Atlanta is desperate to land the NHL’s 34th franchise.The league is already expanding with Austin and Dallas fighting to land a $2 billion franchise.Renders show fans exploring a new developmentAfter Texas, Atlanta and Phoenix are next on the list and two potential stadiums sites have already been approved in the former.Alpharetta, Ga., City Council held a vote on a rezoning plan for North Point Mall, which could become a mixed-use district featuring a brand-new arena.It passed by a razor-thin 4-3 margin after a six-and-a-half-hour session.The development is tied to an NHL team agreeing to play at the site, with a deadline of 2031 for commitment.A competing development six miles north at The Gathering at South Forsyth, which is being led by Krause Sports and Entertainment, is also in the mix and confident is high that a team will come to Georgia.“I absolutely believe the NHL is coming to Atlanta,” Alpharetta city councilman John Hipes said. “I absolutely believe it’s coming to either here or Forsyth County.“I believe that. We’re the seventh-largest TV market in the country. Houston’s the sixth largest. They’ve signaled that they’re going to expand. “They’re going to the sixth-largest market. They’re going to do it in even numbers. They’re going to come to Atlanta, the seventh-largest market.”Alpharetta city councilman Douglas DeRito — a no vote — said the way may run past five years.“You know, it’s going to take time,” he said in the meeting. “And the concurrency of the conditions tying everything to the frugal NHL announcing that they’ve selected Alpharetta comes around. The stadium would be surrounded by new businessesView Tweet: https://t.co/5UYYnUDUhU“We could be looking at six to 10 years down the road before we can put a shovel in the ground.”Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment is led by former NHL player and Atlanta resident Anson Carter.Atlanta rivals compete for NHL expansion slotAlpharetta has nearly doubled in size with around 66,000 residents, plus another 100,000 commuters.It is closer to Atlanta than the rival proposal, but Forsyth County is bigger and one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.NHL deputy commissioner Billy Daly told The Athletic that the Texas franchise could be confirmed this year.“I think the commissioner’s always asked about, Well, that’s only one (expansion) team; what about the second team?”’ Daly said. “Certainly, if it happened that two could come in the same year, that might be more convenient, but I don’t think it’s a barrier if they don’t.”