PWHL announces opening of expansion process for six-team league
Two new teams could arrive as early as the 2025/26 season, but that might be pushing it
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The PWHL opened the door to expansion as early as 2025 on Tuesday, but the likelihood of it happening that quick is remote.
Amy Scheer, the PWHL senior vice president of business operations made the announcement at EPSN’s Women + Sports Summit in Ojai, Calif.
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PWHL announces opening of expansion process for six-team league Back to video
“As of today, we are officially starting the expansion process for the PWHL,” Scheer said to applause from those in attendance. “Starting probably in the next week or so, we will be sending out RFP’s (Request for Proposal) to several markets, also taking incoming as well, but looking at the opportunity to potentially field two new teams for next season for 2025/26 and looking for the right market size, right fan base, right facilities, right economic opportunities.
“So a lot of research to be done over the next couple of months, but looking to continue to build the league and grow the number of teams.”
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Expansion is and has been the hot-button topic of conversation within the league since the end of Year 1 and, until Tuesday, the league has been downplaying the possibility of it happening very quickly.
But there’s no denying the interest in the league and the success of games hosted in non-PWHL markets like Detroit and Pittsburgh last season.
Scheer did not identify any of the markets the league is targeting, but that list would likely start with Detroit, Chicago and Pittsburgh and expand from there.
There’s plenty of interest within the league to expand further west, but there are financial considerations that would make that less likely for the league’s first expansion.
Within Canada, Quebec City and Calgary would have to be among the first markets considered, but again Calgary might be hurt based on nothing more than the distance it would be from the existing franchises and the costs that would incur.
Scheer also told the Summit the league is working towards an outdoor game and towards games in Europe at some point.
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