The NHL has expanded to new areas in recent years, as the North American hockey league has brought teams to Las Vegas, Utah and Seattle.
More expansion could be coming.
But while hockey is known for its footprint in northern U.S. states and Canada, the league is considering bringing more of it to the traditional South.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
According to a report from ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the league is considering two Texas cities for expansion: Austin and Houston
Both Kaplan and Pat McAfee reported that "there could be news regarding NHL expansion in Texas. Sounds like Austin or Houston could be starting the process."
Houston is eying an NHL team
U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin has previously expressed interest in bringing an NHL franchise to Houston, Texas. Those talks could be progressing, too.
"Friedkin is CEO of The Freidkin Group, which is based in Houston, and has begun his foray into professional sports ownership over the past several years. In 2020, the company bought the Italian Serie A club AS Roma. In 2024, TFG became majority owners of the English Premier League club Everton. Earlier this month, TFG helped secure £350 million in funding for a new stadium for Everton," ESPN reported.
"Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta previously had conversations with the NHL about the possibility of owning a hockey team, however it appears Friedkin's group emerged as a more viable option."
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said last year that expansion was not a "front-burner topic."
However, it sounds like that could change as the league approaches the 2026-27 season, with Texas potentially emerging as a popular landing spot for an expansion team or two.
The state of Texas already has one NHL team, as the Dallas Stars have been around since the 1993-94 season.
