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NHL Commissioner Says Texas Expansion Team Could Play By 2029-30 Season
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says the league is 'moving forward in Texas' and could announce expansion to Houston or Austin by the end of the year, with plans to start play in 2029-30. The group led by Dan Friedkin has agreed to pay a $2 billion fee, pending arena approval.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league is hoping to award an expansion franchise to Texas as soon as the end of this year, with the new team potentially beginning play in the 2029-30 season. In an interview at the NHL's European media tour in Munich, Daly told The Athletic that he expects the league to receive an update within the next few weeks from a group working with Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin. Friedkin's group has already agreed to pay a $2 billion expansion fee to bring a team to either Houston or Austin, though finalization depends on the ability to build an arena and approval from the NHL's Board of Governors.
"We're moving forward in Texas," Daly said. "I expect ultimately we'll be in a position to bring something to the board to get their view on it. So, that's proceeding at a pace. We'll probably get together with the group again in September and kind of see where they are in the process and what they want us to do to help, to the extent they need anything."
Daly told the publication that if the league finalizes the agreement and the board approves, an announcement could come at the end of the calendar year about expanding to either Houston or Austin.
The Associated Press also reported that Houston is the most likely location, but Austin continues to be explored as an option. TSN described Houston as the fourth-largest market in the United States, while calling Austin an intriguing option in a unique, emerging city. Yardbarker noted that Texas would gain its second NHL franchise, joining the Dallas Stars, who have played in Dallas since 1993-94 when the Minnesota North Stars relocated there.
Daly said the Texas team could debut within three years, with the ability to start play in 2029-30.
Expansion Fee and Recent Precedents
The group, named Pursuit Sports, has agreed to a $2 billion expansion fee for either Houston or Austin, according to multiple reports. This fee is substantially higher than what the NHL's most recent expansion teams paid: the Vegas Golden Knights paid $500 million to join in 2017, and the Seattle Kraken paid $650 million in 202Some analysts at Yardbarker noted the $2 billion fee would significantly boost the league's economy and likely contribute to a rising salary cap, with the addition of a 33rd team to create an imbalance in divisions and conferences.
The NHL expanded from 30 to 32 teams over the past decade, with the Golden Knights starting play in 2017-18 and the Kraken in 2021-22. Daly says the league does not feel compelled to line up the timing of expansions, citing the "seamless addition" of those recent teams.
Future Expansion
Daly also indicated that the NHL is engaged in talks with ownership groups for a potential 34th team, though discussions are not as advanced as those with Friedkin's group. At least two groups are in communication with the league, according to TSN's report.
"They're projecting the ability to start play in 2029-30," Daly said. "So, we will have one down and potentially one to go. We have ongoing discussions both with people in the Phoenix marketplace as well as Atlanta, and then we'll see what comes of those discussions."
The NHL has previously tried the Atlanta market twice: the Flames relocated to Calgary and the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg, per reports. Phoenix also previously lost the Coyotes to Utah, becoming the Utah Mammoth. These factors could influence future decisions, but for the time being, the league's immediate focus is on finalizing the Texas expansion.
Daly also noted that Houston already has teams in the other three major professional sports leagues (Rockets, Astros, and Texans), which may work in Austin's favor, similar to Las Vegas in 2017. He emphasized that the NHL's Vegas fanbase has been primarily local support, contrasting with the Raiders' fanbase.
As the league looks ahead, the timing of expansion and extra team location remains open, but the expected announcement by year's end could clarify destiny.
What's Next
The NHL will likely finalize the location and receive official approval from the Board of Governors in the coming months. The group is scheduled to meet again in September, and an announcement is expected at the end of the year if all goes as planned.
