When the NHL opened up the league to potential expansion, one location seemed fairly obvious as a landing spot for a team: Quebec City. After all, there's been a team there before, people in Quebec actually like hockey already, and the city is desperate to have a team once again. Instead, the NHL decided to award the expansion franchise to Las Vegas. This will be the first of the big four sports teams to play in Vegas.
NHL hockey is coming to Las Vegas https://t.co/WvePmk0Qyu
— NHL (@NHL) June 22, 2016
As for Quebec City, the no-brainer option? The NHL said that while the city is basically a perfect location for a team, the fact that their dollar has significantly devalued meant that it didn't make financial sense to put a team there just yet.
The NHL has deferred the expansion application by Quebecor and its ownership group in Quebec City. pic.twitter.com/igzTBnuYPU
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 22, 2016
Needless to say, reactions to the news were decidedly mixed, with many people predicting that the team in Vegas would inevitably fail:
Just name them the Vegas Nordiques. That way it makes it easier when you have to move the team to Quebec City in 5 years.
— Chris Barron (@ChrisRBarron) June 22, 2016
To all of those Quebec City fans hoping to bring back the Nordiques. You can blame the terrible job Trudeau has done with the economy! #NHL
— Brad Behan (@BeezyHan) June 22, 2016
I think I have a new favorite #NHL team
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) June 22, 2016
Congrats, #VegasGotHockey https://t.co/DGo5OZY8lp
?? #vegasgothockey https://t.co/jVeKHG1mF7
— City of Las Vegas (@CityOfLasVegas) June 22, 2016
Great news for our community! ???? #vegasgothockey https://t.co/Y8kyL0zuGm
— City of Las Vegas (@CityOfLasVegas) June 22, 2016
The team will begin playing in the 2017-2018 season.
Maybe hockey in the desert will work this time around?
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