from David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail,
There is one overriding question that drives the June 22 vote by the NHL’s 30 governors on the league’s expansion plans: Is it worth accepting a one-time payment of $500-million in exchange for a smaller slice of the league’s shared-revenue pie in perpetuity?
This scenario assumes the nine governors on the executive committee, who met Tuesday in New York to formally draw up recommendations for the rest of their colleagues, will take the position that only Las Vegas should be considered for expansion in the 2017-18 season. The Quebec City bid, backed by media giant Quebecor, will likely be kept on the sidelines, with relocation of an existing franchise being its best route into the league, according to multiple sources.
The executive committee’s recommendation will not be publicly announced by the NHL before the June 22 vote, although league commissioner Gary Bettman noted last week: “I have no doubt that recommendation will probably get leaked in advance of the board meeting.” A two-thirds majority of the 30 teams is needed to approve any expansion. The minimum fee to join the league has already been set at $500-million (all currency U.S.).
If the 30 governors follows old habits, they will simply rubber-stamp the executive committee’s recommendation at the meeting. But there are signs this expansion decision is more contentious than the ones that saw the league grow from 21 teams in 1991 to 30 by 2000. Some of the more prosperous NHL teams do not see the need to expand and cite several reasons, from the uncertain status of the Canadian dollar to competitive and geographic balance.
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.