True North buys Thrashers, set to move to Winnipeg

[Wordplay]

TSN reports:

Fifteen years after the departure of the Jets, the city of Winnipeg has arrived at a triumphant moment that many thought would never come.
NHL hockey is returning to the Manitoba capital.
The True North Sports and Entertainment group announced on Tuesday that they have completed a deal to purchase the Atlanta Thrashers and move them to Winnipeg in time for the 2011-12 season.

Still needs Board of Governors approval on both the sale and relocation.

 

[silverpig]

I hope they can get the rights to the name "Jets".

 

[CZroe]

GA doesn't care. They didn't care about the Knights before that.

 

[CZroe]

I hope they can get the rights to the name "Jets".

If they do, do you think ATL would name their next hockey team "Thrashers?" they kinda have a bird theme going (Hawks, Thrashers, Falcons).

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

GA doesn't care. They didn't care about the Knights before that.

Didn't care about the Flames either.

 

[Wordplay]

If they do, do you think ATL would name their next hockey team "Thrashers?" they kinda have a bird theme going (Hawks, Thrashers, Falcons).

I hope they don't get another team.

Also Buttmunch didn't seem to happy in the press conference announcing the deal.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

If they do, do you think ATL would name their next hockey team "Thrashers?" they kinda have a bird theme going (Hawks, Thrashers, Falcons).

That would be their third NHL franchise. I'm pretty sure Atlanta has shown that they don't care much about hockey. I doubt they'll get another team anytime soon.

 

[Blackjack200]

I still don't understand how a city of 700,000 people is going to support an NHL franchise.

 

[Dirigible]

Atlanta had a hockey team??

Hopefully all the hockey teams in warm places leave for Canada and I never have to hear about hockey ever again.

 

[dainthomas]

I still don't understand how a city of 700,000 people is going to support an NHL franchise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit

Population (2010)[2][3] - City 713,777

 

[oogabooga]

I still don't understand how a city of 700,000 people is going to support an NHL franchise.

They're Canadian?

Can't be worse than the numbers Atlanta was getting. Sucks to be one of the few Atlanta fans.

 

[Imp]

I still don't understand how a city of 700,000 people is going to support an NHL franchise.

They're expecting for the entire surrounding area (i.e. province of Manitoba) to support it. Still pretty small, but the prairies are kinda growing...

 

[Portly Penguin]

I still don't understand how a city of 700,000 people is going to support an NHL franchise.

700,000 is more than the most current NHL cities have.

 

[Wordplay]

I still don't understand how a city of 700,000 people is going to support an NHL franchise.

It didn't work last time because of the weak Canadian dollar and lack of interest for a new arena.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I still don't understand how a city of 700,000 people is going to support an NHL franchise.

Think about the NBA -- they have roughly the same number of games and you see cities like Oklahoma City and Memphis supporting franchises.

 

[NoCreativity]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit

Population (2010)[2][3] - City 713,777

In addition to 3.2 million people in the surrounding area that support the team.

Hope it goes better this time around.

 

[Blackjack200]

700,000 is more than the most current NHL cities have.

Rubbish. No current NHL city has fewer people in its metropolitan area.

 

[Blackjack200]

It didn't work last time because of the weak Canadian dollar and lack of interest for a new arena.

I guess we'll see. It seems like they have a pretty nice building.

Think about the NBA -- they have roughly the same number of games and you see cities like Oklahoma City and Memphis supporting franchises.

Yeah, I don't know much about the NBA or follow it that closely, but I was surprised to see NBA teams in those cities.

 

[NoCreativity]

Also good to see the Wings might get a chance to move to Eastern conference.

 

[silverpig]

Rubbish. No current NHL city has fewer people in its metropolitan area.

Carolina (Greensboro) is 714k according to wolfram alpha.

Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa are all 1M and they do just fine.

Canadian city + former NHL city + strong CAD + revenue sharing safety net = win for the Winnipeg franchise.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Rubbish. No current NHL city has fewer people in its metropolitan area.

Columbus and Detroit are both around 700k. And Canadians love their hockey so I'm sure they'll make it work.

 

[oogabooga]

Also good to see the Wings might get a chance to move to Eastern conference.

I think they have said that this won't happen. I think the reason given was they don't want to have 5/6 of the original 6 in the eastern conference and split the rivalries that are currently there (CHI, COL). I don't think it's all that good of a reason, but I don't think Detroit is moving to the east.

 

[KeithTalent]

Man, this is weird. I grew up a Jets fan living in Winnipeg, but converted to the Canucks when I moved out here and the Jets were moved to Phoenix. I kind of hope they don't get to name them the Jets as I would feel a bit conflicted if they did since the name still resonates with me. If that happens I may need to practice some sport bigomy and bust out my old Hawerchuk jersey. :hmm:

At least they will be in the East for the time being, so it would be a bit easier to cheer for both.

KT

 

[Bacstar]

Was this out of the blue or what?

 

[Train]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit

Population (2010)[2][3] - City 713,777

And about 6 of those people are actual hockey fans.

The wings fanbase made up of the millions of people all around Detroit, From the Upper Peninsula all the way down to Toledo, from Kalamazoo all the way over to Windsor.