Announcement pending on Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg

[TheBisonator]

I don't know if anyone else posted anything about this on here, but I've been following Winnipeg's quest to get an NHL team for many years now (I was a huge WPG Jets fan back in the day, still am), and the story that has gone on for a long time (I won't get into the details) has bascially come to a head for an announcement tommorow in downtown Winnipeg that a Winnipeg investment group, called True North Sports and Entertainment, has officially completed the transaction of purchasing the Atlanta Thrashers and the franchise will be immediately moving to Winnipeg.

From everything I'm seeing, an announcement may come tomorrow, due to the national media starting to pile into Winnipeg and setting up cameras downtown, but I have heard a bunch of times over the past two weeks that an announcement would come soon, and it never came. But apparently there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the day may be tomorrow.

Basically everyone in the media is now reporting that the transaction between True North and Atlanta Spirit Group has been completed. The issue is if the announcement will be tomorrow. Surely the official word cannot be postponed for too long, so I suppose this thread can be kept up for however long it takes.

Right now everything is pointing to the Thrashers heading to Winnipeg. Hopefully the announcement is Tuesday.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I can't wait! Winnipeg absolutely deserves a team. Hopefully Phoenix will return to Quebec City in a couple years.

From what i understand the team will be called the Manitoba Moose?

[TheBisonator]

I can't wait! Winnipeg absolutely deserves a team. Hopefully Phoenix will return to Quebec City in a couple years.

From what i understand the team will be called the Manitoba Moose?

Nobody has any good connections as to what the name will be. It's just a guessing game right now as to what the name will be.

Manitoba Moose was the AHL team that played in Winnipeg until this year, they are said to be moving to St. John's Newfoundland for next season.

[TheBisonator]

Looks like there will be no announcement tomorrow, according to a press release by True North.

Looks like we're still waiting for the announcement.

One thing is for sure, the Thrashers will NOT be playing in Atlanta next year.

[Gil Dobie]

The Jets never should have left. Maybe they will take the Jets name back. Thrashers has a different meaning in Manitoba, in a farming sense of the word.

[darell1976]

I was a huge Jets fan back in the 80's and 90's, and was very mad when they moved to Phoenix and now finally the Jets are coming home where they belong...Now to get me a passcard to see them in person!

[TTUEagles]

It was my understanding that there were huge financial losses/concerns with Winnipeg, thus, the reason for the move. My question is, how has Winnipeg changed in 20 years? Is it a much more viable option these days? How's the arena situation, etc.?
As an avid Braves fan, I can attest that the Atlanta pro sports market is a poor one, for some reason. For as large of a metropolitan area as Atlanta is...there sure isn't the support for the pro teams as are in other markets of similar/lesser sizes (Nashville, for the NHL & NFL, for one).

[Side Judge]

I can't wait! Winnipeg absolutely deserves a team. Hopefully Phoenix will return to Quebec City in a couple years.

From what i understand the team will be called the Manitoba Moose?

Or maybe the True North Nordiques, thereby killing 2 birds with 1 stone?

[TTUEagles]

Ajc.com announced that it's official - Thrashers are out...I wonder if Columbus or Nashville moves to the Eastern Conference now?

[Gil Dobie]

It was my understanding that there were huge financial losses/concerns with Winnipeg, thus, the reason for the move. My question is, how has Winnipeg changed in 20 years? Is it a much more viable option these days?
As an avid Braves fan, I can attest that the Atlanta pro sports market is a poor one, for some reason. For as large of a metropolitan area as Atlanta is...there sure isn't the support for the pro teams as are in other markets of similar/lesser sizes (Nashville, for the NHL & NFL, for one).

The owner was trying to get a new arena and didn't get it in time for the Jets to move to Phoenix. They now have a new arena with all the bells and whistles the prevous team wanted.

[Gil Dobie]

Ajc.com announced that it's official - Thrashers are out...I wonder if Columbus or Nashville moves to the Eastern Conference now?

