Las Vegas awarded NHL expansion franchise

Professional hockey will be coming to Las Vegas as the NHL announced on Wednesday that it has granted an expansion franchise to the city.

The franchise, which will begin play in 2017-18 as a member of the Pacific Division, received a unanimous vote by the league's Board of Governors in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

With the announcement, the NHL became the first of the four North American professional sports leagues to land a team in Las Vegas.

"In the fall of 2017, when we celebrate the 100th birthday of the NHL, we will do so as a league of 31 teams," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We are pleased to welcome (Las Vegas principal owner) Bill Foley and the city of Las Vegas to the league and are truly excited that an NHL franchise will be the first major professional sports team in this vibrant, growing, global destination city."

The Las Vegas franchise will pay a $500 million expansion fee, a significant higher cost than the $80 million paid by the Nashville Predators (1998-99), Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2000), Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild (2001-02) when they entered the league.

"On behalf of the Las Vegas Founding 75, our 14,000 season-ticket holders and the entire Las Vegas community, I would like to thank Commissioner Bettman, the NHL staff and the team owners for their support during this process and the confidence they have placed in Las Vegas by awarding this franchise," Foley said.

"I also would like to thank everyone who supported us through this incredible journey. As I've said many times over the past year, Las Vegas is a hockey town and we look forward to cheering on our home team."

Quebec City saw its application for expansion deferred on Wednesday, with the Board of Governors citing a geographic imbalance, the lack of strength of the Canadian dollar and the league's wish not to add multiple teams at this time.