NHL commi sioner Gary Bettman ended months of speculation Wednesday by officially announcing Las Vegas as home of the league's 31st franchise. Hockey's worst-kept secret was formally revealedas the NHL board of governors unanimously Neil Walker Jersey approved Sin City for the expansion franchise. MORE: | "We think this is a tremendously exciting opportunity, not only for Las Vegas, but for the league as well," Bettman Sergio Romo Jersey said during apre s conference Wednesday afternoonas the league convened in Las Vegas for its annual awards ceremony. "In the fall of 2017, when we celebrate the 100th birthday of the NHL, we will do so as a league of 31 teams." Bettman said Miami Marlins Jersey the Las Vegas team will be able to compete immediately with home gamesat T-Mobile Arena, which Bettman said "was built with hockey in mind." The new team is yet unnamed, but Black Knights is believed to be the favorite. The NHL deferred expansion toQuebec City, with Bettman sayingthere's "no doubt" the city could host a team. "The decision to defer was based on elements over things Jose Urena Jersey the Quebec group had no control over," Bettman said before clarifying the weakne s of the Canadian dollar was a factor. Bettman used Auston Matthews, an Arizona native who is the likely top pick in Friday's NHL Draft, as an example of how hockey can succeed in the desert. Vegas owner Bill Foley said he wants to promote youth hockey and the Jeff Locke Jersey team's practice facility will "be open to all."