Atlanta group requests NHL expansion franchise

Former NHLer Anson Carter and the Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment group formally requested the league commences the expansion process to bring a franchise to the Atlanta area on Tuesday.

"I have no doubt that the best league in the world will thrive in its return to Metro Atlanta," Carter said in a statement. "I have been in dialogue with NHL commissioner (Gary) Bettman since 2019 about an expansion team returning to the Fulton County Metro Atlanta market, knowing that franchise decisions are exclusively decided by the NHL Board of Governors."

The NHL has left Atlanta twice. The Flames resided in Georgia from 1972-1980 before moving to Calgary, and the Thrashers played there from 1999-2011 before relocating to Winnipeg.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly noted in September that the Atlanta area is better equipped to house a NHL franchise now than it was before.

"I think times have changed pretty dramatically and the market demographics have changed pretty dramatically since the first time we went there and then again in 1999," Daly said.

Bettman has stated repeatedly that expansion from 32 teams isn't a priority for the NHL, but Atlanta's request for a team is the second the league has received this season after Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith expressed his interest in bringing a team to the state.