The NHL is expanding … just not to Kansas City

Once again, hockey fans, please calm down. We have documented very well over the years how Kansas City is not and never will be in the hunt for an NHL franchise. Sure, the city has the arena. Sure, Kansas City was essentially promised a team a couple of times. But it’s not going to happen. Now or ever.

For Kansas City hockey fans, there has been no better proof of that fact than this week’s announcement that the NHL — against all logic — is officially taking bids from cities and ownership groups for expansion franchises. Why are they looking to add to their 30 teams now? It’s unclear.

The ratings gulf between the NHL final and the NBA finals is almost laughable. This league is a decade removed from a locked-out season. Glendale, Arizona, is essentially trying to evict the Coyotes. And the NBA, whose TV fortunes are about to upchuck all over its players’ bank accounts, are not looking to expand.

But, never mind logic. What Kansas City puckheads should be wondering is where the NHL is looking to build. It’s not Kansas City. The consensus is that Las Vegas will get a team. It has ownership in place and an area being built. Anywhere else? Sure. Seattle. Quebec City. But not Kansas City.

Once, the Sprint Center was the potential home of the vaunted Pittsburgh Penguins. And let’s remember the New York Islanders’ phony flirtation with this town. Now, Kansas City is mentioned only in passing in news pieces examining where the league will go next. Seattle, which has never had an NHL franchise (unlike Kansas City), doesn’t have an arena, but it’s getting better billing than here. Quebec City — a Canadian city that lost its last club to Denver — is higher on the list and building a new teamless arena.

But let’s put buildings aside. The other reason Kansas City hockey fans better remain comfortable cheering for the Mavericks is simple: There is no money. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the most hated man in the ice-sports industry, attempted to be funny and coy by saying any expansion fee wouldn’t be accepted if “the number didn’t start with a five.” As in, $500 million. (Again, everybody except NHL franchise owners loathes him.)

Simply put, there aren’t any kajillionaires in Kansas City looking to bring a hockey team to town. And the deadline for expansion application is August 10. So, unless Cerner’s Neal Patterson or one of the Hunts gets an acute case of face-off fever, the NHL isn’t coming to Kansas City.

Settle in and try your hardest to be Blues fans. It’s time that Kansas City gives up the hockey ghost once and for all.