There's been plenty of talk recently of the NHL's expansion plans, with Utah and Atlanta emerging as the two serious candidates who have submitted formal requests. Relocation could even happen as early as this summer with the Arizona Coyotes still homeless for the future. Now however, a totally new city has entered the fold as prolific sports owner Stan Kroenke is looking to bring an NHL team to San Diego.
On a recent San Diego radio show called Kaplan and Crew, the host revealed that a Kroenke-led group is purchasing an old arena in the city with the intention of completely re-doing it to host an NHL team.
If Stan Kroenke wants an NHL team in San Diego, it will certainly happen. Kroenke might be the single most influential person in professional sports in North America, as he owns the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Arsenal FC, and the Colorado Avalanche. Kaplan emphasized the fact that Kroenke has no intention of selling or moving the Avlanche, but is purely interested in expanding.
San Diego is a booming sports market with the Chargers and the Padres recently heading in to become massive successes. Kroenke is a savvy businessman in this situation, and if he's interested in backing a San Diego NHL team, Gary Bettman will be listening intently.
