by this point, travel costs from the east coast to the west coast were getting cheaper. however, since we literally have zero teams out west, it's be pretty hard on the existing team's finances indeed.
so no to L.A and SF. as far as I can tell, we need to firmly entranch ourselves on the east coast (buffalo is still missing, and BRING BACK OTTAWA!!
) however, we should think about gradually going further west. you mentioned Minnesota, perhaps the most hockey mad state in america. that would be a good start, as well as western Canada.