Texas NHL Bid: Austin Expo Site Under Consideration

Austin may claim the new hockey team before Houston does.

Pursuit Sports, the global sports entity owned by billionaire Dan Friedkin, holds an exclusive term sheet with the NHL to bring a 33rd expansion franchise to Texas. Recent reports from the Austin Business Journal indicate that representatives from Pursuit Sports have identified the Travis County Exposition Center in Northeast Austin as a potential site for the team. This move places the state capital ahead of Houston in the early stages of the selection process.

The proposed location is a 128-acre property owned by the city of Austin. Travis County currently leases the grounds for event operations, a contract set to expire in 2033. The site includes Luedecke Arena, a 6,400-seat venue built in 1983. The property also features a Skyline Club, a show barn, a banquet hall, and parking capacity for 4,000 vehicles. The Exposition Center is the permanent home of Rodeo Austin and has hosted large gatherings like the Republic of Texas Biker Rally.

Luedecke Arena has a prior history with ice sports. It served as the home for the Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League from 1996 to 2006. If the NHL selects this location, the existing arena would likely be demolished or replaced by a new facility built on the adjacent land. Pursuit Sports and the Friedkin Group did not respond to requests for comment as of Friday morning.

The identification of an Austin site follows two months of activity by Friedkin's group in the state capital. The organization signed an office lease in Austin recently. David Beeston, the CEO of Pursuit Sports, is scheduled to divide his time between Austin and Houston while negotiations proceed. NHL officials aim to finalize the expansion decision by the end of the current year. The new franchise is expected to begin its inaugural season in 2029 or 2030.

Internal league discussions show a divided owner base. ESPN reporter Greg Wyshinski noted that some NHL owners are split on which Texas city offers the better opportunity, while others oppose adding a 33rd team entirely. For Friedkin and Pursuit Sports, the financial commitment ranges from the current expansion fee of $2 billion to over $3.5 billion. This higher estimate includes the construction costs for a new arena.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the dual-city approach in June. He stated that determining the best option requires due diligence for both the league and Friedkin. Bettman acknowledged that both Austin and Houston would need a new arena and that feasibility might differ between the two locations. In Houston, the Friedkin Group has provided minimal details on a specific location. The Toyota Center, home to the Houston Rockets, could serve as a temporary venue. Rockets president Gretchen Sheirr said in 2023 that renovation plans include adding an ice machine to make the arena viable for NHL hockey.

The Friedkin Group recently listed Everton FC, its English Premier League club, for sale. The firm also holds stakes in AS Roma in Italy and AS Cannes in France.