I've been hearing the Wild to join the former Norris teams.

[citdog]

good riddance to yankee rubbish! GET THE NHL OUT OF THE CSA!!!

[TheBisonator]

http://watch.tsn.ca/#clip466642

[Tuscon]

good riddance to yankee rubbish! GET THE NHL OUT OF THE CSA!!!

Please quit being an idiot.

Also, I'm sad we will not have hockey in my city anymore.

[RabidRabbit]

Please quit being an idiot.

xflaggedx Idiots are Ok, as long as they are focused on the discussion of the thread. Posters who choose to focus on fellow posters are less ok, especially if no contribution to the thread's issue. xnonox

[TheBisonator]

xflaggedx Idiots are Ok, as long as they are focused on the discussion of the thread. Posters who choose to focus on fellow posters are less ok, especially if no contribution to the thread's issue. xnonox

As long as citdog doesn't start bashing Canada, I'm fine.

He and I are actually in agreement. The NHL does not work in the southeastern US. It's better if some of those teams move to Canadian cities who would actually cherish them.

[TTUEagles]

As long as citdog doesn't start bashing Canada, I'm fine.

He and I are actually in agreement. The NHL does not work in the southeastern US. It's better if some of those teams move to Canadian cities who would actually cherish them.

I strongly disagree. Specifically, look at Nashville. Smashville has more than met the attendance "quota" for revenue sharing since it's been in place, and had 17 sellouts this season, while selling out all home playoff games. Due to the playoff run this year, hockey is at all time high in terms of interest around and season ticket sales for next year are way, way up. In Atlanta's case, there is a history of less than stellar support for the Braves (not selling out playoff games, having < 10,000 for a game earlier this year), Falcons, Hawks, Flames, etc...Carolina and Tampa seem to have done decently, as well. If NHL and hockey fans want to grow their sport, they need it to thrive in non-traditional markets.
By the way, the youth hockey / high school hockey market in Nashville is increasing yearly, as well.

[TheBisonator]

I strongly disagree. Specifically, look at Nashville. Smashville has more than met the attendance "quota" for revenue sharing since it's been in place, and had 17 sellouts this season, while selling out all home playoff games. Due to the playoff run this year, hockey is at all time high in terms of interest around and season ticket sales for next year are way, way up. In Atlanta's case, there is a history of less than stellar support for the Braves (not selling out playoff games, having < 10,000 for a game earlier this year), Falcons, Hawks, Flames, etc...Carolina and Tampa seem to have done decently, as well. If NHL and hockey fans want to grow their sport, they need it to thrive in non-traditional markets.
By the way, the youth hockey / high school hockey market in Nashville is increasing yearly, as well.

I'm not saying there is absolutely zero support for hockey in the SE US, but the number of people who care down there is a lot smaller, you have to admit. The states of Georgia, N carolina, Tennessee have a tiny fraction of the number of people interested in hockey as the province of Manitoba does.

Case in point: There are tens of thousands of people on the corner of Portage and Main in Downtown Winnipeg AS I TYPE THIS who are celebrating getting an NHL team. How many people gathered in downtown Raleigh or downtown Nashville or downtown Atlanta when it was announced those cities would get teams??

Canada was woefully underserved with only 6 teams. Canada deserves 8 or 9 teams, IMO. Some people up here think Canada could support 12, I disagree. But I think 8 or 9 would be the best.

[TheBisonator]

The timeline for the new team name is 7-10 days, according to Mark Chipman.

[TTUEagles]

I'm not saying there is absolutely zero support for hockey in the SE US, but the number of people who care down there is a lot smaller, you have to admit. The states of Georgia, N carolina, Tennessee have a tiny fraction of the number of people interested in hockey as the province of Manitoba does.

Case in point: There are tens of thousands of people on the corner of Portage and Main in Downtown Winnipeg AS I TYPE THIS who are celebrating getting an NHL team. How many people gathered in downtown Raleigh or downtown Nashville or downtown Atlanta when it was announced those cities would get teams??

