A group looking to bring an NHL expansion team to the Atlanta region says a report that a bid was in its final stages was "premature and incomplete."
On Friday, the social media account NHL to Atlanta shared on X that the project — known as The Gathering at South Forsyth — had submitted a final packet for approval by the NHL.
However, Vernon Krause, CEO of Krause Sports and Entertainment, which is leading the project, said on Saturday in a statement that that was not the case.
"Unfortunately, information shared during a recent community update — and subsequently distributed by email — was premature and incomplete, leading to inaccurate statements on social media," Krause said. "To clarify, the NHL has made no decisions with respect to our project, and we are not in the expansion application phase."
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic that the process was "not even remotely close to an application phase."
The Gathering at South Forsyth project would see a multi-use arena and community space built in Forsyth County, north of Atlanta. Krause Sports and Entertainment is one of two groups looking to develop a new arena to host an NHL expansion team in the region. The other project would see The North Point Mall in nearby Alpharetta redeveloped into an arena capable of hosting an NHL team. Alpharetta city council approved rezoning of the mall for an arena in late August. The NHL has not awarded an expansion team to that group either.
The NHL did confirm in June that it's evaluating an expansion bid from The Friedkin Group, with Houston or Austin under consideration to host the league's 33rd franchise. That possible project would cost The Friedkin Group $3.5 billion for an expansion fee and the construction of a new arena in the selected city. A final decision on the bid is expected before the end of 2026.
Atlanta has been home to two NHL franchises in the past. The Atlanta Flames played in the city from 1972 to 1980 before moving to Calgary, while the Atlanta Thrashers competed from 1999 to 2011 before relocating to Winnipeg.
