Seattle is officially getting an NHL team
Seattle is finally skating into new territory.
On Tuesday, the NHL's Board of Governors voted to let Seattle launch the league's 32nd hockey franchise for the 2021-2022 season, and it's largely thanks to potential fans of a previously nonexistent team.
Talks of a Seattle team began late last year as an ownership group said it would pay $650 million for a team expansion, per the NHL. That's $150 million more than Las Vegas paid for its NHL addition, and not counting the $800 million funders plan to pay to renovate the existing KeyArena into the Seattle team's official home. NHL Seattle originally wanted the team start playing in 2020, but told The Seattle Times this decision gives them more time to deliver a top-notch facility.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hockey stardom is nothing new for the Washington city. A little more than 100 years ago, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first American team to win the Stanley Cup. The team soon collapsed when its league, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, folded in 1924. Hockey faded into junior leagues from then on, but fans didn't seem to lose interest. When a season ticket waitlist opened in March, 10,000 prospective fans put down deposits in just 12 minutes, write the Times.
Seattle's unnamed team follows the instantly successful Vegas Golden Knights as the NHL's latest addition. And given that Arizona and Florida have (multiple) NHL teams, it seems fitting that a state that can actually produce ice gets one too.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Try 6 free issues of The Week Junior
Spark your child's curiosity with The Week Junior - the award-winning current affairs magazine for 8-14s.
By The Week Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published