Billionaire Dan Friedkin Positions Houston as the Next NHL Hotspot!

In an exciting development for hockey fans, American billionaire Dan Friedkin has emerged as a leading contender to potentially bring an NHL franchise to Houston, according to insider sources speaking to ESPN. This revelation has set the sports world abuzz, with many speculating on the implications of having a major hockey team in the heart of Texas.

Despite attempts to contact The Friedkin Group for a comment, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that the league has engaged in multiple discussions regarding a Houston expansion franchise. Friedkin, who serves as the CEO of The Friedkin Group, has been making significant inroads into the world of professional sports ownership. Notably, in 2020, he acquired the Italian Serie A club AS Roma, and just recently, his group became the majority owners of the Premier League’s Everton FC. This month, they secured £350 million to fund a new stadium for Everton, showcasing their commitment to elevating sports in their portfolio.

Rumors also swirled that The Friedkin Group was eyeing a bid for the Boston Celtics, which sold for a staggering $6.1 billion—setting a new record for the franchise. With Friedkin at the helm, the group's ambitions in the sports domain continue to rise.

Beyond Friedkin's financial prowess, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has tried to temper expectations regarding expansion talks. He recently reiterated that expansion remains a low-priority topic for the league, focusing instead on securing a new collective bargaining agreement with players, expected to start discussions in April 2024, and negotiating a new Canadian television deal.

Previously, Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta explored the possibility of owning an NHL team, but Friedkin's emergence seems to position him as the more viable option for the league. The NHL expanded from 30 to 32 teams with recent additions in Las Vegas and Seattle, with prices for these expansion franchises reaching $500 million and $650 million, respectively. Should the league consider expanding again, they may aim to add two new clubs with staggered launch dates.

Interestingly, Atlanta has also been named as a potential location for future expansion, marking the third time the NHL would look to re-establish a presence there following two previous departures. Louisiana’s Governor Jeff Landry recently announced on social media an "extremely productive call" with the NHL concerning a possible team in New Orleans, highlighting how interest in hockey is gaining traction in various markets across North America.

At the recent 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend, Gary Bettman listed cities expressing interest in NHL teams, including Omaha, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Houston, and Salt Lake City. The latter has indeed added a franchise, moving a team from Arizona to Utah, reinforcing the NHL's commitment to explore new territories.

As the conversations around expansion heat up, the prospect of an NHL team in Houston becomes ever more tantalizing—could billionaire Dan Friedkin be the man to make it happen? Hockey fans and Floridians alike will be watching this development closely!