"Can barely support 32 teams": NHL looks to Houston for expansion but fans question the need for more teams

With all the ongoing drama in the NHL, it seems like the league has found a new bidder for its next franchise. As per Emily Kaplan of ESPN, famous American billionaire Dan Friedkin has “emerged as a strong ownership option to bring the NHL to Houston”. Apparently, the NHL has already met Dan Friedkin’s The Friedkin Group “several times” for a “potential expansion”. But fans are not at all happy about the next franchise being in Houston.With 25 teams in USA and 7 teams in Canada, the NHL already has 32 teams and fans believe it is “more than enough”. A fan commented, “There was an ESPN game this year for Sharks/Kraken that had 175K viewers...why on earth is the league looking to expand when not nearly enough people are watching current teams for NATIONAL TV games🤦 “Another fan wrote, “32 teams is enough. When are they gonna stop? When it’s at 100?”, while a third fan commented, “NHL can barely support 32 teams”.Another user noted, “Expansion is simply a way to provide a quick cash infusion to the owners (via the fee) and a way to raise franchise values. It has nothing to do with improving the product for, or needs of, the fans.”As per reports, back in December 2024, American billionaire Dan Friedkin became the 10th American owner of a team in the Premier League when he bought a majority stake in Everton for a whopping £400 million (€486 million) from Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri.The Premier League had issued a statement that said, "The Premier League has approved the purchase of 98.8% of Everton by the Friedkin Group, once the owners' and directors' test was completed. Once approved by the board, it was also approved by an independent panel”.As per Forbes Middle East, in 2020, Dan Friedkin bought AS Roma for a whopping $700 million. Currently, Dan Friedkin, the owner and CEO of The Friedkin Group, lives with his family and four children in Houston. The famous billionaire has a massive net worth estimated to be of $7.6 billion, as per Forbes, as of October 2024.Also Read: "Suspend him": Connor McDavid's injury drags Josh Morrissey into controversy as fans demand action against Jets player