Florida has over four times the population of South Carolina. South Carolina doesn't have a city with a population greater than 150k, and their largest metropolitan area is under a million. Whereas Florida has 15 cities larger than South Carolina's largest, plus four metropolitan areas over a million.

South Carolina is college football country anyway, and they share their professional fandoms with North Carolina, so they're all likely Hurricanes fans anyway. Most importantly, it's not nearly big enough to support an NHL team.

Quebec, Houston, Hartford.

Honestly I think it could be sooner rather than later. The yotes are a mess in every sense of the word

halifax quebec city saskatoon victoria houston



jeff bezos

Jeff Bezos could create a team (actually several lol) and the NHL would laugh hysterically as they would raise the price to $1B and Bezos would shrug and get someone to get his sock drawer (that's overflowing with cash) to pay.....

I think Hamilton may actually have a shot considering the amount of tickets the Bulldogs are selling

For Houston, I think it's only a matter of time. It meets most of the criteria

I unfortunately don't think Saskatchewan could support an NHL team. That's the problem with a lot of these Canadian markets; diehard fans, but no population

I actually think London could get a team if they wanted to. Tons of hockey fans, and Ontario is pretty populated and could support a 3rd team

Same goes for Halifax. But the Mooseheads and Knights are such historical CHL teams.

Quebec always has a decent shot, but the NHL doesn't seem to like them.

Mexico City is the best idea for world expansion. Rene Fasel denied European expansion, but Mexico is wide open........

all sounds good minus ice in Mexico...IDK it might be interesting but can they afford a team and would fans go for a sport they have barely ever heard of etc....

New Mexico Ice Wolves NAHL

this is awesome

New Mexico is in the United States...

IMO the only Canadian city that can support an expansion team is Greater Toronto. They have the fan potential to offset the weak Canadian dollar. If NYC can have 3 teams I don't see why Toronto cant have 2. Seems like a no-brainer to me. If it's gotta be in the US I'll go with Portland or Salt Lake City. It would have to depend on how successful Seattle is, I suppose. But, Portland is a relatively wealthy city with a basketball team. Salt Lake City is also a solid possibility for many of the same reasons. I do not like the idea of going back to Hartford simply b/c of the city's economic decline since the Whalers left. Besides, most CT residents are Rangers fans anyway. I don't think that'll change with a new local team.

Houston will fail for many of the same reasons ATL failed. If Seattle is a big success Portland will be next up.

I think you'll always love the Colosseum, but once the new arena opens you'll like the new place even more. I think a lot of Isles fans romanticize the Colosseum because of how terrible Barclays is.

They have plenty of penguins though. Relocate the pens from PIT.

Atlanta is very similar demographically. Houston is not a viable option for the NHL.

But close enough to spark interest in Mexico

I'm not stupid

Definitely Houston should have a team, biggest TV market in the US without an NHL teams. ( Note, read that in 2019 )

close.



yep.



possibly.

as long as texans will support it yes!

no way lol
the Antartica Penguins sounds awful while the Pittsburgh Penguins has an EPIC ring to it...

totally agree with the toronto sentiment. there are so many fans in the GTA and millions of more that could become fans if they had a new team with a great name and nice jerseys and it would hopefully be cheaper then the TML

Milwaukee is a sleeper. A team there would be cool

So a junior hockey team across the border will spark enough of an interest in hockey in Mexico itself that an NHL team could survive there?

New Mexico isn't really close to any population centres in Mexico. The biggest city in Mexico closest to the US border is Monterrey, which is about 2 1/2 hours away from the Rio Grande.

I think Mexico is a pipe dream for any American sports leagues to expand in. Logistically it would be feasible, but relations between the US-Mexico and well as the uncertainty of general safety in the country wouldn't make the attempt worthwhile.

it proves that hockey exists down there, and the sheer population of Mexico City would probably be enough. This is all hypothetical, and it depends on a number of political factors, too