Seattle has been approved by the NHL’s Board of Governors in Sea Island, Georgia, to start the 2021-22 season as the league’s 32nd team.
More than 30,000 fans have already paid a deposit on season tickets. The franchise will play games at a redeveloped KeyArena.
The cost of the franchise is $650 million, $150 more than the Vegas Golden Knights paid to join the NHL last season.
“Today is an exciting and historic day for our League as we expand to one of North America’s most innovative, beautiful and fastest-growing cities,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.