The North American Ice Hockey League NHL will be increased to 32 teams. League boss Gary Bettman has announced the unanimous decision of the club owners, announcing that Seattle will start a league team from 2011 onwards. With the Seahawks (football), the Mariners (baseball) and the new ice hockey team Seattle will be represented in three of the four major American leagues. The SuperSonics (basketball) had migrated to Oklahoma in 2008.
There is no official name for the new franchise so far. Only has been known that behind the new team is a group of investors called Seattle Hockey Partners, which includes, among other film producer Jerry Bruckheimer heard. The entry is said to have cost them according to media reports 650 million US dollars (575 million euros). The Vegas Golden Knights, who joined the League in 2017, had yet to pay $ 500 million.
Another $ 700 million investment will be made to remodel the city's KeyArena. According to plan, they should be completed in March 2021, the team wants to start from the season 2020/2021 in league operation. However, since the NHL has doubts that this timetable can be met, it insists on launching the following season - to the annoyance of investors.
AP
Gary Bettman (2nd from left)
In addition to much rejoicing among the hockey fans in Seattle, the decision has also caused trouble for other teams. The Seattle Storm WNBA basketball players will have to move out of KeyArena in 2019 due to the renovation. The city of Houston, which also wished within the next two years, an NHL team, got after the increase to 32 teams a cancellation of the league.
Changes will come with the entry of the Seattle team to the Arizona Coyotes. Restructuring the individual NHL divisions will soon see the team playing in the Centreal Division instead of the Pacific Division. "That made the most sense of all possibilities," said Bettmann.