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NHL Expansion Efforts Intensify in Atlanta as Anson Carter Joins New Ownership Group
Anson Carter, the former NHL forward now known for his play‑by‑play voice, has stepped back onto the business side of the sport by joining a third ownership consortium that is pushing for a new franchise in the Atlanta market. The group—made up of Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment, the North Point Mall redevelopment team, and Vernon Krause’s Krause Sports & Entertainment—claims it has the financial muscle to support a team and is scouting several arena sites north of the city.
Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, confirmed that the NHL is in active dialogue with the consortium. At the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported that Daly told reporters the group still wants a franchise in Atlanta, that its funding is solid, but that it has yet to settle on a location. Daly added that the group is searching for a site that would be “better than either” the Alpharetta or North Point Mall proposals.
The bid’s public announcement came in a press release that the league later denied receiving. The group said the release was “premature and incomplete” and that the information shared in a community update had sparked inaccurate social‑media posts.
Atlanta’s hockey history is a roller‑coaster. The Atlanta Flames called the city home from 1972 to 1980 before moving to Calgary. The Thrashers joined in 1999, played at Philips Arena, and were sold and relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, where they became the current Jets. Since the Thrashers’ departure, the city has been without an NHL team.
The new consortium is evaluating several potential arenas. The North Point Mall redevelopment plan proposes a 20,000‑seat venue in Alpharetta, a northern suburb that would be part of a larger mixed‑use complex. Another option is Pennant Park—a 34‑acre parcel next to The Battery in downtown Atlanta that the Braves’ parent company acquired last year. A new arena there would extend the Battery’s entertainment footprint.
Other sites on the table include The Gathering at South Forsyth, a venue in Forsyth County that has hosted concerts and sports, and Duluth, a Gwinnett County city that hosts the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators. Carter’s stake in the Gladiators could help cultivate a hockey‑savvy fan base.
The NHL stresses that a thorough market analysis will determine whether Atlanta can sustain a new franchise. Daly said the league is “not remotely close” to a formal application phase but is listening to interested parties.
This push is part of a broader conversation about the league’s growth. Since the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, the Seattle Kraken in 2021, and the Utah Mammoth in 2024, the NHL has added three teams. The most recent expansion fee is reported at $2 billion, according to league officials.
At this stage, the Atlanta effort remains in its infancy. No formal application has been filed, and the NHL has not confirmed any agreements. The next steps for the group will likely involve detailed feasibility studies, community outreach, and negotiations with local governments.
If the expansion vote passes—a two‑thirds majority of the league’s 32 owners—the new team would need to secure a suitable arena, hire a coaching staff, and build a roster through an expansion draft and free‑agency signings. The timeline for these steps has not yet been defined.
For now, Atlanta remains a focal point for NHL officials, local business leaders, and hockey fans. The city’s past experiences with the Flames, Thrashers, and Jets offer a historical backdrop for a potential return to the Southeast. The outcome of the bid will be closely monitored as the league’s next board meeting approaches, where the feasibility of adding a franchise to the Atlanta market will likely be addressed.
Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, confirmed that the NHL is in active dialogue with the consortium. At the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported that Daly told reporters the group still wants a franchise in Atlanta, that its funding is solid, but that it has yet to settle on a location. Daly added that the group is searching for a site that would be “better than either” the Alpharetta or North Point Mall proposals.
The bid’s public announcement came in a press release that the league later denied receiving. The group said the release was “premature and incomplete” and that the information shared in a community update had sparked inaccurate social‑media posts.
Atlanta’s hockey history is a roller‑coaster. The Atlanta Flames called the city home from 1972 to 1980 before moving to Calgary. The Thrashers joined in 1999, played at Philips Arena, and were sold and relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, where they became the current Jets. Since the Thrashers’ departure, the city has been without an NHL team.
The new consortium is evaluating several potential arenas. The North Point Mall redevelopment plan proposes a 20,000‑seat venue in Alpharetta, a northern suburb that would be part of a larger mixed‑use complex. Another option is Pennant Park—a 34‑acre parcel next to The Battery in downtown Atlanta that the Braves’ parent company acquired last year. A new arena there would extend the Battery’s entertainment footprint.
Other sites on the table include The Gathering at South Forsyth, a venue in Forsyth County that has hosted concerts and sports, and Duluth, a Gwinnett County city that hosts the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators. Carter’s stake in the Gladiators could help cultivate a hockey‑savvy fan base.
The NHL stresses that a thorough market analysis will determine whether Atlanta can sustain a new franchise. Daly said the league is “not remotely close” to a formal application phase but is listening to interested parties.
This push is part of a broader conversation about the league’s growth. Since the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, the Seattle Kraken in 2021, and the Utah Mammoth in 2024, the NHL has added three teams. The most recent expansion fee is reported at $2 billion, according to league officials.
At this stage, the Atlanta effort remains in its infancy. No formal application has been filed, and the NHL has not confirmed any agreements. The next steps for the group will likely involve detailed feasibility studies, community outreach, and negotiations with local governments.
If the expansion vote passes—a two‑thirds majority of the league’s 32 owners—the new team would need to secure a suitable arena, hire a coaching staff, and build a roster through an expansion draft and free‑agency signings. The timeline for these steps has not yet been defined.
For now, Atlanta remains a focal point for NHL officials, local business leaders, and hockey fans. The city’s past experiences with the Flames, Thrashers, and Jets offer a historical backdrop for a potential return to the Southeast. The outcome of the bid will be closely monitored as the league’s next board meeting approaches, where the feasibility of adding a franchise to the Atlanta market will likely be addressed.
