Las Vegas, Quebec City in 3rd Stage of NHL Expansion Process: Details, Reaction

The NHL could be welcoming two more cities into its ranks, as Las Vegas has joined Quebec City by advancing to the third stage of the league's expansion bidding process, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).

League Commissioner Gary Bettman announced toward the end of June that the NHL would be exploring expansion options, initially stating that Vegas, Quebec and Seattle were among those that showed "serious interest," according to the Canadian Press (via NHL.com).

Seattle, however, never made a bid, while Quebec and Vegas have passed the first requirements. This third stage could be the final stage, the Associated Press noted:

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A person familiar with the process told The AP that the third stage involves the NHL reviewing the applicants' business plans and revenue projections. ... The third stage is scheduled to end next month. Barring setbacks, it would then be up to the league and board of governors' approval to award expansion franchises, the person added.

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Quebecor, the group looking to bring hockey back to Quebec, announced its advancement earlier Friday afternoon:

The city has been without hockey for 20 years, as the Nordiques, which started in 1973 in the WHA and moved to the NHL in 1980, transferred to Colorado and became the Avalanche after the 1994-95 season.

The Vegas group, led by Bill Foley—who would be the team's owner, according to Ray Brewer of the Las Vegas Sun—would pay an estimated $500 million to bring the city a professional franchise, the first to ever call Sin City its home.

The Vegas group already has an arena in the works, as a $375 million venue that MGM and AEG are paying for will be finished by the spring of 2016.

According to Jacob Pramuk of CNBC.com, though, money might not come rolling in for the new franchises. "But even if chosen, a Las Vegas or Quebec City team may struggle to make money in a league already riddled with financially underperforming franchises," Pramuk wrote. Speaking with professor Andrew Zimbalist of Smith College, Pramuk cited that over 10 teams "operate at a loss in any given year."

Looking at the impact it would have on the ice, two more teams would bring the league's total to 32 sides, which could further dilute the talent around the NHL. Having to fill up more rosters, teams will throw fringe players who might not be ready for the NHL into action as production numbers could dip in the coming seasons. 

But seeing the game spread its influence to familiar and new cities alike is exciting for both the NHL and its fans.