Is Houston Finally Going To Get An NHL Team?

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Gaeilge
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3:43p, 6/23/26
The sheer population density and diversity of Houston should give it the upper hand in this evaluation, I would think.


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htxag09
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3:47p, 6/23/26
AG
Is the NHL crowd really that diverse? Why would that give us the upper hand?
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88Warrior
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4:05p, 6/23/26
I would think the citizens of Austin would find hockey too violent……
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XpressAg09
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In reply to htxag09 • 4:05p, 6/23/26
AG
It wouldn't. Diversity is not always our strength.
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hockeyag
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4:17p, 6/23/26
AG
Houston has the wealth and population. It is the largest US market without an NHL team.
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Gaeilge
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In reply to hockeyag • 4:19p, 6/23/26
hockeyag said:
Houston has the wealth and population. It is the largest US market without an NHL team.

Obligatory:
Username checks out
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cajunaggie08
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4:29p, 6/23/26
AG
The main thing that may give Austin an edge is an NHL team there would be the top pro-sport instantly. Sure, it has to compete with UT for sports attention, but Austin has so many transplants with no ties to UT that a pro-team there would get lots of attention from residents as well as corporations for suites and season tickets. As much as I would love a NHL team in Houston, Id be curious how many companies would jump at the opportunity to add a season ticket package for hockey on top of what they've committed for the Astros, Rockets, and Texans. If we were in an oil boom period it would probably be a no-brainer.
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Gaeilge
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In reply to cajunaggie08 • 4:36p, 6/23/26
But where do you build an arena that is within the likely geographical boundaries they'll desire? Look at the absolute ****show that tu ran into with the Frank Erwin fiasco and any other attempts to expand their campus. Their downtown is absolutely landlocked to all hell.

If Friedkin is already at the front of the line in this, which they say he is, it's really a no-brainer given that he already operates out of Houston with Gulf States Toyota.
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drumboy
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In reply to 88Warrior • 4:39p, 6/23/26
AG
88Warrior said:
I would think the citizens of Austin would find hockey too violent……

Texas Stars are pretty popular I hear.
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cajunaggie08
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In reply to Gaeilge • 4:40p, 6/23/26
AG
I was thinking they could play at the Moody Center, but i just looked it up and it currently doesn't have the ability to host hockey. I don't know what it would take to retrofit the arena to be capable to do so, but it might wind up like when the NY Islanders were in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn where there were no lower bowl seats on one end and blocked views from the upper deck.

As long as Friedkin and Fertitta have a deal for the team to play at Toyota Center, then it should be a done deal.
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CheeseSndwch
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4:44p, 6/23/26
I haven't really kept up with the NHL since the 2004/5 lockout but I'd be excited for Houston to get a team.
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Marauder Blue 6
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In reply to cajunaggie08 • 5:04p, 6/23/26
AG
cajunaggie08 said:
As long as Friedkin and Fertitta have a deal for the team to play at Toyota Center, then it should be a done deal.

Except for the whole I-45 re-route that is about to take place that will make going downtown even less desirable.
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P.H. Dexippus
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5:08p, 6/23/26
AG
I have an idea of the recently demoed Northwest Mall.
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FrozenInYesterday
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5:11p, 6/23/26
Ice Cold Beverages?
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EclipseAg
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5:39p, 6/23/26
AG
From what I understand, the Friedkins would own the team either way. So the inclusion of Austin as a possible location is just a play to get leverage from Fertitta and the HSA.

IIRC, Fertitta has veto power over the construction of another hockey/basketball arena. By dangling Austin as a possibility, the NHL and the Friedkins both hedge their bets.

ETA: I don't think the Friedkins or the NHL want to be a tenant at Toyota Center. It simply doesn't work. We're gonna have to build a new arena, hence Bettman mentioning $3.5 billion total cost (expansion fee plus new building).
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EclipseAg
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In reply to EclipseAg • 5:55p, 6/23/26
AG
EclipseAg said:
IIRC, Fertitta has veto power over the construction of another hockey/basketball arena. By dangling Austin as a possibility, the NHL and the Friedkins both hedge their bets.

On further reflection, I see Fertitta saying "no" to a new arena that would compete directly with Toyota Center and the Friedkins building a new arena/entertainment district in an Austin suburb. And once again we will be left out of the NHL because of Les Alexander and the HSA.
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FrozenInYesterday
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5:56p, 6/23/26
Friedkin (along with some minor private equity partners in Houston/dallas) went into negotiations with the NHL ~ 3 years ago. They booted out Fertitta as an option fairly early which pissed off Fertitta. "Supposedly" negotiations stalled bc they wanted Friedkin to use the NHL team to subsidize a WNBA team which Fertitta ended up taking on. Northwest mall was picked as the location ~ 2 1/2 years ago. They told the bullet train company they needed to deliver them the lot demo'd and cleaned.