Canada was woefully underserved with only 6 teams. Canada deserves 8 or 9 teams, IMO. Some people up here think Canada could support 12, I disagree. But I think 8 or 9 would be the best.

I see your point, but you also wrote that it "does not work" in the SE US. My point is that, for the NHL to thrive and grow, it needs non traditional markets. Nashville was, and is, going to be a slow boil in terms of hockey interest - but it is getting there. People in Vancouver, sitting behind me, said they were impressed, not at just how loud the building was, but in all the buzz outside the arena, the coverage in the local media, that the fans knew when to cheer, recognized penalties right away, etc. THey admitted (it was just 2 fans, however) that they had the elitist Canadian stereotype vs Nashville as a hockey city.
And, it obviously didn't work so well at all times in Canada, with Winnipeg and Quebec both losing teams - different times, different circumstances, but still...

[NHwildEcat]

I'm not saying there is absolutely zero support for hockey in the SE US, but the number of people who care down there is a lot smaller, you have to admit. The states of Georgia, N carolina, Tennessee have a tiny fraction of the number of people interested in hockey as the province of Manitoba does.

Case in point: There are tens of thousands of people on the corner of Portage and Main in Downtown Winnipeg AS I TYPE THIS who are celebrating getting an NHL team. How many people gathered in downtown Raleigh or downtown Nashville or downtown Atlanta when it was announced those cities would get teams??

Canada was woefully underserved with only 6 teams. Canada deserves 8 or 9 teams, IMO. Some people up here think Canada could support 12, I disagree. But I think 8 or 9 would be the best.

I doubt the economics of the higher end of your numbers...9 is a bit too much. We will see how long Winnipeg sticks with this- the good news is the situation is completely different from when they had to move before...the salary cap is in place to help maintain all the small market teams. And no matter what anyone trys to argue, most cities in Canada are what I would term small market. I think maybe Canad could handle one more team if that- Hamilton would be the top pick IMO because it sits a a region soaked with both people and hockey crazed people. I think Toronto could actually support a second team if it came down to it, but Hamiliton would be a better fit...and maybe that will eventually be the Coyotes team...you never know.

Has anyone heard of the future state of the conferences and any news on realignment? Might Nashville be making the switch to the Eastern conference?

P.S. If Hamilton would get a team, it would make for one crazy hockey trip for me and some friends- Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Buffalo/Detroit! Just a thought I had during all these reloaction talks.

[Gil Dobie]

Winnipeg Free Press Link (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/True-North-calls-press-conference-for-this-morning-122858484.html)

There is a drive for 13,000 season tickets in the MTS Centre, former home of the Manitoba Moose (Fomerly Minnesota). Biggest celebration on Portage & Main since Bobby Hull signed.
I grew up 75 miles from Winnipeg, so it's nice to see the neighbors to the north get a team again.

[89Hen]

Hamilton would be the top pick IMO because it sits a a region soaked with both people and hockey crazed people. I think Toronto could actually support a second team if it came down to it, but Hamiliton would be a better fit...

Has anyone heard of the future state of the conferences and any news on realignment? Might Nashville be making the switch to the Eastern conference?

Isn't Hamilton to Toronto what Baltimore is to DC, maybe even closer?

As for divisions, I don't see any way they don't just put Nashville in the Southeast. Too easy an answer. They could then either just put Winnipeg in the central, or move Colorado to the Central and Winnipeg to the Northwest so they could be with Minnesota. Somebody had mentioned that Detroit wanted out of the West, but I don't see them separating them from Chicago and Columbus.

[TTUEagles]

Nashville has been reported to be moving simply due to it's proximity to Carolina, TBay, Florida....But, there are 2 teams in the Eastern Time Zone that makes more sense to me to go to the East.
In any event, I always hate to see franchises leave, (except for the Titans coming from Houston!) and not thrive, but, congrats to Winnipeg on getting another team!

