Americanization Of Nhl Continues Via Expansion Four U.S. Cities Chosen To Join League By 2000, Making Canada-U.S. Ratio 1-To-5

The NHL is expanding to two cities currently without a major pro sports team, and is giving a second chance to two others where hockey previously flopped.

Nashville, Tenn., and Columbus, Ohio, were the first-time cities to win endorsements Tuesday from the NHL’s expansion committee. The league also plans a return to Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Each new franchise will cost $80 million.

The plan, which will expand the NHL to 30 teams by 2000, still must be approved by the full Board of Governors on June 25. A three-fourths majority of 26 is required, but that is considered little more than a formality.

Nashville - the only one of the four cities with an arena currently considered suitable for major league hockey - would begin play in the 1998-99 season. Atlanta would start the following season, and Columbus and Minneapolis-St. Paul would join in 2000.

“I am confident that the strength of each of the recommended markets and ownership groups will lead to a successful conclusion of this process,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

As part of the expansion plan, the league and the NHL Players’ Association agreed to a four-year extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement through Sept. 15, 2004. That also is subject to ratification by the governors and the union.

Losing out in the expansion sweepstakes were Houston and Oklahoma City.

The expansion would give the NHL as many franchises at the turn of the century as the NFL and major league baseball. The NBA has 29 franchises.

The new franchises would mean the league has grown fivefold since 1967, when it doubled in size from six to 12 teams.

By adding four American cities, the league continued a trend away from its Canadian roots.

Only six of 30 teams will be located north of the border, and in two recent franchise shifts, the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver and the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix.

Growing cities - particularly in the West and the Sunbelt - have been preferred by the league over Canada.