The NHL’s ongoing quest for growth has once again turned its attention to Atlanta, a city with a complex hockey history and no shortage of intrigue. With recent statements from league officials and player agents, the buzz around a possible third NHL franchise in Atlanta is reaching a fever pitch.

As the league’s Board of Governors meets and expansion rumors swirl, questions abound about whether the city is finally ready to sustain a successful hockey team. Past failures haven’t deterred the NHL or local business leaders, who seem more determined than ever to bring the sport back to the heart of Georgia. With new ownership groups expressing interest and the promise of a state-of-the-art arena on the horizon, the stage is set for what could be a transformative moment for both Atlanta and the league as a whole.

Photo credit: NHL.COM

The NHL has provided the latest update on the idea of expansion not only to the city of Atlanta for the 3rd time in their history, but to another location as well, just moments ago.

A few weeks ago, NHL player agent Allan Walsh confirmed that the league will be expanding to Atlanta; have a look:

The NHL will be expanding to Atlanta within the next few seasons.”

– Allan Walsh

Will the 3rd time be the charm for the National Hockey League in the city of Atlanta? That’s what they are banking on, as discussions continue about bringing an expansion team to Atlanta despite a pair of teams having already failed there.

The Atlanta Flames lasted from 1972 to 1980 when they departed to Alberta to become the Calgary Flames, while the Atlanta Thrashers were in business from 1999 to 2011 when they moved to Manitoba to become the 2nd iteration of the Winnipeg Jets.

NHL analyst Darren Dreger indicated that not only will there be a possible expansion back into Atlanta, but that other cities could show interest.

NHL Board meets today. With ongoing speculation around Atlanta, expect a general report on who has approached the NHL and from where. Atlanta isn’t the only one. Nothing more than an update at this point.

Last month, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that circumstances are different this time around than when the Flames departed town in 1980 and then the Thrashers in 2011.

It’s a different place than when the Flames and the Thrashers left, in terms of how big the city is, how robust it is, the sporting interest.

I don’t think the prior two visits have any bearing on whether or not we would go back, if all the other pieces that are referred to were put together.

Bettman also said that there is considerable interest from Atlanta business leaders, some of whom would be interested in owning a potential expansion team.

We’re getting expressions of interest. We’ve talked to a couple of groups. There have been some civic leaders that have been in with people who are expressing an interest in owning a team and creating a facility.

State Farm Arena, formerly known as Philips Arena and which served as the home of the Thrashers from 1999 to 2011, recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and is now exclusively used for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, meaning that a new hockey arena would have to be constructed.

Right now, the NHL has 32 clubs.