Source:
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EclipseAg
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In reply to FrozenInYesterday • 6:16p, 6/23/26
AG
FrozenInYesterday said:
Friedkin (along with some minor private equity partners in Houston/dallas) went into negotiations with the NHL ~ 3 years ago. They booted out Fertitta as an option fairly early which pissed off Fertitta. "Supposedly" negotiations stalled bc they wanted Friedkin to use the NHL team to subsidize a WNBA team which Fertitta ended up taking on. Northwest mall was picked as the location ~ 2 1/2 years ago. They told the bullet train company they needed to deliver them the lot demo'd and cleaned.

Source:

Does the Sports Authority agreement with the Rockets give Fertitta veto power over a new arena? That was always the case before and what I assumed was the major sticking point.
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Cibalo
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6:20p, 6/23/26
Houston is all getting a minor league team in the Bulls starting this fall. The facility is being built on 99 between I-10 and West Park Tollroad. Only a 1800 seat stadium but rumor has it is the test case for an NHL team in Houston. Austin has the Stars minor league team so they have that data.

I worry that area is too far outside for a lot of people to go to games. But I also dotn know if it makes sense to have an NHL and feeder team in the same city (Austin).

Also based on how ice rinks are built you can't just put one in an existing stadium unless you are making it semi permanent. There are so many layers under the ice that if you dont plan for it at the start you can't go back and retrofit one in later.

I voted to demo the Astrodome and build the hockey arean there.
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ATM9000
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In reply to EclipseAg • 6:35p, 6/23/26
AG
EclipseAg said:
FrozenInYesterday said:
Friedkin (along with some minor private equity partners in Houston/dallas) went into negotiations with the NHL ~ 3 years ago. They booted out Fertitta as an option fairly early which pissed off Fertitta. "Supposedly" negotiations stalled bc they wanted Friedkin to use the NHL team to subsidize a WNBA team which Fertitta ended up taking on. Northwest mall was picked as the location ~ 2 1/2 years ago. They told the bullet train company they needed to deliver them the lot demo'd and cleaned.

Source:

Does the Sports Authority agreement with the Rockets give Fertitta veto power over a new arena? That was always the case before and what I assumed was the major sticking point.


Toyota Center only hosts like 100 events a year currently including Rockets games. The WNBA team will help that number some… but I have my doubts a second arena is economically viable in Houston right now. I think NHL only works in Houston if Toyota Center plays the host to it.
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EclipseAg
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In reply to ATM9000 • 6:56p, 6/23/26
AG
ATM9000 said:
EclipseAg said:
FrozenInYesterday said:
Friedkin (along with some minor private equity partners in Houston/dallas) went into negotiations with the NHL ~ 3 years ago. They booted out Fertitta as an option fairly early which pissed off Fertitta. "Supposedly" negotiations stalled bc they wanted Friedkin to use the NHL team to subsidize a WNBA team which Fertitta ended up taking on. Northwest mall was picked as the location ~ 2 1/2 years ago. They told the bullet train company they needed to deliver them the lot demo'd and cleaned.

Source:

Does the Sports Authority agreement with the Rockets give Fertitta veto power over a new arena? That was always the case before and what I assumed was the major sticking point.


Toyota Center only hosts like 100 events a year currently including Rockets games. The WNBA team will help that number some… but I have my doubts a second arena is economically viable in Houston right now. I think NHL only works in Houston if Toyota Center plays the host to it.

Except the tenant ALWAYS gets screwed ... the worst dates, no parking, no private dressing rooms, fewer sponsorship dollars, lack of suite availability. The list is endless.

Right now, only three NHL teams share an arena with an NBA not owned by the same individual or group. And one of those -- Dallas -- is splitting up, with the Stars moving.

I can't imagine two billionaire owners working out an agreement that works for both. They will both want all the dollars they can hoover up from a building. And I can't imagine Fertitta ceding ancillary dates to a competitor.

Get ready to welcome the Austin Aeros!
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FrozenInYesterday
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In reply to EclipseAg • 8:21p, 6/23/26
Fertitta would have to sign off on it. Most likely some type of deal with him has already been made. The deal he made for $180 million to revamp the Toyota center with $95 million coming from the state being signed then demolition of the northwest mall starting shortly after present some curious timing of events…..Austin is a negotiation tactic at this point being put out purely for future public opinion. I'm fairly confident everything has already been signed…..but who knows
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ATM9000
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In reply to EclipseAg • 8:35p, 6/23/26
AG
EclipseAg said:
ATM9000 said:
EclipseAg said:
FrozenInYesterday said:
Friedkin (along with some minor private equity partners in Houston/dallas) went into negotiations with the NHL ~ 3 years ago. They booted out Fertitta as an option fairly early which pissed off Fertitta. "Supposedly" negotiations stalled bc they wanted Friedkin to use the NHL team to subsidize a WNBA team which Fertitta ended up taking on. Northwest mall was picked as the location ~ 2 1/2 years ago. They told the bullet train company they needed to deliver them the lot demo'd and cleaned.

Source:

Does the Sports Authority agreement with the Rockets give Fertitta veto power over a new arena? That was always the case before and what I assumed was the major sticking point.


