NHL expansion is a topic that just won't go away, and perhaps that shouldn't be surprising. The last wave of expansion in 2000 is almost 15 years in the past, and the league now has long-term television deals in both Canada and the United States and extended labour peace thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement.
If the league chooses to expand again (and given how lucrative expansion fees can be, it's probable that it will), where should it go?
We've ranked eight potential markets based on their suitability for an NHL franchise. Fan support is essential, so we've looked at the history of hockey in each market, and naturally, population is a major concern. Business support matters, too, so corporate presence was considered.
The single-most important factor was the presence of an arena, which has been the difference between success and failure in countless cases.
Begin Slideshow
...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Jonathan Willis
Ranking the Best Markets for an NHL Expansion Franchise
October 21st, 2014 by Jonathan Willis Leave a reply »
Advertisement