How I Learned to Stop Worrying about NHL Expansion and Love Minor League (and Junior) Hockey

Mission Control takes to the road for an early June trip to Kansas City! Matt saw Game 1 of the ECHL Finals to watch the KC Mavericks. I came away with some thoughts on empty arenas, the ongoing stadium struggles in Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and the arena bottlenecks keeping Space City out of the NHL. But after flying back for the inaugural Houston Bulls NAHL Draft Party, my perspective completely shifted: Yes, we want the NHL, but there's an incredible, affordable grassroots hockey culture building right in our own backyard that's also pretty great. (Plus, Matt has the perfect nomination for a Houston team's goal song).If the episode seems disjointed, so was my thought process while making it...00:00 - Intro04:20 - How's the sports fandom in KC?08:43 - How's the hockey fandom in KC?13:25 - Why (I think) we're not hearing a "Grand Plan" for NHL in Houston...19:13 - Thoughts on the Bulls Draft PartyWTF? Florida won that series? Wow, okay. Just goes to show that a big Game 1 win does not get you the whole thing.The Michel Petit Interview I mentioned: https://youtube.com/live/WvjcPIYZdNY?feature=share Houston Chronicle: Why Do So Many Artists Skip Houston? https://www.chron.com/culture/music/article/housotn-live-music-scene-issues-22301732.phpHouston Bulls: http://www.houstonbullsnahl.com ...and for you kids that have never heard a guitar: https://youtu.be/ruT5nmwhiic?si=FHmKbK5lkF_N5KltGet you some sexy Mission Control merch at: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - there's also an events calendar, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.