NHL’s Bettman: Las Vegas expansion ‘process is continuing’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had no news to report Saturday regarding expansion.

That didn't surprise Bill Foley, the businessman who wants to bring hockey to Las Vegas.

Speaking to reporters across the street from Bridgestone Arena in his midseason state-of-the-league address at the NHL All-Star Game, Bettman said the issue of expansion continues to be studied, that there is no timetable and that if the league were to grow for 2017-18, there is enough time for that to happen.

"The process is continuing," Bettman said. "We're not ready to make a decision."

Foley, who has put down a $2 million nonrefundable deposit with his application in July and is prepared to write a check for $500 million to join the NHL, said that's what he expected to hear.

"I know they want to get it right," said Foley, who was not in Nashville. "I'm just staying patient. I know people are getting tired of hearing me say that, but I think being patient and not saying much is the best way to go."

Foley said he and Bettman speak periodically, but the conversations are "nondescript."

"We talk, and he keeps me posted as to what's going on," Foley said.

Bettman would not comment on any specifics pertaining to the bid by Foley or by the Quebecor group, which is trying to get a team for Quebec City. The league said last week that the news of the NFL and the Oakland Raiders possibly coming to Las Vegas was not a factor in Foley's expansion bid.

Bettman also said the Canadian dollar, which has been on a steady decline for the past year, is not a factor for the Quebec City bid.

"We haven't been led to believe there is anything to the contrary by Quebecor," he said.

Bettman said the 10-member executive committee, which is dealing with expansion, is not struggling with any issues that is delaying the process.

"This is a very important decision with a long-term impact on the league," he said. "We're not running a 60-minute game here where the clock runs out. We're going through the process, and we're doing it in an orderly fashion."

Luc Robitaille, the Los Angeles Kings' president of business operations and alternate governor, has been listening to the discussion regarding expansion. He said that there's nothing wrong with the Las Vegas bid and that the league is just being cautious.

"I think Mr. Foley has done everything he's been asked to," Robitaille said. "It's hard to bring in new franchises, and I think Gary and the owners are exploring everything they have to.

"The executive committee has been doing a lot of work on it, and we have to make sure that it's going to be the right decision. And they want to make sure if a new team or teams come on board that they're competitive, which is very important to the league. You've got to do it right, and you've got to protect everyone because it's going to change a lot of people's lives."

Bettman also said that while the NHL continues its deliberation on expansion, it is not an opportunity for Seattle or any other city to come into the picture.

"Right now, our focus is on Las Vegas and Quebec City," he said. "If someone wanted to give us an application for expansion, we wouldn't accept it."

The Board of Governors is scheduled to meet again in June. But if the executive committee is ready to make a recommendation to expand before the meeting, Bettman said he would call a special meeting. It would take a three-quarters vote of the 30 owners to approve expansion.

"The fact there is a June meeting has no impact on the timetable," Bettman said. "I've said the earliest we can make it is for 2017-18. I've also said the clubs would need a full year to prepare to manage their rosters and their draft and be ready to play. If we make 2017, we make it. If we don't make 2017, we don't."

— Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.