NHL Considers Houston and Austin for New Franchise

The National Hockey League is actively exploring expansion into Texas, with Houston and Austin emerging as the leading candidates for a new franchise. The league’s Board of Governors discussed the potential move during a meeting in New York on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, signaling a serious intent to grow beyond its current 32 teams.

According to reports, the league has granted exclusive rights to pursue an NHL team in Texas to an ownership group led by billionaire Dan Friedkin through his platform, Pursuit Sports. The group, which also holds stakes in European soccer clubs Everton and Roma, will focus on evaluating both Houston and Austin as potential markets. A statement from the Friedkin family said they are undertaking a “principled, disciplined and methodical process” to find the right long-term home for a new franchise.

Any expansion would come with a significant financial barrier. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has indicated that a future expansion fee would likely need to reach $2 billion to be viable for the league, a substantial increase from the $500 million paid by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and the $650 million paid by the Seattle Kraken in 2021. The league’s...