[89Hen]

Nashville has been reported to be moving simply due to it's proximity to Carolina, TBay, Florida....But, there are 2 teams in the Eastern Time Zone that makes more sense to me to go to the East.

Problem is there are two. I do think the NHL wishes they could figure out a way to get the Caps and Pens in the same division, but that's not happening without blowing up all the divisions. I had been hoping the Islanders would move to Canada so the Caps could come to the Atlantic.

[NHwildEcat]

Isn't Hamilton to Toronto what Baltimore is to DC, maybe even closer?

As for divisions, I don't see any way they don't just put Nashville in the Southeast. Too easy an answer. They could then either just put Winnipeg in the central, or move Colorado to the Central and Winnipeg to the Northwest so they could be with Minnesota. Somebody had mentioned that Detroit wanted out of the West, but I don't see them separating them from Chicago and Columbus.

You're correct regarding the closeness in proximity between Toronto and Hamilton...but it is also the most populated area in all of Canada from what I gather so I think it would work out pretty well.

[Tuscon]

The big problem in Atlanta is we have a lot of fair weather fans. Nobody goes to Falcons games unless we're winning, Georgia Tech can't fill Bobby Dodd unless they are playing UGA, and UGA is taking a hit in season ticket results already as a result of their 6-7 season. You gotta win in this town and the Thrashers ownership wasn't willing to invest in the team as they needed to in order to win.

[PaladinFan]

It's true, Atlanta has its trouble with pro sports attendance. You can chalk the vast majority of that up to college football, not lack of sports enthusiasm.

I have my own reservations about the Brave's attendance. The Braves generally have pretty good attendance, though you are right, the stadium rarely sells out. Turner field is massive (fourth largest park in the league), is difficult to get to, and is oppressively hot in the summers. I also think Braves fans got too "used" to winning, if you can do such a thing. For a while it was a mentatlity of "wake me when the playoffs start."

[TheBisonator]

The big problem in Atlanta is we have a lot of fair weather fans. Nobody goes to Falcons games unless we're winning, Georgia Tech can't fill Bobby Dodd unless they are playing UGA, and UGA is taking a hit in season ticket results already as a result of their 6-7 season. You gotta win in this town and the Thrashers ownership wasn't willing to invest in the team as they needed to in order to win.

Most people in Atlanta are from somewhere else, which is a huge factor. It's not that Atlantans don't like sports, that's far from the case. I would bet that Atlanta has more "sports nuts" than most other American cities. It's that they tend to support the team from the place they're from.

Also, while I think poor ownership was part of the reason why the Thrashers failed, I don't think it was the only reason. The Thrashers had their hardcore fans, but there were not enough of them. Sorry to those defending hockey in Georgia, but I simply cannot believe that the hockey culture in places like Georgia even comes close to the northern tier US, let alone Canada.

And I really think this WPG franchise will succeed. Hockey is a religion everywhere in Canada, that is known. What is not known is that Winnipeg/Manitoba is widely known to support hockey in its most fundamental level more than anywhere else in Canada. One writer once said hockey in Manitoba is like football in Texas.

It's a great new day for Winnipeg.

[BucBisonAtLarge]

The NHL's natural move back into the Canadian cities abandoned since the WHA merger reflects major economic shifts from back in the 80's and 90s. Canada's mineral-based economy of the current day leaves a lot more cash in the pocket of the average Canadian and hockey is a much higher community and corporate interest up north. In that era, Winnipeg and Quebec City were ill-equipped in resisting the predations of the NHL's TV-related attempt to install itself in the American 'New South'. The overnight theft of the Nordique, a franchise poised to make a punishing run at the Stanley Cup with a legion of fanatical fans, demonstrated that fan intererst and success stayed outside the room when decisions were being made behind closed doors in the wierdo micro-climate of NHL ownership.

