Houston, Texas is always seen as a potential market for NHL expansion. Another frequently mentioned market of Atlanta has its arena project going in the right direction. Houston might not be building a brand new arena, but how close is Houston to getting a team?
Things might now be a little more complicated. An NHL team in Houston has always seem to be tied with the involvement, and money, of Tilman Fertitta. Fertitta is a billionaire because of Landry’s Restaurants (if you’ve ever eaten at a Rainforest Café you can thank him) and the Golden Nugget brand of casinos.
In September 2017, he bought the Houston Rockets of the NBA for $2 billion and has since been reported to be seeking an NHL team for the city.
Fertitta has the money so lack of financing isn’t a problem. What might be a problem is his new government job. In late April, Fertitta was confirmed by the United States Senate to be the next Ambassador to Italy and San Marino. Owner of the New York Jets Woody Johnson was formerly the United States Ambassador to Great Britain from 2017-2021. Both sports owners were nominated for their positions by President Donald Trump.
Fertita can resign and leave his post, but let’s assume he keeps his position for the next four years of Trump’s presidency. What if an opportunity to own an NHL team becomes available?
The sale of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers increased interest in potential NBA expansion and the $10 billion sale price could make that expansion fee be in the realm of $6 billion. What if the NHL sees the money seemingly printing itself and decides to add a 33rd and 34th team while they’re at it?
The main question is would an NHL expansion bid be likely and successful without Fertitta’s involvement? Right around the time Fertitta was packing his bags for Rome, Houston Public Media reported another Houston billionaire met with NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. Daly also recently met with a group from New Orleans about the possibility of bringing an NHL franchise to the area.
Take the deputy commissioner’s meeting as the league just doing due diligence on prospective buyers instead of a sign anything is imminent. Sometimes the league just wants to have a preapproved list of potential buyers in case something comes up. Look at what happened with the Arizona Coyotes last season when Gary Bettman already had now-owner Ryan Smith’s number on speed dial.
Assume Fertitta himself still wants to lead the “NHL to Houston” charge. There’s been rumblings he was concerned with other business dealings in his portfolio (not sports related) very recently even as he’s ambassador. This suggests Fertitta might be an ocean away, but is always keeping track of business opportunities stateside. Fertitta gave up his position at Landry’s, but not ownership of the Rockets, for the ambassador job.
Assume it takes four years for any potential Houston expansion team and by then Fertitta has become an “ex-ambassador”. The league thoroughly vets any potential owner and Fertitta isn’t the only one with a bag of cash and wanting to own a team.
Being a former ambassador does bring a certain amount of prestige to NHL ownership ranks that you have to imagine fellow NHL owners would see him as an asset. Working in international diplomacy, in an almost border-less league like the NHL, would be an asset to the league as a whole.
He wouldn’t be the first presidential appointee in the hockey sphere. Former United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh currently serves as head of the NHLPA. When it comes times for CBA negotiations these two could find themselves at opposite ends of our hypothetical table.
Fertitta’s current job is more of a roadblock in the short term than the long term. If an “Arizona Coyotes” type scenario presented itself, Fertitta might not be able to act quickly enough at the opportunity. If we’re talking a few years down the road, as NHL expansion typically is, Fertitta could still be the major Houston area power broker putting together the bid for the city’s best chance.