What is required to start an NHL team?

Question

With the addition of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild to the NHL in 2000 bringing the number of teams to 30, I'm wondering what requirements need to be met to start your own franchise, if any?

Is there a limit to the number of teams a region can have or anything?

I'm asking this because I'm a new fan to the sport and have noticed that with 30 teams the divisions are all even in the number of teams they include. Is this a coincidence? It seems like when teams have popped up in the past, multiple teams have started and joined the same year (in general).

Answer 1

that's because the nhl finds it easier for scheduling and stuff to have multiple teams coming in at the same team. for starters, you need probably at least $200 million for a franchise fee, then you need an approved place to play in a big enough market, you need the people to run your team, you need to have enough money/credit to convince the nhl your team won't go under the first couple years, and you probably need to have another team coming in at the same time. you would pick up your palyers in the draft, and through an expansion draft

Answer 2

ASIDE from the obvious (Money), you also need both the city's approval, obviuosly an arena, and also approval from the NHL--each team's owner also has a say. I would also think there would have to be a few teams to go in at the same time so there wasn't an un even number of teams

Answer 3

A whole lot of money
and Gary Bettman's blessing

Answer 4

Big cash and lots. There should be a team in winnipeg.

Answer 5

You need a large city in the US or Canada, and millions of dollars.

Answer 6

God I hope there are no more teams. So let's just change the subject.

Answer 7

you have to have money and a good population

Answer 8

lots and lots and lots of money

Answer 9

MONEY. Everything else follows!!!!!

Answer 10

$MONEY$