# Sources: NHL looking at Austin, Houston for expansion

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-23 21:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The NHL is weighing Houston and Austin as its next Texas expansion sites.

## Intelligence Brief
Coverage from outlets including KXAN Austin, NHL.com, Fox News, TSN, Bleacher Report, ABC13 Houston, The New York Times, ESPN, The Business Journals, Pro Hockey Rumors and AP News all note the league’s interest. TSN highlights Houston as the likely primary target, and several sources mention the 2026 offseason as the timeframe for a potential expansion.


The next step identified by the coverage is an expected update from the NHL on the expansion process, with the league likely to announce further details during the 2026 offseason.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| KXAN Austin | NHL exploring Texas expansion opportunities in Houston and Austin, AP source says | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxQMkwtN1M3WmlMcEk3LTM2T0ItNG1VMENiclVCNEUzUUZHUTJ5T2x2cXRJUGdnN3ZVU3lGTTJzaHFuQVU5eVRlajM2eXo4bl9ibjRGdzkzM2c3NFZwczZGSzdUUHJWS1FvZFp2UDlremNlaC1sdFVZUkNRTnpYZjRNUnlZaERGVjZvZHhZWmVMNi1WTi1iNkxlMGUxeU5XUVNVb2dV0gGoAUFVX3lxTE9DNkxpZ1hZRmNUV3dlVFBQaUJsMVljRlJxRTc4bjg3a3pQVXJyOXZVVHduRlB1Z1MxTkwtWnl2QURuM1NGWUw2UnhTQ3Bfb1FsVEt5eXJWdjgzRDhUVXJsRnpadHY2azdHWU1rb01hbU55NHRNSzRUdG53bGVmS01EZms5cU51QjRBM3hCeVJCejU3RWZCdDN4a0YxQk9Pelg1ZEVmRXJxTA?oc=5) |
| NHL.com | NHL exploring Texas expansion opportunities in Houston, Austin | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxOVWx2RjRQdXBBMjg4a19JaGpuQUprblB6Ujlnd3EzeTItaXVrSzdsUTNUeENHY3dnU1Z1NlVzOUpGVEtqejFmeU1xUXBObFhmS28wa0hnWWIxUVFNX0FaTTZGbGVCSm43bnF2NUVNME5VYnc4QjR4aUNlb1VxNk43d1RKZzNBNDBmME9tdDRHRlpteXVk?oc=5) |
| Fox News | The NHL is reportedly considering one of two major Texas cities for its next round of expansion | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxQVXgwZm82SWRndmdrZk5ZYUpKM09Ob2ZYa1p1RVVKajFrZWg4WkpTT0g5d21lYU1RSnFlWndUclJhSl8wbXlza2tJUlUxLTZVdGJxc2F0dHltNjc4TDhrZUxGcHFXb2RWSjVheUZTS0JibFIxaEJxd0Vxc1VLU0NTZmM3dFFTbGlkeHBnUTJKTkgwMXNUQ3lVQjNIRkxQMXVHU2t0SFZBOXLSAa4BQVVfeXFMTkVtUVJvM0xuSDVoOWpCcGRiLUtyclBobjF4ZG5IQzg3N2pxa2tVMzJ2OVRPSi1CQTA2R1M2bDgxZHRSanpVcWpmWG9fcWZDMmVHY1hCbkU4UTR2UTEzWHRWT21JZ0Z1a0t3SDVxUm51bmlWam9IU3VDdy1ya0lNeGtVVlE5R2FyNEkzM1RkaDloT3hQTlhRWkZybE9EbjFvak41cmQwR3p4eml) |
| TSN | NHL expected to announce update on expansion; Houston likely main target | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxNcGliOHkxRnVzUkxja1J2Ti1VeV8wQjJ1bzduSzBPektHREU1Zm8ycXpPbFNEbHhVSk50bE8wMll6aUJpd2ZCMFkwelRUeWVDUExnNjc0U3d6ZHpNMjVUcWNJeEE2eXdkNlBDejBiN1NHcWV5R0ZXa0tvYkczUWFtR1paR05TdVh6TU9MYWJLTnNsY2YtZTQ2cnkxY1RnZlJKcm9aRm53?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | NHL to Explore Houston, Austin for Potential Expansion Franchise During 2026 Offseason | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxQS0ZIRTNfSWFzSE9aelJpSEpORmF5NFF4eGdMNm9zSDFTcDZTZDh0a0F3WkNkV1ZvY0dvcFU4Qk5BdEJrV21jOEhaVjVmTGxhX0I0N3ZVaWZhajZ6WjByWWVtclJKdFQzSE1sc04tY2xIaEJRM1U0bzZnZWdOaGp5d2g0VHptNGJnbVZCM0plX2xvMGd5UHZzcDZ4Tk5rYTQ0aGw5TUliX0tPWEw2WFFJQkZxM3JJRDhqa3VHVkFPV0o?oc=5) |
