UPDATE: According to a Sportsnet article published on Wednesday NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly suggested the league could potentially launch a feasibility study on the Atlanta market.
“We’re waiting on some information,” Daly said, “but I can see us being in a position where we might want to do a feasibility study.”
Commissioner Gary Bettman specified it would be “particularly as to location.”
Bettman’s emphasis on location is notable given previous market research surrounding The Gathering at South Forsyth.
In February 2024, Forward Forsyth obtained an Esri Sports & Leisure Market Potential analysis on The Gathering’s arena location. Within the site’s 30-minute trade area, Esri estimated 92,348 NHL regular-season viewers and 86,265 NHL playoff viewers, with Market Potential Index scores demonstrating NHL viewing propensity within the immediate trade area was approximately 20% above the U.S. average.
While this analysis is separate from any feasibility study the NHL may conduct, it provides existing location-specific market data on the proposed South Forsyth arena site.