from Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times,

NHL Seattle has filed an application for an American Hockey League (AHL) expansion franchise that would begin play in a new 10,000-seat arena in Palm Springs, Calif. by 2021.

The arena would be a joint-venture between the California-based Oak View Group (OVG) — which is also undertaking a $930-million rebuilding of KeyArena for this city’s incoming NHL franchise – and the Palm Springs-based Agua Caliente Indian tribe. The privately-financed, 300,000-square-foot arena would be built on 16 acres of tribal land in Palm Springs and serve as home to the primary minor league feeder club for Seattle’s soon-to-be NHL team.

NHL Seattle had also looked at the possibility of acquiring and relocating an existing AHL team but will instead look to start up a brand new one if the AHL approves the application. The most recent AHL expansion franchises sold in the $5 million range.

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