Your right it is an excellent way for the owners to put money into their own pockets. The money they get from expansion does not have to be shared with the players. The price I am sure is much higher and this is another advantage that the Americans have over the Canadian cities. Lets look at Nashville, the government funds the arena, and then someone purchases the team through expansion and only pays 50 million. (just a guess as to what it was back then) Now the owner only has to pay 50 million and stays at a brand new barn for almost nothing. On the other hand, in Canada look at what happens, Toronto, Montreal both funded by the TEAM not the government. Not sure about Vancouver or Edmonton. Calgary got there arena through the olympics. Also look at when Quebec left, the government wanted to bail them out and there was a large outcry, then the government backed out. If you were to put a team in Quebec City or Winnipeg the NHL would want you to have an arena already, and of course the fee. It would cost a lot more to put an expansion team in Canada then the USA because the Canadian government does not help. Let's just say that 50 million is the going rate for a franchise, now you need an arena, that another 250 million at least. 300 million to put a team in Quebec City or Winnipeg or would you put one in Nashville for 50?