No decision made on possible NHL expansion to Houston or Austin, Texas, after board discusses it

NEW YORK (AP) — Meeting for the first time since the NHL began exploring expansion to Houston or Austin, Texas in June, the league's Board of Governors discussed the topic on Tuesday but did not make any decisions, according to Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly spoke to billionaire Dan Friedkin's group last week and got a full report, and representatives from the 32 current teams were briefed on the situation with no timetable to consider a possible vote on adding a 33rd.

“I think everybody’s taking a wait-and-see attitude to see what’s being presented and what the pros and cons are,” Bettman said. “Expansion is a multibillion-dollar transaction, which has an impact on all the other clubs in the league. A lot of i’s have to be dotted and t’s have to be crossed. And if there’s going to be expansion, three-quarters of the governors are going to have to be comfortable that this makes sense to them. And that’s not something you do overnight.”

Expansion, if it happens, would involve a $3.5 billion investment between the fee paid to owners and the cost to build a new arena. Daly said Friedkin's Pursuit Sports had looked at sites to build in Houston and Austin, with a lot left to figure out, including deciding between one of the biggest U.S. media markets and a place that does not have a team in any of the major four North American men's professional sports leagues.

“We would expect that we’ll know by the end of the year which market they would prefer," Bettman said. "But we still and they still have a lot of work to do.”

The next board meeting is scheduled for December. The term sheet between the NHL and Friedkin's family is for a six-month exploration, but that does not guarantee it will be wrapped up by the end of the year.

“I don’t think we’re putting time limits on things," Daly said. "Originally we contemplated at least knowing where we are in December. I expect we will certainly know a lot more than we do now, come December, but I don’t think there’s any magic date by which something has to get done or not get done.”

Daly said earlier this month in Las Vegas that part of this meeting was getting direction from the board. If the league knows how members are leaning, officials are not saying.

“I think there are probably some owners who think expansion is the greatest thing ever, and I think there are some people who say, ‘Why do we need to expand?’” Bettman said. "I can’t tell you the numbers.”

Bettman and Daly said there also continue to be expressions of interest from ownership options in Atlanta and the Phoenix area. A feasibility study could be the next step, but those processes are not as far along as Texas.

“There’s always markets that are approaching the NHL, looking for expansion opportunities,” Calgary Flames owner Murray Edwards said after he was voted vice chairman and Washington's Ted Leonsis chairman of the board. “We talk about it, but there’s no sort of fast process or slow process. We’re just looking at options.”

As sports leagues and teams look to artificial intelligence and how it can benefit them, consultant Shelly Palmer of the Palmer Group made a presentation to the board.

“In addition to how we operate at the business level, we think it’s very important to make sure that we and the clubs understand how to use AI to connect with our fans even better, to create an even more robust and unique experience,” Bettman said. “That involves lots of different things, including how we gather data and how we interact with our fans.”

After saying at the Stanley Cup Final on his 74th birthday that his retirement was not imminent and nothing had been determined on a succession plan, Bettman reiterated that he was not stepping down any time soon from the job he has held since 1993.

“I’m going to be 75 years old,” Bettman said. “At some point, I've got to stop, OK? But I love what I do. I’m energized. I have nothing to complain about in life. I love coming to work every day. I love being part of this game."

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

FILE - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, left, and Bill Daly, NHL Deputy Commissioner, conduct a joint news conference before the NHL hockey draft on June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — In a change of direction, the New York Mets hired interim manager Andy Green for the full-time job on Tuesday, giving him a three-year contract.

The team made the announcement before starting its final road trip of the year with the opener of a three-game series in Texas against the Rangers.

“Over the course of the season, it became evident that the next manager of the New York Mets was already in place,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a statement. “Andy has demonstrated strong leadership qualities and a unique ability to forge connections with our emerging core and distinguished veterans. I look forward to continuing our great partnership as we turn toward the 2027 season.”

Green, who managed the San Diego Padres from 2016-19, had been running New York's farm system before taking over as interim manager when Carlos Mendoza was fired in late June. At the time, Green said he wasn't particularly interested in becoming a permanent skipper again, citing the desire to keep spending time with his three daughters and saying he viewed his interim role on the bench as more of a responsibility to the club than a personal opportunity.

Stearns said Green would return to a front-office role after the season, a stance the executive stuck to in the months that followed — even as the last-place Mets (71-85) improved on the field and several rookies who rose through the minors under Green such as Carson Benge and Nolan McLean flourished in the big leagues as well.

“The players in the clubhouse have rekindled the love I have for being in the dugout," Green said at a pregame news conference in Texas.

And in the end, the Mets committed to Green and chose not to conduct a full search for a new manager this offseason.

“I think Andy is the perfect person for this job,” Stearns said.

“Andy has connected with and pushed our players to perform, despite the disappointment of the season,” Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in the statement. “Over the last several months he has brought discipline, accountability and positivity to the clubhouse, attributes we were seeking in our next manager. ... We are excited for his continued leadership in the dugout.”

Coming into the season, the Mets had high expectations for a franchise without a World Series title since 1986. New York opened the season with baseball’s highest payroll at $358 million and was projected to pay an additional $124 million in luxury tax.

But the Mets underperformed early and were beset by key injuries to Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and others. They were 34-47 at the midpoint of the season when Mendoza was fired on June 26. The team is 37-38 since Green took over.

“The last three months I think there’s been progress,” Green said. “We’ve got more to do.”

The 49-year-old Green, a former major league infielder, went 274-366 as Padres manager and finished with a losing record in all four seasons. He joined the Mets in 2023 as senior vice president of baseball development and becomes the 26th manager in franchise history.

“I am excited and humbled to officially be named manager of the New York Mets,” Green said in the statement. “When I accepted the interim role, I didn’t anticipate it becoming permanent, but the more time I spent with our players and staff, the clearer it became that this is where my passion and experience could make the greatest impact. That realization led to many conversations with my family, and together we agreed this is the right opportunity at the right time.

"I want to thank Steve and Alex for the love, ambition and commitment with which they lead this organization, and David for the trust he has placed in me. I believe deeply in what we can build together, and I’m honored to continue serving our players, this organization and the amazing Mets fans.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

New York Mets interim manager Andy Green, left, takes the ball from pitcher Christian Scott during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Mets interim manager Andy Green answers questions during a news conference, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)