As the dust settles in the desert, it looks like the Phoenix Coyotes will be playing hockey in Arizona for at least one more season. Last Tuesday, City Council of Glendale voted 5-2 in favor of paying another $25 million to National Hockey League to cover potential losses of the franchise if the team can’t find a buyer by the end of the season. This payment will be the second year in a row the city has committed $25 million dollars to the National Hockey League to cover loses of the Coyotes. They did the same thing last year in hopes of closing a deal with prospective buyer Matthew Hulsizer. However, that deal has been put on the back burner because of a potential lawsuit by the Goldwater Institute. The extension of the existing deal will allow for the Coyotes to play another season in Glendale, while the National Hockey League looks for ownership.
Now all eyes have shifted to the Atlanta Thrashers ownership situation. The Atlanta Thrashers owners have made no bones about it, they want out. The Thrashers owners have made no guarantees of being back in Atlanta next season, where the team has racked up millions of dollars in losses in recent seasons. Exact figures have not been given, but Atlanta Sprint, the owners of the Thrashers estimates they have been losing up to $130 million since 2003. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution citing “a person familiar with the NHL’s sales process,” reported talks had become between True North Sports and the Atlanta Sprint group. True North Sports Entertainment has been waiting patiently in the wings. They have been told by the National Hockey League, when the time is right, they can start negotiations. While the True North Sports does not exclusivity with Atlanta Sprint, the feeling is a deal will get work out soon.
As stated before, the NHL’s position on the Atlanta ownership situation is the same as the situation in Phoenix. The league will do everything it can behind the scenes to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. The Coyotes fight was more publicized than Atlanta. This method is the way the league wants it. While there are reports of negotiation between Atlanta Sprint and True North Sports, no deal will be announced until one is finalized. The people of Winnipeg have been through a lot over the past year. There were reports the Coyotes were moving, but now they are staying. Now the Thrashers are hot team that maybe moving to Winnipeg. Fans up there want a team back, but they do not want to be dragged along through a lengthy process. They want a resolution as much as the parties involved.
True North is led by billionaire David Thomson and Winnipeg Businessman Mark Chipman. They own the MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg and the AHL team Manitoba Moose. While negotiations have just started, there is a short window to get the deal done. The NHL schedule comes out in the next month, but the schedule is finalized at the end of May. Arrangements would need to be made for season ticket plans to go out to the fans. If Atlanta was to relocate to Winnipeg, the conferences would have to be realigned. However, that would have to wait until next year because the board of governors would have to vote on which team would move to the Eastern Conference.
For right now talks are quiet between the two parties. No deal is in place. The only deal in place is for the Phoenix Coyotes to play one more season in Glendale. All parties do not want to raise expectations in Winnipeg, like what was done with the Phoenix Coyotes. For now people in Winnipeg will continue to play the waiting game.