The NHL, ownership, lifestyle/glamor, attendance and the requisite new arena-- as a season-ticket holder for the final season of the Hartford Whalers, I learned there are*many cards to be played in the life and death of a city's hockey fortunes. When the Karmanos/Cablevision ownership bought the Whalers their deepest wish was to become franchise #2 in Hockeytown(Detroit), hoping somehow to get the owners let them cannibalize another of their own. Owners and TV local market contracts do matter. With the Islanders, Rangers, Devils and Bruins within two hours' drive, Karmanos did have willing allies for uprooting the Whalers. Raleigh? Oh yeah, two other factors-- Raleigh was building a new arena, principally for, at that time, NC State hoops and players liked living someplace warmer than southern New England-- many more snow-free days for golfing. OK, I am not a golfer, but my season-ticket holder heart was so unimportant in the alchemy, as was the new arena guarantee given to Cablevision, a palace to be built few blocks from my loft apartment.

I sympathize with any other former fans of the NHL and its corpse franchises. As a kid I began watching hockey as a Bruins' fan, but learned it in the rinks that hosted peewee to semi-pro teams across Connecticut all year. That type of infrastructure, neglected in the positioning for a 'proper' national TV contract in the US, is exactly what underpins what I hope is the restoration of the highest level of pro hockey in the world to the region which can put ice hockey first in its heart, at least now and then.

[Umpire]

As far as divisions go, it won't matter for this season. Winnipeg will be in the Southeast for this season since "it's too late to switch things up".

Yep, Southeast Division 11/12 of Carolina, Tampa, Florida, Washington and Winnipeg.

[citdog]

Most people in Atlanta are from somewhere else, which is a huge factor. It's not that Atlantans don't like sports, that's far from the case. I would bet that Atlanta has more "sports nuts" than most other American cities. It's that they tend to support the team from the place they're from.

Also, while I think poor ownership was part of the reason why the Thrashers failed, I don't think it was the only reason. The Thrashers had their hardcore fans, but there were not enough of them. Sorry to those defending hockey in Georgia, but I simply cannot believe that the hockey culture in places like Georgia even comes close to the northern tier US, let alone Canada.

And I really think this WPG franchise will succeed. Hockey is a religion everywhere in Canada, that is known. What is not known is that Winnipeg/Manitoba is widely known to support hockey in its most fundamental level more than anywhere else in Canada. One writer once said hockey in Manitoba is like football in Texas.

It's a great new day for Winnipeg.



http://media-1.web.britannica.com/eb-media/06/7106-004-F7394EDB.jpg

[PaladinFan]

Most people in Atlanta are from somewhere else, which is a huge factor. It's not that Atlantans don't like sports, that's far from the case. I would bet that Atlanta has more "sports nuts" than most other American cities. It's that they tend to support the team from the place they're from.

Also, while I think poor ownership was part of the reason why the Thrashers failed, I don't think it was the only reason. The Thrashers had their hardcore fans, but there were not enough of them. Sorry to those defending hockey in Georgia, but I simply cannot believe that the hockey culture in places like Georgia even comes close to the northern tier US, let alone Canada.

And I really think this WPG franchise will succeed. Hockey is a religion everywhere in Canada, that is known. What is not known is that Winnipeg/Manitoba is widely known to support hockey in its most fundamental level more than anywhere else in Canada. One writer once said hockey in Manitoba is like football in Texas.

It's a great new day for Winnipeg.

You are completely right as to your first point. Atlanta has a large population of "out of towners." Folks from Chicago, Boston, the west coast, etc. If you watch a Hawks game against the Bulls, you'll hear half the stadium pull for Chicago. That isn't because Atlantans just love Derrick Rose, its because half the arena is folks from Illinois who live in Atlanta.

Your assessment really is correct. No one down here grows up playing hockey. When my hometown of Columbus got a SPHL (or whatever league they are in now), they would have to hand out the rules to the game when you took your seats. It's not part of our culture. It really informs the fact of why Atlanta has lost two hockey teams.

