The tone surrounding a return of the NHL to Atlanta has changed quite a bit over the past year. For much of 2024 and 2025, confidence was high. It seemed inevitable that the NHL would decide that the third time’s the charm. Maybe they still think that, but it’s starting to feel like the wheels are spinning.
After months of quiet, we’ve learned over the past couple of weeks that the efforts of each prospective group are still at full force. Krause Sports and Entertainment (Krause group), led by local car dealership owner Vernon Krause, is still pushing for a team in South Forsyth, and Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment (Alpharetta group), led by former NHL player and current NHL on TNT analyst Anson Carter, is pushing for a team in the suburb of Alpharetta.
One wants to build “The Gathering at South Forsyth.” The other aims to transform the land where North Point Mall currently stands.
These potential developments are about six miles apart. The current wisdom dictates that north of the city limits, somewhere near Georgia State Road 400 (Georgia 400), is a key ingredient for success.
The Braves belted for the northern suburbs almost a decade ago, though more west to Marietta, leaving behind a ballpark that was less than 30 years old at the time. Meanwhile, the Hawks don’t have dire attendance at their downtown arena, but it’s nowhere near the best in the NBA. As we also know, the Atlanta Thrashers, who used to share the Hawks’ arena, didn’t thrive there.
While the Falcons do well downtown, it’s a different standard altogether. They have eight or nine NFL home games, mostly played on Sundays. They don’t have to navigate a soon-to-be 84-game schedule with half of them at home, mainly on weeknights.
So, going north it is. Having something similar to The Battery, the development around the Braves’ current ballpark, is the goal. Based on recent reports, the local governments are still bought in. Forsyth County Chairman Alfred John recently pointed to work being done on Georgia 400 as a promising development. Meanwhile, Alpharetta reportedly approved a tax allocation district earlier this month.
Much of the infrastructure for a potential team is materializing. However, there are still major hurdles that could make much of the promising progress be for nothing.
Barrier to Entry Through the Roof
The NHL is testing how much these groups want this. The expansion fee alone has killed hopes in other cities before.
Former potential owner of a team in Kansas City, Lamar Hunt Jr., whose family has owned the Chiefs since their inception, deemed an expansion fee similar to what the Seattle Kraken paid ($650 million) as “unrealistic” (‘With no NHL or NBA on horizon for Kansas City, it’s time to appreciate what we do have,’ Kansas City Star, Nov. 20, 2023).
Now, an owner will have to pay about triple that if they want to make their dream a reality ($2 billion). The stance of the Alpharetta group on this fee isn’t known. However, if they’re still in the hunt, they can be presumed to be content with the cost. Meanwhile, Krause has been fully open about his thoughts on the expansion fee.
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“The franchise fee has risen,” Krause said to Fox 5, Atlanta’s Fox affiliate. “We’re operating under the assumption that’s what it’s going to be. That’s what we’re going to our investors with.”
The assumption they’re under is that if they can’t get that money raised, then they won’t get a team. When asked if it was reasonable, he said with a chuckle, “I’m sure they think that it is.”
In time, we’ll find out if either can raise that capital. Neither group appears to be there, and money will always be a top hurdle. Even if they do raise the money, they aren’t guaranteed anything.
Where Groups Truly Stand With the NHL Is Complicated
We know the NHL is open to expansion, especially in Atlanta. They haven’t shut down the discussion for a reason. However, where they stand with each group requires some unpacking.
In the recent report from Fox 5, Krause said the team was in constant communication with the NHL. However, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) was told in an email from NHL deputy commissioner Billy Daly back in January that Krause has not had contact with the NHL in several months (‘No clear end in sight for Atlanta hockey fans as NHL bids take another turn,’ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 13, 2026).
To be fair to Krause, this contact could have resumed and has remained constant since. The NHL has not recently commented on Atlanta expansion, making it hard to properly gauge if they currently agree that this is the case.
In the end, going dark for months is not good, even if it’s simply due to no developments. The longer something takes, the less likely something happens. It doesn’t help that the AJC also reported in the same column that the Alpharetta group had just spoken with the NHL. It’s a chance for one group to get a leg up on the other.
All the communication is nice, but they still have to match what the NHL is looking for. Back in September, Daly told ESPN that the league was waiting for something more “fully baked” before considering expansion. They didn’t want just aspirational ideas.
We don’t know what that standard is, but the plans don’t appear to be much beyond that aspirational phase.
The Alpharetta group, having that aforementioned recent chat, could be seen as encouraging, as they are considered to be gaining momentum. However, they still seem far off, too. Daly told the AJC that there is plenty left to be figured out.
“There seems to remain a high level of interest in continuing to pursue a franchise, but I am not sure there is much more I can offer in terms of how close (or far) they are from raising the necessary funds and making a bona fide proposal that we would have the ability to study and react to.”
There’s a shame here. With the excitement coming off the United States winning gold in both men’s and women’s hockey at the Olympics, there was a perfect opportunity for momentum. For now, there are talks of confidence in getting a team and more approvals on infrastructure. More waiting seems to be coming along with it.
