NHL confirms Las Vegas, Quebec City as expansion applicants

Las Vegas and Quebec City have officially entered the expansion process.

The NHL received applications from the cities prior to Monday's deadline, the league confirmed in a statement Tuesday:

"We can confirm that we have received two applications: one from Bill Foley for a franchise in Las Vegas, Nevada, and one from Quebecor for a franchise in Quebec City, Quebec.

"Our purpose, in initiating the expansion process in the manner we did, was not only to explore the possibility of admitting new members to the NHL but also, at the outset, to set realistic guideposts to distinguish between bona fide expressions of interest (i.e., those which have at least substantial ownership capabilities and an arena or the realistic possibility of an arena) from those indications of potential interest which were, at best, merely hopes or aspirations. Apparently, only Mr. Foley and Quebecor have the confidence in their ability to secure an arena and suitable ownership capability to move forward with this process.

"We now intend to focus exclusively on the two expansion applications that have been submitted in accordance with the previously announced process. The process we have outlined for qualified applicants includes at least two more stages of documentation submission. We will provide no further updates until there is something substantive to announce."

The NHL said it received initial requests from 16 separate individuals and groups. The league sent applications to all interested parties.

No applications were submitted from Seattle or Toronto, which both had bids derailed by arena issues.