Atlanta NHL expansion bid not in final application phase, developers say
A rival Atlanta NHL expansion claim was premature, officials say, as organizers clarify the status of a planned arena and franchise bid.
The group promoting a proposed Atlanta NHL expansion at South Forsyth pushed back on social media reports that it had submitted a final application to the league.
Vernon Krause, chief executive of Krause Sports and Entertainment, said the project remains under development and that the NHL has not received a formal expansion application.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly separately told reporters the league is far from an application phase for any Atlanta-area bid.
Developer calls report premature
Krause Sports and Entertainment issued a written correction after posts on X suggested the Gathering at South Forsyth had advanced to a final packet for NHL review.
The company’s statement said a recent community update produced “premature and incomplete” information that was then amplified online.
Krause emphasized that no NHL decision has been made regarding the South Forsyth proposal and that the group is not yet in an official expansion-application stage.
NHL official says process not close to application
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic that the league’s expansion process for the Atlanta region “is not even remotely close to an application phase.”
Daly’s comments underline the league’s position that interested parties remain at an exploratory or planning level rather than in formal submission.
League officials have previously described expansion as a multi-step vetting process involving financial, market and arena evaluations before an application is accepted.
Two competing Atlanta-area arena proposals
The Gathering at South Forsyth would build a new multi-use arena and community space in Forsyth County north of Atlanta.
A separate proposal envisions redeveloping North Point Mall in Alpharetta into an arena able to host an NHL franchise.
Alpharetta’s city council approved rezoning for the North Point Mall conversion in late August, but the NHL has not awarded an expansion team to that group either.
Friedkin Group pursuing separate expansion in Texas
Separately, the NHL confirmed in June that it is reviewing an expansion bid from The Friedkin Group, which would target either Houston or Austin as the league’s 33rd franchise.
That potential deal would include a combined package of an expansion fee and arena construction costs that The Friedkin Group has projected at roughly $3.5 billion.
The league has indicated a final decision on that bid is expected before the end of 2026, a timeline that does not directly affect Atlanta-area proposals.
Local history and market context
Atlanta previously hosted two NHL franchises: the Flames from 1972 to 1980 and the Thrashers from 1999 to 2011, both of which relocated after several seasons.
Those past relocations remain part of the market’s narrative as developers and the league assess long-term sustainability for any future team.
Current proposals stress modern arena design, community use and stronger ownership economics as ways to address the pitfalls that affected earlier teams.
Next steps for bidders and the league
Both Atlanta-area groups will need to advance through multiple milestones before the NHL would consider an official application, including finalizing financing, securing detailed arena plans and completing community and municipal approvals.
The league’s vetting process typically examines ownership strength, market viability, arenas, and long-term financial guarantees before moving to a formal application and potential expansion fee negotiation.
Until those elements are completed and an application is formally submitted, NHL leadership appears unlikely to confirm any new team for the Atlanta region.
The dispute over the social media post underscores how quickly local messaging can outpace formal league processes, and it leaves Atlanta-area hockey supporters waiting for clearer, league-sanctioned milestones.