Sidenote: I imagine they will change the name upon moving the team to Winnipeg, but did any of you non-Georgians know that the Thrasher is the state bird of Georgia? I find a lot of people who A) don't associate the name Thrasher with a bird, and B) just assumed the bird on the logo is a random mascot.

[darell1976]

Hopefully the Ralph Engelstad Arena will schedule some preseason NHL games with the "new" Winnipeg (Jets) team, just like they have done with the Minnesota Wild. I just hope they can reatain the name and logo. J-E-T-S...JETS JETS JETS!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheValleyRaider]

The demise of the Atlanta Thrashers falls at the feet of incompetent ownership. The Atlanta Spirit Group ran the franchise into the ground, spending most of their time suing one another (and handing out ridiculous NBA contracts) than bothering to put any time, money or attention into the Thrashers. Retaining GM Don Waddell was a mistake, though you can meekly defend him from the standpoint that he was working with very little institutional support.

Look at the history of the team. In 11 seasons, they qualified for the playoffs 1 time, and were swept. You can't build a fanbase with that kind of team, no matter the market. Nashville, Tampa, Carolina, Dallas, hockey in Southern cities/states can and has worked, but there needs to be a commitment from the team to make it happen, and Atlanta wasn't getting that from the Thrashers

I'm happy for Winnipeg getting a team back, though I have my concerns regarding their long-term viability. The Jets left because the arena was too small, years of mediocre to slightly above average teams kept attendance down, and the weak Canadian dollar made the NHL a difficult proposition in smaller cities (like Quebec City). 15 years later, their new arena is still going to be the smallest in the League (by about 1,000 seats) and though the Canadian dollar is strong now, there's certainly no guarantee it will stay that way. And if the team continues to struggle for respectability on the ice? Those attendance issues will come back. True North seems like the kind of group that will run the team the best it can, but there are variables you can't control, like convincing free agents to sign in "Winter-peg." I hope the Jets/Moose/Falcons/whatever do well, and the sport is successful in Winnipeg, but sometimes I wonder....

[PaladinFan]

The demise of the Atlanta Thrashers falls at the feet of incompetent ownership. The Atlanta Spirit Group ran the franchise into the ground, spending most of their time suing one another (and handing out ridiculous NBA contracts) than bothering to put any time, money or attention into the Thrashers. Retaining GM Don Waddell was a mistake, though you can meekly defend him from the standpoint that he was working with very little institutional support.

Look at the history of the team. In 11 seasons, they qualified for the playoffs 1 time, and were swept. You can't build a fanbase with that kind of team, no matter the market. Nashville, Tampa, Carolina, Dallas, hockey in Southern cities/states can and has worked, but there needs to be a commitment from the team to make it happen, and Atlanta wasn't getting that from the Thrashers

I'm happy for Winnipeg getting a team back, though I have my concerns regarding their long-term viability. The Jets left because the arena was too small, years of mediocre to slightly above average teams kept attendance down, and the weak Canadian dollar made the NHL a difficult proposition in smaller cities (like Quebec City). 15 years later, their new arena is still going to be the smallest in the League (by about 1,000 seats) and though the Canadian dollar is strong now, there's certainly no guarantee it will stay that way. And if the team continues to struggle for respectability on the ice? Those attendance issues will come back. True North seems like the kind of group that will run the team the best it can, but there are variables you can't control, like convincing free agents to sign in "Winter-peg." I hope the Jets/Moose/Falcons/whatever do well, and the sport is successful in Winnipeg, but sometimes I wonder....

An ESPN article made a similar assessment. The ownership seems to be to blame. The article even seemed to suggest that the Thrashers would be more successful in Atlanta + a dedciated ownership group. Nothing against Winnipeg, and I've never been there nor followed the Jet's departure, but the writer opines that Atlanta has much more to offer a franchise.

