NHL Expansion
Rogers Communications Inc President and CEO Guy Laurence walks by a National Hockey League (NHL) logo at the company's annual general meeting for shareholders in Toronto April 22, 2014. Canadian cable, telecommunications and media company Rogers Communications Inc reported a 13 percent drop in first-quarter profit on Monday, as a move to more customer-friendly pricing led to a slip in earnings at its major wireless phone arm. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA - Tags: BUSINESS TELECOMS)

National Hockey League could announce the opening of a formal expansion process on Wednesday about a possible franchise in Las Vegas, Nevada.

With NHL holding its postseason awards show and executive meetings in the Sin City, the growing possibility of NHL expansion became a popular topic this week. The league is expected to take the first step to address the issue when the NHL Board of Governors meet prior to the annual NHL Awards ceremony.

Many players and fans are excited about bringing hockey to desert-town Nevada having the process underway for several years now. However, even with strong interests from fans and prospective owner and businessman Bill Foley, a bid for a franchise faces several logical hurdles with Las Vegas’ 110-deree temperatures and untested pro sports market. If the NHL actually gambles on an expansion in Nevada, most players and executives are optimistic that the ice would not melt.

"I think it's very important to think long-term, and think whether it's a franchise or a market that can truly support the game of hockey through maybe some not-so-good seasons. Maybe look at some other franchises that have or haven't done that, and we'll see. If there was a team here, I think a lot of players around the league would be excited to play here. I'm sure the team would have a very good home record, so that could definitely help with their fan base,” said Chicago Blackhawks centre Jonathan Toews.

Despite the stumbling blocks in front of the 70-year-old billionaire’s bid, MGM Resorts and sports conglomerate Anschutz Entertainment Group are already constructing a 20,000-seater arena worth $350 million and is scheduled to open next year, while Foley had publicly collected 11,500 commitments to buy season tickets.

NHL Sun Belt franchises in Phoenix and Miami struggle to maintain attendance because of the warm-weather. With discussions of a franchise expansion in Las Vegas, most players and executives are excitedly cautious by the possibilities. Reports from abcnews.com says NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to address the media about the expansion before the awards ceremony starts.

“If the board has any interest in pursuing it, my recommendation would be, then, to open a formal expansion process. Even if they green-light a formal expansion process, it doesn’t mean we’re going to expand. It means we’ll go through the steps of looking through things, and the conclusion at the end of the process could very well be no expansion,” Bettman said in Tampa during the Stanley Cup final earlier this month.

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