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Could the third time be the charm for the NHL in Atlanta?
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Deputy commissioner Bill Daly isn’t ruling the league attempting future expansion into the Deep South once again, despite the first two forays ending in failure.
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In an interview with ESPN, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that the league may yet have a future in Atlanta.
“I think some of the challenges that we’ve seen in the past in Atlanta can be overcome,” Daly said. “I think times have changed pretty dramatically and the market demographics have changed pretty dramatically since the first time we went there and then again in 1999.”
“I think a lot of bigger businesses are in Atlanta (now).”
The NHL originally planted roots in the Georgia in 1972 with the Flames. They played there until 1980, when the team moved to Calgary. The league tried again in 1999 with the expansion Thrashers, which lasted until 2011 when they moved to Winnipeg and became the Jets.
Daly did say that, after expanding twice in the past six years with the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken, the league currently isn’t looking into adding a 33rd team, but it’s not impossible.
“There are potential markets that may be suitable for NHL hockey, so our policy is really an open-door policy,” Daly said. “If you are interested and have a plan, come see us and certainly we’ll evaluate it from there. If it becomes something our owners are interested in, we can pursue it. Nothing has risen to that level currently, but that could change.”
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The deputy commissioner also suggested the Braves’ move to Atlanta’s suburbs in Cobb County could help pave the way for a new NHL team.
“I also think that rink location will be important with any decision to locate a franchise in Atlanta,” Daly said. “I think if you use the Braves as an example, they struggled, as I understand it, attendance-wise for years, even though they had a very successful team on the field. Their latest stadium is in a perfect location and sells out regularly.”