Local politicians could greenlight an arena proposal.
August 24th could be the day that the National Hockey League gets a step closer to expanding into the Atlanta market. The Alpharetta City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and then vote on a zoning change which would turn the North Point Mall into a mixed-use sports and entertainment district anchored by a 20,000-seat arena which would be suitable for use by an NHL franchise. Commissioner Gary Bettman has been talking with the North Point Mall developers as well as another group in the area in South Forsyth about placing a team in the market. Bettman said neither group is quite there yet in terms of engaging in direct talks to land a franchise. The NHL will charge $2 billion for a franchise and also wants a new building as part of the deal. The North Point Mall developers could also go ahead with the plan without an arena.
In June 2025, Forsyth County commissioners approved the final agreements for a $3 billion plan to build The Gathering at South Forsyth. The estimated cost of that planned project rose by a $1 billion between 2024 and 2025. The National Hockey League is currently in a six-month evaluation period to see if either Houston or Austin, Texas is a feasible market for the business. Bettman said that the league is also speaking with people in Phoenix about a return to that market. The league has an interest in Québec City but no one has come forth in the province who has the money needed to invest in a franchise. Québec City has a modern arena. The city of Atlanta housed two NHL franchises and both left town because of finances. In 1980, the Flames franchise moved to Calgary and in 2011, the Thrashers franchise relocated to Winnipeg.
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