NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has publicly endorsed the character of the two primary finalists for the NBA’s Las Vegas expansion franchise, asserting that both Bill Foley and Bill Laurie possess the leadership qualities necessary to run a major professional sports team. Speaking in Pittsburgh following the Golden Knights-Penguins matchup at PPG Paints Arena, Bettman emphasized his long-standing professional relationships with both candidates, noting that his familiarity with their management styles provides insight into their potential success in the NBA. The league is expected to announce its expansion plans before the end of 2026, with the winning bid reportedly valued at approximately $13 billion, a figure that includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art arena.
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Bettman specifically praised Bill Laurie, who owned the St. Louis Blues from 1999 to 2011, describing him as a leader who ran a “first-class organization.” “We had no complaints about the things he did when he owned the Blues,” Bettman stated, highlighting a clean operational record during Laurie’s tenure. This endorsement adds significant weight to the competitive landscape, as the NBA seeks a candidate who can navigate the complex financial and logistical challenges of launching a new franchise in a market that already hosts a major NHL team. The potential entry of an NBA team would further solidify Las Vegas as a premier hub for professional sports, competing directly with established markets for talent and media attention.
Despite his positive remarks, Bettman maintained a neutral stance regarding which candidate would ultimately be more successful, refusing to take sides between Foley, the current owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Laurie, who co-owned the Blues with his wife Nancy. The NHL commissioner confirmed he has not yet discussed the specific details of the NBA’s Las Vegas plans with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, indicating that the two leagues are operating independently in this phase of the expansion process. As the announcement looms within weeks, the focus shifts to how the NBA will weigh the local experience of Foley against the proven track record of Laurie in determining the final recipient of the highly coveted expansion rights.
Source: Yahoo Sports