[Gil Dobie]

An ESPN article made a similar assessment. The ownership seems to be to blame. The article even seemed to suggest that the Thrashers would be more successful in Atlanta + a dedciated ownership group. Nothing against Winnipeg, and I've never been there nor followed the Jet's departure, but the writer opines that Atlanta has much more to offer a franchise.

Hockey players like beer, and Canada has some good choices,and strong choices.

[darell1976]

I don't see how Atlanta has a better hockey fan base than Winnipeg. Winnipeg has history, minor league hockey, and lots of college hockey teams in and around Manitoba. Atlanta doesn't have that much history (I wasn't old enough to remember the Atlanta Flames), minor league hockey, and college hockey (unless you refer to Alabama-Huntsville as the closest team). Atlanta has football, NASCAR, basketball, and baseball. Winnipeg has the CFL, and hockey.

[TheValleyRaider]

I don't see how Atlanta has a better hockey fan base than Winnipeg. Winnipeg has history, minor league hockey, and lots of college hockey teams in and around Manitoba. Atlanta doesn't have that much history (I wasn't old enough to remember the Atlanta Flames), minor league hockey, and college hockey (unless you refer to Alabama-Huntsville as the closest team). Atlanta has football, NASCAR, basketball, and baseball. Winnipeg has the CFL, and hockey.

I don't think anyone has said Atlanta has a better fan base than Winnipeg. For Hockey, just using fan enthusiasm and energy as a measuring stick, it's Winnipeg, clearly. But that's not how all these determinations are made, else the NHL might be 7 American teams rather than the other way around

The problem here is that Atlanta's fanbase, and really the prospects of major professional hockey in the region, were screwed over by incompetent and negligent ownership, which is a real shame for the city and it's small-but-strong fans

[darell1976]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_mO4u0H6GY

at 1:18 Mark moves to the side and in the background...a UND helmet(its nice that he hasn't forgotten his alma mater). Thank you Mark for bringing the Jets home!!

[TTUEagles]

Hockey players like beer, and Canada has some good choices,and strong choices.

I love beer and there's plenty of fantastic choices in the South (Sweetwater in Atlanta, e.g.), but I love where you are going with this...

[PaladinFan]

I don't see how Atlanta has a better hockey fan base than Winnipeg. Winnipeg has history, minor league hockey, and lots of college hockey teams in and around Manitoba. Atlanta doesn't have that much history (I wasn't old enough to remember the Atlanta Flames), minor league hockey, and college hockey (unless you refer to Alabama-Huntsville as the closest team). Atlanta has football, NASCAR, basketball, and baseball. Winnipeg has the CFL, and hockey.

That may all be true, but that isn't everything. You won't find better basketball in this country outside of North Carolina, but that doesn't necessarily mean much for the Charlotte Bobcats.

Atlanta is a much bigger city with a lot more money making opportunities. You hear about "small" and "big" markets all the time. It's easier for the Yankees to turn a profit than the Brewers. Not because the fan base is more sophisticated, but because there's just more money and more people. It's nothing against Winnipeg, it's just the reality of the situation.

[TheBisonator]

The remaining 5,842 season tickets went on sale to the general public at noon central time today. All 5,842 were sold in 17 minutes.

There is now a waiting list of 14,000 names.

[dbackjon]

I can't wait! Winnipeg absolutely deserves a team. Hopefully Phoenix will return to Quebec City in a couple years.

From what i understand the team will be called the Manitoba Moose?


Keep your damn hands off the Coyotes. If you want Quebec City to have a team so bad, move the Flyers and Penguins (or whatever team you follow).

Plus, the Coyotes were never in Quebec City - the Nordiques moved to Denver.

[Gil Dobie]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/MTS_CENTRE_b.jpg/800px-MTS_CENTRE_b.jpg

[89Hen]

The remaining 5,842 season tickets went on sale to the general public at noon central time today. All 5,842 were sold in 17 minutes.

There is now a waiting list of 14,000 names.

Awesome! Hope they succeed.