{"id":414086,"date":"2026-08-22T20:48:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T20:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/414086\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T20:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T20:48:08","slug":"report-houston-or-austin-could-get-nhl-team-by-2029-30-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/414086\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Houston or Austin could get NHL team by 2029-30 – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

It appears Houston or Austin could land the NHL\u2019s next expansion franchise \u2014 possibly by the end of 2026 \u2014 and potentially begin play in 2029-30, The Athletic reported on Saturday. <\/p>\n

Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin\u2019s company, Pursuit Sports, has agreed to pay a $2 billion expansion fee to bring the NHL\u2019s 33rd franchise to either Houston or Austin. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic the league is anticipating an update from the group working with Friedkin in the next few weeks. <\/p>\n

Friedkin\u2019s bid requires the final approval of the NHL\u2019s Board of Governors along with the ability to build an arena in either Houston or Austin. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re moving forward in Texas,\u201d Daly said in an interview at the NHL\u2019s European Media Tour. \u201cI expect ultimately we\u2019ll be in a position to bring something to the board to get their view on it. So, that\u2019s proceeding at a pace. We\u2019ll probably get together with the group again in September and kind of see where they are in the process and what they want us to do to help, to the extent they need anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we finalize that and the board approves it, then (at the) end of this calendar year we\u2019ll have an announcement that we\u2019re expanding to either Houston or Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Houston remains the leading candidate to be awarded the next franchise, Austin remains in the running and will undergo further exploration as a potential landing spot.<\/p>\n

The NHL is also engaged in discussions with groups interested in landing the league\u2019s 34th franchise \u2014 including former NHL cities Phoenix and Atlanta \u2014 though those talks lag behind those with Friedkin\u2019s group. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re projecting the ability to start play in 2029-30,\u201d Daly said of the talks involving Houston and Austin. \u201cSo we will have one down and potentially one to go. We have ongoing discussions both with people in the Phoenix marketplace, but also Atlanta, and then we\u2019ll see what comes of those discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Austin may benefit from the success of the Golden Knights, which established a fan base well ahead of the NFL and MLB in Las Vegas. Austin currently has only one major pro sports franchise \u2014 Austin FC of MLS. <\/p>\n

\u201cI view Austin to be similar to our decision to move into Las Vegas at a time where the other leagues weren\u2019t considering it in part because of the size of the market and mid-size nature of it,\u201d Daly said.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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