Toyota Center only hosts like 100 events a year currently including Rockets games. The WNBA team will help that number some… but I have my doubts a second arena is economically viable in Houston right now. I think NHL only works in Houston if Toyota Center plays the host to it.

Except the tenant ALWAYS gets screwed ... the worst dates, no parking, no private dressing rooms, fewer sponsorship dollars, lack of suite availability. The list is endless.

Right now, only three NHL teams share an arena with an NBA not owned by the same individual or group. And one of those -- Dallas -- is splitting up, with the Stars moving.

I can't imagine two billionaire owners working out an agreement that works for both. They will both want all the dollars they can hoover up from a building. And I can't imagine Fertitta ceding ancillary dates to a competitor.

Get ready to welcome the Austin Aeros!


I get all of that. That's all still probably a better business proposition than taking equity in an arena that doesn't fill its calendar. … and if Toyota Center only fills a third of their dates as is…

It would be sick if NHL came to Houston. But I'm dubious that the economics are there for it. Tillman buying the WNBA franchise in my view was a bit of a sign that he agrees NHL wouldn't work here.
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EclipseAg
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8:54p, 6/23/26
AG
Okay I dug a little deeper on this.

Fertitta doesn't have veto power, but an NHL team not owned by him is not allowed to play in Toyota Center. And he has non-compete clauses that prevent the Harris County Sports Authority from funding or partially funding a competitive arena in the same classification as Toyota Center.

So that's why Gary Bettman was clear that a new arena, funded by Friedkin, was part of the agreement announced today.

I'm gonna hope that FrozenInYesterday is correct and Fertitta has already received a sweetener to step aside and let this deal go through.

I'm also guessing the NHL is confident that this is a done deal or they would never have announced anything. Hopefully the Austin thing is just a trial balloon.
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Buford T. Justice
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In reply to Cibalo • 9:05p, 6/23/26
AG
Could be a market analysis test case.
There is a booming demand for space for youth hockey teams to play in on a consistent basis. If the market responds favorably, I could see that small arena, converted into a youth facility, plus more rinks.
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Tone2002
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9:08p, 6/23/26
Is this team going to win is the bigger question in the long run for Houston fans…. lol
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Cibalo
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In reply to Buford T. Justice • 9:27p, 6/23/26
With the rink at Memorial City Mall set to close this summer there is a huge demand for ice rinks in Houston. Currently there are 2 in Sugarland, 1 in Sharpstown, 1 in Spring, 1 in the Woodlands that can host hockey games. The Galleria one is too small. If you look at Dallas they have 27 ice rinks.

The Bulls have already said there will be ice time available for other skating activities. But what they are and how much time they allow hasn't been determined.
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Cibalo
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9:40p, 6/23/26
I recently found this video that shows the process of construction and ice rink floor.

It starts with the ground already stabilized and heat pipes laid out (this is to prevent the ground freezing and causing frost heave). Then they bring in sand to cover it up, a layer of insulation, rebar, cooling pipes, and then concrete.
https://www.mortenson.com/news-insights/wfha-ice

There is another way to do it where instead of pouring a slab you use sand and build the ice on it. But this way requires the ice to be about twice as thick as a on a slab.

I dont really see how they could convert Toyota Center easily. You also need to find a spot for the chillers and cooling towers and dehumidification system.
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jakelew04
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In reply to Cibalo • 6:18a, 6/24/26
AG
Didn't the Aeros play at Toyota center for like 10 years?
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TXAG 05
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In reply to jakelew04 • 6:47a, 6/24/26
AG
jakelew04 said:
Didn't the Aeros play at Toyota center for like 10 years?


They did. Don't see why there would be an issue unless they removed all the ice making equipment or they haven't been maintaining it.
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SockDePot
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7:23a, 6/24/26
Yes.

Worked downtown right out of college. Many hammered nights after work, sneaking in booze to Toyota center, paying for a $20 ticket up high and then walking down and sitting on the glass bc no one was there.

Tons of fun.
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The Milkman
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9:01a, 6/24/26
AG
We get this NHL carrot dangled every few years all for nothing. Living in Maryland all of my friends are pretty big hockey fans of Flyers, Pens and Sabres. I've held off getting invested without a team. Maybe this is finally it.

And please, if so, make the color scheme the old oilers colors and be prepared to sell a ton of swag.
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P.H. Dexippus
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In reply to The Milkman • 9:13a, 6/24/26
AG
Then we could have two Oilers teams in the NHL
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Mega Lops
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In reply to Cibalo • 9:35a, 6/24/26
AG
Cibalo said:
With the rink at Memorial City Mall set to close this summer there is a huge demand for ice rinks in Houston.

LOL no there isn't

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ATM9000
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In reply to Mega Lops • 9:39a, 6/24/26
AG
Mega Lops said:
Cibalo said:
With the rink at Memorial City Mall set to close this summer there is a huge demand for ice rinks in Houston.

LOL no there isn't



Hahaha I did laugh when I read Memorial City ice rink shutting down followed by HUGE demand for ice rinks!
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