In a recent development, the National Hockey League (NHL) confirmed a meeting with a billionaire-led consortium, expressing interest in introducing an expansion team based in Houston. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the news to The Associated Press via email on Thursday evening.
The interested party spearheading the initiative is none other than billionaire Dan Friedkin, who, according to Forbes, boasts a whopping net worth of $6.4 billion. Friedkin is no stranger to the sports world, having recently acquired a 98.8% stake in Everton, one of the longstanding clubs in the English Premier League.
Based in Houston, The Friedkin Group, which Dan runs with his son Ryan, is a well-diversified conglomerate with a robust portfolio spanning the automotive, entertainment, hospitality, and sports industries. However, an official comment from the Friedkin Group on the matter remains forthcoming.
Recent reports from ESPN suggest that Friedkin has emerged as a front-runner for securing a franchise, should the NHL decide to expand beyond its current 32 teams. However, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly clarified that the league is not formally considering expansion at this point. Interestingly, Atlanta has also seen multiple groups expressing interest in bringing hockey back to Georgia’s capital for a third attempt.
Bettman, in a conversation with The AP in September, had emphasized a targeted approach towards expansion, if at all. He stated that the process would not resemble previous expansions where multiple applications were considered simultaneously. Instead, if a party ticks all the boxes and is keen to progress, the matter would be taken up individually with the executive committee.
The annual general managers’ spring meeting in Florida, which concluded recently with Bettman’s news conference, did not bring up the topic of expansion. However, there have been instances in the past where interest in expansion teams has materialized into reality. For instance, the Smith Entertainment Group announced its interest in a Utah-based expansion team over a year ago and soon after purchased the Arizona Coyotes, moving them to Salt Lake City. Now, they are known as the Utah Hockey Club for this season.
The NHL’s expansion into Las Vegas and Seattle has been incredibly successful, sparking speculation about the potential rise in expansion fees, which might touch close to $1 billion for future teams. The league last expanded its team roster in 2000 with the inclusion of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild, before adding the Golden Knights in 2017.
Dan Friedkin, who amassed his wealth by distributing Toyotas in Texas, was also recently rumored to be considering a bid for the NBA’s Boston Celtics, before they were sold last Thursday.
