NHL Expanding

The National Hockey League is ready to begin accepting applications for new franchises.

Photo: Clement Allard / The Canadian Press via AP, File
The Videotron Centre in Quebec City, seen in this September 2014 photo, is scheduled to open later this year. The NHL is officially exploring expansion and Quebec City is in the running with Las Vegas and Seattle.

The league’s Board of Governors decided to allow new clubs to the 30-team league during a meeting in Las Vegas June 24, after cities including Las Vegas, Seattle and Quebec City expressed interest in teams of their own.

The league hasn’t decided how many additional clubs will be allowed, although the fee for an expansion team will reportedly be at least $500 million. “We will, probably starting in early July, accept formal applications from entities, people that are interested in pursuing an expansion team,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said following the meeting, according to ESPN.

“We will then go through a formal vetting process.” The application window will run through Aug. 10. There’s been talk of relocating the Arizona Coyotes after the city of Glendale recently voted to end a 15-year, $225 million deal with team, but Bettman added that the NHL is committed to keeping the team in the Phoenix area.