bettman seemed to pour water on the Metropolitans being in the running because the league already has a division with that name.
Seattle will play in the Pacific Division, meaning the Arizona Coyotes will move to the Central. The NHL will have 16 franchises in the each of the two conferences.