(Photo by Bob Snow, Bruins Daily)

For years, professional sports leagues distanced themselves from the stigma surrounding the city of Las Vegas. That stigma is now erased.

After months of rumors and discussions, a source told the Associated Press — who spoke on anonymity — that Las Vegas will indeed be awarded an expansion franchise in the National Hockey League. This will give the NHL its 31st franchise that could begin as early as the 2017-18 season.

Sin City on ice: Source says #NHL has settled on Las Vegas for expansion. https://t.co/uhcY56GQCM #sportsbiz pic.twitter.com/9RXcLc70ff

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) June 14, 2016

Quebec City, which has been without an NHL franchise since the Nordiques moved to Denver and were rechristened as the Colorado Avalanche, was also considered for expansion according to the AP.

Assuming Bill Foley, the spearhead of the campaign to bring hockey to the Sin City, and his organizers can pay the league’s $500 million expansion fee, Las Vegas will finally have its first professional sports franchise in place. The team will likely play its home games at the state of the art T-Mobile Arena, which opened its doors in April.

An official announcement could take place as early as next week when the Board of Governors meet in Vegas during the NHL Awards.