| ABC13 Houston | National Hockey League seeking expansion in Houston and Austin as potential targets | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxPcFE2VW5jNkZjaWhCakdVVUNCRy1EZmdsNGhhNEduNURxRTh1c0JMYjJsZFM3R3lVdmtpZmx0U3dpNGVoTUU0UkwxNHpkMGZRRUVNNEhVa05tT0k5VExfNXhXTVp1TVNCamhJNXc0ZkJ5NHozRTZsYjlDNjNQVEJBSmpfcmhUMDh6ZFpiMjVBMXc1NExzMVBEUHhSZi1ta3BiVFNvQm1ZNVd0TWVzSnhmNktLTQ?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | NHL opening expansion process, to explore viability of franchise in Houston or Austin | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxPRHdzNzFjYUFNSllRTUpPdG9OYzdPSGlUQUxnXzZ5QzNIZ1hXUmFDOElOVFUzOWpYR21rV3p1NktCbVE5TkZsbW9wM1haTjROa3QyR0JOMDIyTlZKUGlMZUc0YmZWZkJjQWhXaVVnb0dWNjVHUmNWWVFkQmEtZU5FT3JEY2xibWpsSjVjaDAwRGdWcEU?oc=5) |
| ESPN | NHL exploring Austin, Houston for expansion team | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxNd0ExamZHeUY0UjhCaWcxRC1Id3lQWWNzWS1LanNRU0NVTlNueGFwWEJSWWdWYnZ4b21ZOEI4NFFhcS0xZXNueXZKalBIUlVjUFk2Y3hwb09oTUpnVFJnM2hqbmg1WmxTcnluVDIzM0l0Sk5DZ1l3UnBCVm9mbVZXeEdJbjV1TU5FZ016d0w4TE1HUQ?oc=5) |
| The Business Journals | NHL investigating Houston and Austin as potential expansion cities, reports say | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxQWDJ3cGlDa0RvOGVMS0c1TWlGN1RuT3R1ZUlmTWdSS1p4cHJsU09mQkNrZ2JwcjhkMVZQemRNRVZzRmRzNzZ3WnZxdl9nbUpIUmd1WWJrZDg3eGNLN0ZrWU9YaEx5cVRDRUxmelVMNGtPb2dxTFhxUFM0VHJEdE01R1U5Z2gyT1d6UHoweEFqTzBBUkR0aUpGQXVYUWJQZUk?oc=5) |
| Pro Hockey Rumors | NHL To Investigate Houston And Austin For Expansion | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxOb044UDMzWTJ0THBZcmxzTTdNRDloWElnVmZOck1Qd1FiNU5YSnZmNFE0aFF1YkJkd21mNHh2Y3dMR0dYTmhJc1JNU2RWNWNmQWlQbFpESHBzUFowOU5oLWxnQU44VkFqWkFUMEt2THlHMnAxVy1OM2JRQzE0U2RqYWRlblhUVVlpWWxvMkpzQWZQVmZ6X29CaWVrME0?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | NHL to Reportedly Explore Houston, Austin for Potential Expansion Franchise During 2026 Offseason | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxQNXR2UkhvbWY0MHpRMGpFY0U3NVZKWXFoZHZzNHFFQkswSFNIQl81eUJHYVdqM3NmWVZBcWVfaFFoYnlxakRtSjY4dnZsRmU4RjBKMERiRG1DaFBuQ2x0OXU2UnpxTmxOTTNKeXd4Sl9PanhJSjJiQWJ0bk1hU3FZR3Zra3ljSkQ3UjJjRjYwU01jRXFQZVlGNDdpcjNoQ2tIR3Fnek9BdGhfTGw2Z3ZFNDUxTE5XcVRMWHhvWTJSZnNpYUVTQmRSUnY1REFSLUE?oc=5) |
| AP News | NHL exploring expansion opportunities in Texas, AP source says | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxNcmNqNm5DbkduR2VnTk9fbVAzUVF6X0I5bVBNa0JiMGZPdGpPZnZPVzc5VmpYZlByRUd6b3ZoMWpiU1Q5R01aTzFwWWRSQS04RXZHUGJZb2FSSFNkY2VpRXg0MkZ4SEpKZl9HNURvYjFSODV3YWZOeFF1bE9GNU01OXJ0cEJCQQ?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Sources: NHL looking at Austin, Houston for expansion | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxNUEd2VS1pbW1saUN6Y1B3TVJVZ3lvRDRmSUpSX24zNXN2VGNOb3owUlMxMXRsOGE3UHdjdUxKeFRXQWhjempzYi1jUnBOa1R1U2lJejgtTWFpeGs2RkhGZDdVOE5Zenc5QVRicjlCalo3bEFrR1RxTGMtUkZCT01LLUJwdC1PMnBJTXEtSl9MZGdITlU?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-23/sources-nhl-looking-at-austin-houston-for-expansion*