NHL Expands to 32 Teams
New Franchise to Join in Seattle
The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced that it will be expanding to 32 teams, with a new franchise to be based in Seattle. The expansion team is set to begin play in the 2021-22 season.
The addition of a new team in Seattle marks the NHL's first expansion since 2000, when the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets joined the league. The NHL currently consists of 31 teams, with 24 based in the United States and 7 in Canada.
The Seattle expansion team has yet to be named, but it will play its home games at Climate Pledge Arena. The team will be owned by a group led by David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke.
The addition of a new team in Seattle is expected to further increase the popularity of hockey in the United States. The NHL has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with attendance and television ratings both on the rise.
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