All articles tagged with #expansion
Trader Joe's will open nine new stores in eight states this year, adding Farmington Hills (MI), Syracuse (NY), University Heights (OH), Sarasota (FL), Chicago (IL), Quincy (MA), Yonkers (NY), Phoenix (AZ) and West Jordan (UT) to its U.S. footprint, as part of ongoing nationwide expansion; opening dates were not disclosed.
The article outlines the ongoing fight among power conferences over expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams by 2027, with the Big Ten pushing for broader access and the SEC at best leaning toward 16. Proponents argue a larger field would boost participation, viewership, and revenue for more programs, while critics warn it could inflate costs, erode the value of conference championships, and complicate the regular season. Key issues include calendar changes to accommodate more rounds, potential elimination of conference title games, media-rights dynamics (ESPN vs. Fox), and whether the promised financial upside justifies the upheaval. Decision-making hinges on the two dominant conferences, as commissioners weigh access, incentives, and the true impact on football’s scheduling and budgets.
The PWHL appointed Troy Ryan as General Manager and Head Coach for PWHL San Jose, making him the league’s first to hold the dual role. A veteran coach with success including leading the Toronto Sceptres (2024 Coach of the Year) and long-time Canada national team duties (Olympic gold in 2022; three IIHF World Championship titles; silver at the 2026 Milan Olympics), Ryan will oversee staff and roster construction for San Jose’s inaugural 2026-27 season and lead the roster process for the 2026 PWHL Draft in Detroit as the league expands.
Wegmans announced the grand opening of its first Charlotte store in Ballantyne for Oct. 14 at 9 a.m., a 110,000-square-foot location that will be the retailer’s southernmost and is expected to hire about 450 people. This marks Wegmans’ latest step in its Charlotte expansion, with four NC stores already open in the Raleigh-Durham area since 2019, and plans for a fifth NC store and a Pittsburgh-area store in the works.
The NFL approved expanding the international-game cap from eight to 10 for 2027, with the Jaguars’ Wembley game potentially bringing the total to 11; in 2026, the league will host nine international games across Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany and Mexico and continues to eye expansions to Japan and Italy.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced San Jose, CA as its latest expansion market for the 2026-27 season, with SAP Center hosting home games and Sharks Ice at San Jose as the training site; San Jose becomes the fourth expansion city (joining Detroit, Hamilton and Las Vegas), placing four teams in the Pacific Time Zone, and the league will share details on roster-building and the 2026 draft soon, while fans can deposit to secure priority access to season tickets.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced two new franchises for the 2026-27 season in Las Vegas and Hamilton, with PWHL Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena and PWHL Hamilton at TD Coliseum. Las Vegas training will be at America First Center in Henderson and Hamilton’s training location will be announced later. The move expands the league to 11 teams, adds new branding for both markets (Las Vegas colors: green and gold; Hamilton colors: gold, maroon and cream), and opens time-stamped deposits for priority season tickets and merch as the league showcases growth of women’s hockey.
Las Vegas has been awarded an expansion team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League for the 2026-27 season, to be operated by the Mark Walter Group with a local leadership team; most home games will be at T-Mobile Arena, practice at America First Center in Henderson, and players will reside in Las Vegas during the season. The Golden Knights organization will support the venture but will not own or run the team. The move continues to grow girls' hockey in the market and builds on local facilities and partnerships that support women's pro hockey.
Buc-ee's announced six-state expansion to Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Kansas, Louisiana and North Carolina. The first locations open in Goodyear, AZ on June 22 and Benton, AR in Aug/Sep 2026, with Oak Creek, WI; Ruston, LA; Kansas City, Kansas; and Mebane, NC planned for 2027. The openings are expected to create jobs and attract the chain's devoted fanbase, known for snacks like Beaver Nuggets and viral treats, sparking excited reactions online while some commenters hope for a California expansion.
Texas-based Buc-ee’s plans to expand into Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas, and North Carolina by 2028, with Ohio also in play after the brand opened its first Ohio location in 2026; the chain touts thousands of new jobs and local economic boosts, but it faces BBB complaints and debates over incentives and traffic in small towns.
Texas-based Buc-ee’s plans first-time openings in six states—Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas and North Carolina—expanding its footprint to about 20 states. Openings include Goodyear, AZ on June 22, 2026; Benton, AR by mid-August 2026; Oak Creek, WI in early 2027; Ruston, LA mid-2027; Kansas City, KS in 2027; and Mebane, NC in late 2027. Texas will also add its 37th Buc-ee’s in San Marcos in July, while existing locations continue to expand.
An opinion piece arguing that expanding the NCAA Tournament to 76 teams was unnecessary and driven by power conferences and NCAA leadership, not fan demand; while it adds roughly 240 more players and aims to generate about $50 million more annually, it will dilute the excitement of Selection Sunday, require costly travel for eight more teams per gender, and risk watering down the field with more mediocre bids from big conferences.
Portland’s WNBA revival uses the Fire name to reconnect with a forgotten chapter of the league’s history, reviving the original 2000–2002 franchise’s archives for a new generation while honoring players like Sylvia Crawley who first touched the ball for the team. The revived Fire, now under new ownership, blends nostalgia with a fresh identity, showing fans and former players that their stories aren’t lost even as the league evolves. The effort highlights ongoing continuity challenges in women’s basketball but also creates a bridge between past and present as fans pack arenas for Throwback nights and new merch.
Starting next season, the NCAA will expand both men’s and women’s tournaments to 76 teams, funded by beer, wine and spirits sponsorships and extra TV advertising; the First Four becomes the Opening Round, adding eight games and 12 winners to the 64-team bracket for 120 games in a seven-day window. At-large bids rise to 44 and revenue will be distributed to schools, with critics calling it a money grab by the power conferences.
CBS Sports projects the 2027 NCAA Tournament will expand to 76 teams, adding eight at-large bids and an Opening Round that includes eight No. 16 seeds and six No. 15 seeds. The new format creates 12 Opening Round games and leaves 20 of the 32 first-round matchups to be decided on Selection Sunday, while reshaping seed distribution (notably boosting the Big East to seven bids) and adding a new preliminary site. The piece also discusses bubble dynamics, potential bid thieves, and travel/geography considerations as regions are assigned.