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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The man behind a push to land an NHL expansion team in Forsyth County believes he’s getting close to the point where the league could potentially vote on giving the green light to a new metro Atlanta hockey franchise.
“I think now the next step is for us to go up to New York and meet with the commissioner of the NHL and show them what we have in place with the county in hopes that they vote for expansion,” said Vernon Krause.
RELATED: Members of Forsyth County development ‘The Gathering’ meet with NHL about potential team
In the past year, 11Alive has had multiple conversations with Krause about his plan to get the NHL to return to Atlanta for a third time. Since then, the Board of Commissioners in Forsyth County voted to approve his project, “The Gathering” in January. This was a major step forward for Krause and his team in the planning process.
“There’s certain criteria that we have to meet to even apply for an expansion franchise and that was purchasing land, getting the zoning that we needed, both of those have been accomplished. Once we got the county vote, getting definitive documents done, which our lawyers are working on, that we can present to the NHL, talking with our investors that we’ve been talking with over the last couple of years, being able to present what I would call a completed package to the NHL,” said Krause.
Since last speaking with Krause, a different ownership group revealed a competing plan for the NHL to return to the metro Atlanta area. Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group, led by former professional hockey player Anson Carter, announced their vision last year for an NHL Atlanta expansion club.
Krause said he believes in his team and their project — which has put in years of work in order to get the league to agree that one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country makes sense for an NHL franchise.
“Number 1, we have land in a great area and yes there are other competitors, but they must meet the same criteria that we meet. They have to own land, in an area that’s attractive to the NHL. If other competitors have land, we don’t know about it at this point, so we think that we’re in a good place,” said Krause.
Krause and his team also have plans beyond building The Gathering.
“Our plans are to build two community ice rinks. We are working with the county right now on that, that would be available to be used by the high schools in Forsyth County to build hockey programs and if we were fortunate enough to get an NHL team, it would be our practice facility for the NHL team,” said Krause.
The league will not even vote on expansion until there is a new collective bargaining agreement approved between the players and the league, and those negotiations are ongoing.
One of the key elements of getting the NHL to expand from their current 32 teams is to make sure a proposal project is shovel ready. That is something Krause and his team are aiming for.
“Our research shows that there is a need for a hockey team in this area that would be well supported,” Krause said. “The owners want to know that if we award a franchise that they are ready to put the shovel in the ground, and we will be ready.”