Will the NHL Come to Austin or Houston?

Texas billionaire Dan Friedkin is looking to bring a second National Hockey League franchise to the Lone Star State, in either its capitol or Space City.

Pursuit Sports, Friedkin’s ownership and operating platform, struck a deal with the NHL to expand the league in either Houston or Austin, according to the San Antonio Business Journal. The state already has one NHL franchise: the Dallas Stars, who are in the process of moving from Downtown Dallas to suburban Plano.

Friedkin is no stranger to the sports business, but his expertise is across the pond. In 2019, he purchased Italian Serie A football club AS Roma, and gained majority ownership of English Premier League club Everton in 2024.

As the negotiations continue, where exactly could the franchise host its matches? If Austin is selected, there’s an option that would jump at the chance to host NHL games: The H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

The Texas Stars, the Dallas Stars’ affiliate in the American Hockey League, already play their home games at the stadium. The H-E-B Center is also the home of the San Antonio Spurs’ G-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. There’s precedent for a bespoke stadium as well: San Francisco-based architecture firm Gensler and Austin Commercial opened the 20,500 seat, $260 million Q2 Stadium for Major League Soccer franchise Austin FC in 2021.

If Houston is selected, there’s options as well. The Houston Rockets are undergoing a sweeping renovation of the Toyota Center set to be completed by fall 2027, and NRG Park is famous for hosting a wide variety of events, including Houston Texans games and the Houston Rodeo.

The Toyota Center could be particularly enticing, as the prospective NHL franchise could enter into an American Airlines Center-style agreement with the Rockets. The American Airlines Center is owned by the city of Dallas, and through 2031 will host both the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars.

— Hunter Cooke