NHL Legend Marty Howe Pushes for Houston Expansion Team

Howe believes an NHL team could come to Houston in the next 3 years.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 8:03pm

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Former NHL defenseman Marty Howe, son of hockey legend Gordie Howe, is advocating for an NHL expansion team to be located in Houston, Texas. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the U.S. and has long been rumored as a potential expansion market, with the city previously hosting two minor league hockey teams called the Aeros. Howe believes an NHL team could come to Houston within the next 3 years if the right ownership group and financial backing can be secured.

Why it matters

Houston is one of the largest cities in North America without an NHL franchise. Bringing an NHL team to the city would not only provide a new major professional sports team for residents, but also grow the sport of hockey in the region. The Howe family has deep ties to hockey in Houston, having played for the former WHA Aeros team, which could help rally support for a new NHL expansion franchise.

The details

Marty Howe, a former WHA Houston Aero and World Hockey Association Hall of Famer, believes an NHL team could come to Houston in the next 3 years if the right ownership group and financial backing can be secured. Houston is the fourth-most populous city in the U.S. and sixth-most populous in North America, with a population of around 2.4 million as of 2024. The city previously had two minor league hockey teams called the Aeros, one in the WHA from 1972-78 led by Gordie Howe, and another in the IHL and AHL from 1994-2013. The Houston Toyota Center is expected to serve as the venue for a potential NHL expansion team.

  • Marty Howe expects an NHL team to arrive in Houston within the next 3 years.
  • The Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet takes place on March 20, 2026, followed by Hockey Day in Houston on March 21, 2026.

The players

Marty Howe

A former WHA Houston Aero and World Hockey Association Hall of Famer, as well as the son of hockey legend Gordie Howe.

Gordie Howe

A 23-time NHL All-Star and four-time Stanley Cup champion as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

Tilman Fertitta

The owner of the Houston Rockets.

Dan Friedkin

A billionaire businessman who has been in discussions with the NHL about a potential Houston expansion franchise.

TC Lewis

The General Manager and Hockey Director at the Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex in Houston.

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What they’re saying

“Get a team in Houston. I mean, for me, it's a no brainer. I'd like to see it happen. I know there's a couple ex players that want to get involved in it, too, big name players, guys that have made a lot of money. So there's some backing from guys. And then you need to somebody with really deep pockets, and so you got to get somebody in Houston, in oil or something. Something where they got money to spend. I think it's been pushing. They were working at it. It should happen in the next couple three years, if it's going to happen. So I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope it does, absolutely.”

— Marty Howe, Former WHA Houston Aero and World Hockey Association Hall of Famer

“It's critical to have the NHL. If we can get the NHL here in Houston, I think that we would take off the market ... boy, we would love to see the NHL come and really see Houston take off.”

— TC Lewis, General Manager and Hockey Director at the Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex

What’s next

The NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has already met with Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and billionaire Dan Friedkin about the potential expansion franchise. The Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet on March 20, 2026 and Hockey Day in Houston on March 21, 2026 could provide further momentum for the push to bring an NHL team to the city.

The takeaway

Houston's large population, existing sports infrastructure, and hockey legacy with the former Aeros teams make it an attractive expansion market for the NHL. If the right ownership group and financial backing can be secured, an NHL team in Houston could become a reality in the next few years, further growing the sport of hockey in Texas.