Could The Jets Return Next Year?

[RGM81]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=356192

The prospect of the NHL returning to Winnipeg has been much talked about for many years, but there is now, perhaps for the first time, a possibility of it happening and if it did, - notice the use of the word "if" - it could be as early as next season.
Now, don't confuse "a possibility" with "a real, good chance" because the key here is to keep this in perspective. While there's "a chance" it could happen, there's also "a chance" it could never materialize.
Still, one would have to say Winnipeg's chances have potentially increased if only because there may now be two possibilities - Phoenix and Atlanta - for NHL relocation.
Phoenix is currently on the NHL's front burner. The league is still working to find a way to close Matthew Hulsizer's deal with the city of Glendale to purchase the Coyotes.
The league is working overtime to overcome some issues with the sale of bonds that is critical to the transaction. It might work out. It might not. If it does, the sale is likely to proceed. If it doesn't, there are still some things the vested parties - Hulsizer, Glendale and the NHL - could do to salvage the transaction but there are no guarantees either. Time would appear to be a factor.
Winnipeg, of course, is ready, willing and waiting for the NHL. It has an owner and an arena and all have already done their due diligence on the Coyotes from a year ago and it wouldn't take a lot to update that scenario.
But if Phoenix should not turn out to be a viable option, perhaps Atlanta will.
The Thrashers' current owners want out. That's no secret. But they are obliged by NHL by-laws to sell to local interests that, so far, have not materialized. But that's a dynamic that could still change.
The point is, Atlanta hasn't gone through the reality of "the team might leave" scenario that generates momentum in the market to find a way to keep it there.
Maybe that happens. Maybe it doesn't. Too early to say.
Are you noticing a pattern here?
But I would say this is the first time I've sensed there may be some possibility for Winnipeg.
Time is tight. If the Coyotes and/or Thrashers are to play anywhere other than Phoenix and/or Atlanta next season, there needs to be some clarity in the next four to six weeks.
So let's see where this all goes.

[30ranfordfan]

Still not buying it.

Not saying the Thrashers will never leave Atlanta, but consider me shocked the day a team re-locates to Canada.

[Wickabee]

Bettman seems hellbent on A) Never letting the teams he put there to move and B) Never ever putting a team back in Winnipeg.
You'll see a team in QC before Winnipeg.

[centrehice]

Bettman was the driving force behind getting the Jets out of Wpg. He would never back-track and allow them back, not a chance.

He's a stubborn midget, that cannot skate.

[LegendsCollector]

The last i heard about winnipeg was they didn't have a building large enough to support an NHL team? I think Wickabee is right about QC getting a team before winnipeg since they are building a new facility already. I doubt bettman would move a team though because then it would show he was wrong about something for once.

[30ranfordfan]

Quebec and Winnipeg will get teams when two three things happen:

1. They get NHL calibre arenas
2. The NHL decides they want to expand
3. Someone has $250-$300 million to pony up for an expansion team



Bettman is not keeping teams out of those cities because he's got some wild anti-Canadian bias. Teams will not re-locate to Canada because despite the single franchise immediately becoming healthier, it hurts every single one of the other 29 teams.

[Wickabee]

How so?

[30ranfordfan]

Economics.

Let's use this example.... Atlanta moves to Winnipeg.

Three main reasons:

1. Medium Revenue team replaces Low Revenue team. Salary Cap goes up, owners pay more for players.

2. Loss of potential expansion market. One of the few places that is pure profit for owners (expansion) as players don't get 54% of it. They get nothing. No way the NHL moves a team to a location someone MIGHT pay $250 - $300 million for.

3. Weakens the next TV deal. Lose big market Atlanta (5th largest US city, I think - top 10 for sure) and replace it with a location most Americans can't locate on a map. How do you think NBC will feel?

(And that third one, by far, is the most important).


It doesn't matter if it would be good business for 'Owner X' to move the team from Atlanta to Winnipeg..... it would be bad business for the other 29 teams.

[LegendsCollector]

Economics.

Let's use this example.... Atlanta moves to Winnipeg.

Three main reasons:

1. Medium Revenue team replaces Low Revenue team. Salary Cap goes up, owners pay more for players.

2. Loss of potential expansion market. One of the few places that is pure profit for owners (expansion) as players don't get 54% of it. They get nothing. No way the NHL moves a team to a location someone MIGHT pay $250 - $300 million for.

3. Weakens the next TV deal. Lose big market Atlanta (5th largest US city, I think - top 10 for sure) and replace it with a location most Americans can't locate on a map. How do you think NBC will feel?

(And that third one, by far, is the most important).


It doesn't matter if it would be good business for 'Owner X' to move the team from Atlanta to Winnipeg..... it would be bad business for the other 29 teams.

All good points but Atlanta gets almost no exposure on NBC so i don't think it would weaken the tv deal that much. They are a market that doesn't care about hockey.

[Zuccarello]

There will be NHL hockey in WPG next year I guarantee lol.
The arena we just built in 04 is great...Bettman has always loved our arena so no problems there...the next few weeks will be very interesting...