How each outlet told it
Associated Press
Framing: Headline emphasizes the possibility of Texas being awarded a new franchise by year's end, focusing on the award rather than the timeline for play — Neutral and factual, AP style
Facts Included:
The NHL is hoping to award an expansion franchise to Texas as soon as the end of this year
Bill Daly told The Athletic this week
Interview at NHL's European media tour in Munich on Friday
Daly expects league to get update from group working with Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin within next few weeks
Friedkin's group has agreed to pay $2 billion expansion fee for Houston or Austin
Dependent on ability to build arena and get final approval from NHL's Board of Governors
Daly says 'We're moving forward in Texas' and will meet with group again in September
Daly says announcement could come at end of calendar year
Houston is most likely location but Austin continues to be explored
Texas team could debut within three years
Daly said NHL is engaged in talks with ownership groups for 34th team
Daly mentions ongoing discussions in Phoenix and Atlanta
Framing: Headline emphasizes the timeline for the Texas team to play (2029-30 season), leaving out the city contenders and the approval process — Measured and forward-looking, stating 'We're moving forward in Texas'
Facts Included:
The NHL is reportedly expanding to either Houston or Austin as early as the end of 2026
NHL commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic at the NHL's European Media Tour
Friedkin's Pursuit Sports is paying a $2 billion expansion fee
The exact city will be based on where a stadium can be built
The expansion requires final approval from the NHL's Board of Governors
Daly expects to bring something to the board and will meet with the group again in September
Daly says an announcement of the city could come at end of this calendar year
The Texas team could play as early as the 2029-30 season
Daly said the NHL is discussing another expansion team in Phoenix or Atlanta
Framing: Headline is identical to WTOP, emphasizing the potential approval and announcement by year's end — Neutral and factual, similar to AP-style reporting
Facts Included:
The NHL is hoping to award an expansion franchise to Texas as soon as the end of this year
Bill Daly told The Athletic this week
Interview at NHL's European media tour in Munich on Friday
Daly expects league to get update from group working with Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin within next few weeks
Friedkin's group has agreed to pay $2 billion expansion fee for Houston or Austin
Dependent on ability to build arena and get final approval from NHL's Board of Governors
Daly says 'We're moving forward in Texas' and will meet with group again in September
Daly says announcement could come at end of calendar year
Houston is most likely location but Austin continues to be explored
Texas team could debut within three years
Daly said NHL is engaged in talks with ownership groups for 34th team
Daly mentions ongoing discussions in Phoenix and Atlanta
Framing: Headline specifies the possibility of an expansion team awarded to Houston or Austin before year's end, focusing on the timeline and city options — Informative and analytical, with quotes explaining the league's perspective
Facts Included:
The NHL is on track to add a 33rd franchise as soon as end of the year, per deputy commissioner Bill Daly
Daly spoke at NHL's European Media Tour to TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston in a piece on The Athletic
Daly expects to bring something to the board and will meet with the group in September
If finalized and board approves, announcement could come at end of calendar year for Houston or Austin
The two cities are Houston and Austin
Houston is the fourth-largest market in the US
Austin is viewed as an intriguing option in a unique, emerging city
Billionaire Dan Friedkin has agreed to pay $2 billion expansion fee pending arena construction and board approval
League is in communication with at least two groups regarding a 34th team, though not as far along as Friedkin's
Daly said the Texas team could start in 2029-30
NHL expanded from 30 to 32 teams over past 10 years: Vegas in 2017, Seattle in 2021
Daly says league doesn't feel compelled to line up timing of expansions, citing 'seamless addition' of Vegas and Seattle
Daly discussed that two teams coming in same year might be more convenient but not a barrier
Houston has franchises in the other three major North American sports leagues (Rockets, Astros, Texans)
Daly says that factor may work in Austin's favour, similar to Las Vegas in 2017
Daly commented on Vegas fanbase being local support, compared to Raiders fanbase
Daly mentions ongoing discussions in Phoenix and Atlanta for a potential 34th team
Framing: Headline emphasizes the timeline for approval and announcement by year's end, focusing on the process of awarding the franchise — Neutral and factual, with a direct quote from Daly
Facts Included:
The NHL is hoping to award an expansion franchise to Texas as soon as the end of this year
Bill Daly told The Athletic this week
Interview at NHL's European media tour in Munich on Friday
Daly expects league to get update from group working with Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin within next few weeks
Friedkin's group has agreed to pay $2 billion expansion fee for Houston or Austin
Dependent on ability to build arena and get final approval from NHL's Board of Governors
Daly says 'We're moving forward in Texas' and will meet with group again in September
Daly says announcement could come at end of calendar year
Houston is most likely location but Austin continues to be explored
Texas team could debut within three years
Daly said NHL is engaged in talks with ownership groups for 34th team
Daly mentions ongoing discussions in Phoenix and Atlanta
Framing: Headline poses a broader question about future NHL expansion destinations, focusing on where else the league could go — Inquisitive and contextual, with a 'driver's seat' metaphor indicating Texas is leading
Facts Included:
Bill Daly, NHL's deputy commissioner, told The Athletic on Saturday
The league's 33rd team could begin play as soon as 2029-30 season
An official announcement of location could come by the end of this year
Austin and Houston are the two markets in the driver's seat
Texas would get a second franchise joining the Dallas Stars
The Stars have played in Dallas since 1993-94 when the Minnesota North Stars relocated there
Friedkin's Pursuit Sports has agreed to pay $2 billion expansion fee, pending arena agreement and league approval
Vegas Golden Knights (2017-18) and Seattle Kraken (2021-22) were recent expansion teams
Knights paid $500 million, Kraken paid $650 million
The $2 billion fee would boost league economy and likely contribute to rising salary cap
Adding a 33rd team creates an odd number and division/conference imbalance
Atlanta has had two NHL franchises: Flames (relocated to Calgary) and Thrashers (relocated to Winnipeg)
Phoenix is mentioned after losing the Coyotes to Utah two years ago, becoming the Utah Mammoth
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimThe NHL is reportedly expanding to either Houston or Austin as early as the end of 2026.
ClaimIn an interview at the NHL’s European media tour in Munich on Friday, Daly told the publication that he’s expecting the league to get an update from a group working with Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin within the next few weeks.