The wishes of fans in Winnipeg have finally come true – the NHL is coming back to the city that lost their beloved Jets 15 years ago.
The True North Sports and Entertainment group announced today that they have completed a deal to buy the Atlanta Thrashers with the intention of moving the team to Winnipeg. The deal comes after weeks of speculation that True North would buy the Thrashers and move them back to Winnipeg, a city that previously housed the Jets before the team uprooted and became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996.
“Hockey in Canada has never been stronger,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “We get to be back in a place we wish had not left in 1996.”
The deal is still pending on final approval by the NHL Board of Governors, something expected to happen June 21 at the board meeting in New York. The Board requires 75 percent approval to transfer ownership of the team while only a majority approval is required for the move to take place.
“We don’t like to move a franchise,” Bettman said. “We’re not happy about leaving Atlanta. This was never about whether Winnipeg is better than Atlanta. The decision to come to Winnipeg was only made after the Atlanta ownership made the decision they were going to sell even if it meant the team was going to leave Atlanta.”
True North acquired the Thrashers for $170 million, including a $60 million relocation fee. The team will play out of the MTS Centre, where the Manitoba Moose of the AHL currently play, which has a seating capacity of just over 15,000.
“About 15 years ago, it was like someone stuck a fist through your rib cage and pulled out your heart. The fan support in this city was phenomenal,” said Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz of the relocation of the Jets to Phoenix. “The only reason the Jets left here was simply because of the fact we did not have a proper facility and the powers that be at the time could not get their act together to build a new arena.”
The new Winnipeg team – it remains to be seen if they will resurrect the Jets moniker – will be the seventh Canadian-based NHL franchise next season. Speculation continues on how the relocation will effect division and league alignment, but with schedules already in place for next season the belief is that the new Winnipeg franchise will occupy the spot held by the Thrashers in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference for the upcoming season and then the league will realign for 2012-13. Rumors have even arisen that the league will completely restructure to a Northern Conference and a Southern Conference to make the travel equal between all teams.
So, is there any chance that the league completely realigns? I’m thinking something like base ball does it. Even though their are two teams in New York City they are in different conferences. Or possibly a North and south alignment so all teams see equal travel.
It’s about 99% certain that Winnipeg will stay in the Southeast Division for next season and then realignment will occur for the 2012-13 season. I’m hearing a lot of different rumors and speculation regarding realignment. Some suggest that the most logical choice would be to put Nashville in the Southeast and let Winnipeg join the Central. Others are saying to put Detroit in the Northeast. I also keep hearing the North/South realignment rumors which would give each team equal travel, but it would also double the cost of travel for the league. I’ll probably be making a post sometime soon with all the rumors and possibilities I’m hearing about.
[…] once Atlanta Thrashers have now moved to Winnipeg. Not knowing of the team name, the organization finally announced it before their first pick of the […]
[…] Jets, once Atlanta Thrashers, has a lot of players under-producing. The list is as […]