Menu
Franchises

NHL BOG Approves Sale Of Thrashers To True North, Relocation To Winnipeg

The NHL's BOG yesterday approved the sale of the Thrashers to True North Sports & Entertainment and allowed for the relocation of the franchise to Winnipeg. The team will continue to play in the Southeast Division next season while a plan for realignment is discussed for the '12-13 campaign (THE DAILY). In Winnipeg, Tim Campbell notes with the announcement, the NHL and the Winnipeg franchise launched the "as-yet-unnamed team's official website, winnipeg.nhl.com." At the conclusion of yesterday's BOG meeting, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the league "regretted having to leave a market, in this case Atlanta." Bettman: "We deeply regret that Atlanta's ownership was unable to secure local partners after exhausting every option and alternative." He added, "At the same time, we are delighted that NHL hockey is returning to Winnipeg and to a fan base that already is showing so much support for its team" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 6/22). More Bettman: "People have noticed very clearly what Winnipeg has accomplished in a very short period of time, selling out 13,000 season tickets in record time. Sometimes it's not just the size of the market ... it's a function of the intensity of the market." Meanwhile, Bettman said that BOG members are "not ready to revolt over their continued ownership" of the Coyotes. Bettman: "The board isn't funding the losses. The city of Glendale is. And the board is comfortable with where things are" (WINNIPEG SUN, 6/22). Devils President, CEO & GM Lou Lamoriello said, "In my opinion, the right decision was made with the way it was handled in regard to Winnipeg and also the right decision was made with Phoenix to try to keep it in that market. The city is trying very hard. They are separate situations that have been handled for the best of the league first and also for the individual franchise" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/22).

TIME TO HEAD NORTH? In Winnipeg, Gary Lawless notes the NHL "will boast seven Canadian franchises" with the addition of Winnipeg, and "don't be surprised if that number swells to nine within five years." Quebec City "wants a franchise and Southern Ontario could certainly hold a second team." Growing the game is the league's "mandate and while having an attractive TV footprint in the U.S. is a fine idea, it hasn't paid the bills." The "experiment is over and now Canada has to be the NHL's target" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 6/22). However, Maple Leafs President & GM Brian Burke, who "was quick to say he's all for putting a team back in Winnipeg," delivered a "little reality check" yesterday. He said, "There's always a rush of euphoria. There's always a rush of patriotism. You look at NFL expansion teams, the first five years are never the problem. And then you look at some of them with attendance issues. It's far from over. ... It's not a slam dunk. Everyone in Winnipeg has to support this team" (WINNIPEG SUN, 6/22).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2011/06/22/Franchises/Winnipeg.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2011/06/22/Franchises/Winnipeg.aspx

CLOSE