Ad Disclosure
NHL Reportedly Down to Four Hub City Choices
Published:
Anyone else getting itchy with the NHL’s return? It’s June 30th and we still don’t have a schedule, nor do we have official word on the pair of hub cities that will host teams and games this summer.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie thinks we might get confirmation soon, and in this Twitter thread suggests that the four finalists are Edmonton, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Chicago:
Is today the day we find out NHL Hub cities? Perhaps, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the delay is because the NHL and NHLPA are trying to finalize all the Phase 4 protocols/terms before making any announcements.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2020
EDM, TOR, LV and CHI appear to be the final considerations.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2020
McKenzie goes on to joke that LV stands for Las Vegas, not the Lehigh Valley, but honest to God, I could see Allentown hosting an NHL return. We’ll allow the Flyers to use Bear Creek as their hotel, and the Penguins can stay in the Mel-Dor Motel on Route 100 in Bechtelsville. The Boston Bruins can set up tents in front of Steel Stacks and the New York Rangers get their choice of Yocco’s Hot Dog King locations.
Seriously though, the Lehigh Valley I think gets overlooked because of the proximity to Philly and New York, which are east coast uber-metropolises. But Allentown/Bethlehem ain’t exactly bumblefuck USA, it’s an area with something like 800,000 people.
Anyway, just wanted to shout out all of our people up in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com