Atlanta Thrashers Set to Move to Winnipeg

The NHL is on its way back to the Manitoba capital. True North Sports and Entertainment announced today that they have completed a deal to purchase the Atlanta Thrashers and relocate the team to Winnipeg in time for the 2011-12 season. The sale of the franchise is still pending approval from the NHL Board of Governors, which should occur on June 20 in New York. The transfer of ownership will require 75 percent approval from the Board of Governors, while relocation will only need a majority result. True North Sports and Entertainment and the Thrashers' owner, Atlanta Spirit, had been working on a deal for several weeks. The franchise price will be $170 million with a $60 million relocation fee. That relocation fee will be dispersed to the other 29 NHL teams. The team will play out of the MTS Centre, which opened in 2004 and has a seating capacity of just over 15,000. A nickname has not been chosen for the team yet and True North is now launching a season ticket campaign, with ticket prices ranging from $39-$129 per game. According to TSN insider Bob McKenzie, the Winnipeg franchise will remain in the Southeast Division for the 2011-12 season, with realignment set to occur prior to the 2012-13 season. It has been 15 years since the Winnipeg Jets departed Canada and moved to Arizona to become the Phoenix Coyotes. This is the second time the city of Atlanta has lost an NHL franchise. The Flames played in Atlanta from 1972 to 1980 before relocating to Calgary. The Thrashers were an expansion team for the 1999-2000 season. This is great news for the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba, as hockey fans in Winnipeg have been really vocal about getting the NHL to return to their city. It's nice to see Canada getting another hockey franchise and that the team is going to a city with a fan base that will appreciate them. The Thrashers were not a huge grab in Atlanta, so it will be good for the franchise to be in a city that will have a stronger fan base. A big congratulations goes out to the city of Winnipeg for acquiring an NHL franchise. You have certainly earned it.