NHL Set To Vote On Seattle Expansion For 2021-22 Season

SEA ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — The NHL Board of Governors is expected to approve expansion to Seattle, with the league's 32nd team beginning play in the 2021-22 season.

 

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly and commissioner Gary Bettman address the media during the Board Of Governors Press Conference prior to the 2016 NHL Awards at Encore Las Vegas on June 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

 

A three-quarters vote of the current 31 owners is needed to confirm Seattle as the league's newest franchise. The nine-member executive committee that heard Seattle's presentation in October voted unanimously to move the matter to the full board, which is meeting in Georgia. The vote is expected on Tuesday.

 

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: Founding partner at TPG Capital David Bonderman participates in a discussion at the New York Times 2013 DealBook Conference in New York at the New York Times Building on November 12, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for The New York Times)

 

Seattle Hockey Partners will pay NHL owners $650 million to join. The group led by majority owner David Bonderman, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and president and CEO Tod Leiweke had been hoping for play to begin in 2020, but uncertainty over completing arena renovations in time means Seattle will have to wait another year for the return of a major winter sports team.

 

A team in Seattle balances the Eastern and Western Conferences at 16 teams apiece, but also requires realignment to even out the Central and Pacific Divisions. Many expect the Arizona Coyotes to be moved to the Central Division in 2021 when Seattle enters the league.

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