Since April 2023, reports have been put out regarding a potential NHL return to the city of Atlanta, Georgia and things got even more real when plans to build an arena were brought forward.
It was revealed that the government of Forsyth County, where the new arena is going to be built, wants to ensure they are going to have an NHL tenant before giving approval on the project, which could mean we are entering a make or break stage.
If the National Hockey League decides to return to Atlanta, it'll mark the third time that they've had a franchise in the city, following the Flames and Thrashers, who both left via relocation to Calgary and Winnipeg respectively.
There are several other cities who fans want the NHL to go to first before they return to Atlanta such as Quebec City, Houston, Salt Lake City, Portland, among others. But if the Atlanta project has a strong ownership group and a plan to build an NHL-suitable arena, then there's no doubt the league and commissioner Gary Bettman will consider a return.
