(Sorry it took me so long to get around to writing and posting this. Sometimes life gets in the way. I hope to be able to post future blogs with a little more frequency.)

Even though it’s a dream, I think somewhere down the line it’s possible to see another NHL team in KC. The best way for the city to see that dream come true is to set up things up better than the previous foray with the Scouts.

We already have a few things going for us:
1. We have an NHL ready venue. T-Mobile Center is the perfect size for NHL crowds. Having hosted a handful of exhibition games, the league is aware of the facility. While the arena, previously known as Sprint Center, is over a decade old, it’s still newer than 24 of the 32 NHL arenas currently being used.
2. We have a devoted fan base. KC has had numerous pro teams dating back to the 1920s. The area currently supports an ECHL team in the suburbs with the Mavericks in most seasons averaging near capacity attendance at Cable Dahmer Arena. KC also regularly ranks as one of the highest non-NHL markets in ratings for NHL TV games. So, there is support.
3. We have been there, done that, and/or read Troy Treasure’s Icing On The Plains: The Rough Ride of Kansas City’s NHL Scouts. The best way to learn what to do or not to do is experience. KC’s experience with the NHL from 1974-76 with the Scouts is something the city, potential owners, and even fans can learn from. And, for those of us who weren’t around for that experience, read Treasure’s book—it’s an amazing history lesson.

Now, we still have things to do:
1. Find a potential owner or small ownership group. Or, find a current NHL team that’s looking to move to a new city. The best thing would be if someone akin to Ewing Kauffman or Lamar Hunt emerged with interest in the NHL. But, even if we could get a small group of local corporate leaders together to purchase a team it could work.
2. Need to prove to the NHL and potential owners there’s interest in the NHL. This can be done by hosting exhibition games in our NHL arena and selling out. (Something that’s been done and could be done again. It’d also be helpful to continue to show support for the Mavericks by getting back to the pre-pandemic strong near sell-out average attendance.)
3. Moving up the Mavericks to the AHL also would help in showing the support KC has for hockey, by showing the city has an interest in seeing a higher quality product. (This one isn’t necessary, but if getting the NHL in town is in the distant future, which it most likely would be, it would show determination to move up and might draw in new fans.)

I know this isn’t detailed, but these are the thoughts I’ve had on the subject matter. I believe the hardest part would be finding the ownership group or a team on the move, because it’s a well-known fact that KC is routinely on the list of potential future NHL cities published by many media outlets. Heck, even The Great One included KC on his list of future NHL cities.
Look for my future blogs discussing this subject. Next up: Talking about NHL teams that could possibly move somewhere in the future.