Hockey moves one big step closer to returning to Atlanta

The return of hockey in Atlanta has been brewing for years, and it now appears one of the biggest hurdles has been cleared, as Forsyth County voted to approve the final documents necessary for the Krause group to propose NHL expansion into the metro Atlanta area, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

BREAKING: Forsyth County votes to approve the final documentation that would allow the Krause group to formally propose NHL expansion into metro Atlanta. The group is now expected to present its complete proposal to the NHL in the coming weeks.The vote, which passed this evening,… pic.twitter.com/g8AyEbDa9Q

— NHL to Atlanta (@NHLtoAtlanta) June 11, 2025

The plan, known as The Gathering, has now been approved and is fully backed, which will be even bigger than The Battery, containing restaurants, bars, residential areas, and an 18,500-seat arena, a perfect size for a professional hockey team.

“It will have every amenity that you would expect from a modern arena. It will be built to be very fan-friendly. The guest amenities will be second to none. And it’ll be a very interactive space with a plaza out in front and just very welcoming kind of area,” managing partner of Stafford Sports Carl Hirsch said, via Zach Klein of WSB-TV. 

With a fully backed plan in place, the rest is up to the league on where they decide to expand. However, there are a couple of signs that suggest professional hockey has a very high chance of returning to Atlanta for a third time.

First and foremost, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the previous two failures are unlikely to deter the league from giving the city a third opportunity.

“I don’t think the prior two visits have any bearing on whether or not we would go back if all the other pieces were put together,” said Gary Bettman, via Tim Darnell of Atlanta News First. 

Additionally, ESPN’s John Buccigross reported back in 2023 that Atlanta was next on the NHL’s list of expansion destinations, “NHL team coming to Atlanta again…stay tuned. Alpharetta.”

With a sound plan now fully in place, the NHL could make a decision very soon, and if things go in Atlanta’s favor, professional hockey should be back in the city in 2-3 years.

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Photo: Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire

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