Houston mayor says his city is a better location than Austin for an NHL expansion franchise

After a strong round of expansion over the last decade, bringing in the Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken and Utah Mammoth (who are considered an expansion team; confusing, I know), the NHL is looking to grow again.

The league wants to add two more clubs, one of which will be based in Texas .

The question is whether it will be Houston or Austin joining the league.

Now, Houston's mayor is making his case for why his city is the best option for the league.

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For Austin, the league has a chance to be the first of the four major leagues to set up shop there, a strategy that worked well in Las Vegas.

However, Houston is currently the biggest media market in the nation without an NHL team, something NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly recently confirmed is a big factor in the decision.

"We're ready.

In fact, we're talking to multiple parties that are interested," Mayor John Whitmire said in an interview with The Sporting News .

"So when we get a proposal, if the city can do something to a system, we'll be there.

We'll definitely be a better location than Austin." Houston has never had an NHL team, but was home to the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros in the 1970s.

Since then, it has been home to some minor league teams, as has Austin.

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They'd never regret it," Whitmire said.