Has this been confirmed outside of reports from insiders? The statement from Meruelo was incredibly vague.
Ironically, Winnipeg has super low attendance numbers, but the ownership seems like they are willing to eat the losses.
According to the Athletic,
https://theathletic.com/5107905/2023/12/05/nhl-team-attendance-analysis/ the low attendance numbers are in San Jose (bottoming out for a rebuild), Buffalo (I doubt Pegula would sell), Calgary (Canadian team) & Anaheim (another rebuild).
Of the bottom of this list, the only team I'd even consider moving would be Columbus. The owner inherited the team in 2008 when his father passed, but they have been dismal 99% of the time. We've never been able to properly gauge how they would draw if they had competent leadership.
If you have large metropolitan markets (Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta) are making inquiries about franchises, I think you have to expand to bring in more $$$ & make the TV package more attractive. However, the current leadership at the NHL and the owners (led by the fossil Jeremy Jacobs) doesn't seem competent enough to do something like that.
