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Seattle Takes Big Step Towards NHL Team

By Pete Schirrick |
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 4: The sun sets on the Space Needle and downtown skyline as viewed at dusk on November 4, 2015, in Seattle, Washington. Seattle, located in King County, is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, and is experiencing an economic boom as a result of its European and Asian global business connections. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 4: The sun sets on the Space Needle and downtown skyline as viewed at dusk on November 4, 2015, in Seattle, Washington. Seattle, located in King County, is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, and is experiencing an economic boom as a result of its European and Asian global business connections. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

The Seattle City Council voted 7-1 in favor of a new measure, now it may be only a matter of time before it’s home to an NHL team.

On Monday, the Seattle City council approved a measure calling for $600-million renovation of KeyArena. The 62-year-old facility used to house the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics, but now it can potentially be the path to an NHL franchise. Perhaps the biggest obstacles in any hopeful expansion market’s dream of acquiring a team is securing an arena. This is very close to fruition.

KeyArena is the current host of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, but the building hasn’t had a major (four major sports) tenant since the Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma in 2008. With a seating capacity of roughly 15,000 for hockey, it soon may have an NHL team. The new plans will surely help the arena match NHL specifications, and maybe even add some seating. This situation has been monitored very closely by the league and the investment group, and now it leaves little to no more uncertainty.

Will Seattle get an expansion team or will a team relocate?

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Now we get to the true storm that will rise from these developments. Will Seattle be awarded the league’s 32nd franchise? Or will an existing team caught in hard times relocate to the Pacific Northwest? With announcements of a Seattle-based team potentially on the horizon in coming months, either route is a viable option.

The league won’t sit at the weird 31 clubs forever, so expansion is imminent at some point. Sitting at fifteen squads, the Western conference is still lacking an even number.

Seattle makes a world of sense. The city is full of very loyal sports fans, and they’ve been dying for a hockey team for quite some time. Of course, conference realignment may have to occur to balance the Pacific and Central divisions. It has happened before, but it usually makes things a little edgy at first.

Or will an existing team relocate to the area? There are a few teams currently embroiled in arena disputes. The Calgary Flames’ wishes for a new downtown arena were shot down by the city a few weeks ago. Likewise, the Arizona Coyotes have been involved in an ever muddying bout for arena security.

Next: What About Kansas City?

Is Seattle destined to soon have their own hockey team? Would the league consider relocating some franchises stuck in troubling times and award a different city an expansion team? Where do other hotbeds such as Houston and Quebec City fit in? Nobody can say exactly what the league will do, only time will tell.

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