NHL Las Vegas Expansion Team 2016

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Construction workers, cranes and cement mixers swarm the location of the Las Vegas Arena as the $350 million state-of-the-art venue takes shape, heading toward its expected opening in the spring of 2016. The 20,000 seat facility will host boxing, UFC, top entertainers and awards shows. There has also been rumblings of an NHL expansion team making its home in the new arena.

Today, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman gave prospective Las Vegas team owner, William Foley, the green light to start a season ticket drive. If the ticket drive goes well, sources say that a Vegas expansion team will be announced before the end of 2014.

The NHL board of governors also announced the 2015-16 salary cap will be roughly US$73 million today, depending on the status of the Canadian dollar, which currently is worth 88 cents U.S.