Phoenix or Winnipeg?

[RGM81]

http://tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=362122

Bob McKenzie seems to think Winnipeg.

Well, since you asked, I will say it's more likely to be Winnipeg than Phoenix. That's my opinion.
I say probably, and qualify it as my "opinion," because all the factual information I can find says to me very clearly that no final or irrevocable decision on the future home of the Coyotes has yet been made by any of the three vested parties - the NHL, the City of Glendale and would-be (under the right circumstances) owner Matthew Hulsizer.
And if we have learned anything in this long and winding Coyotes' saga in Phoenix it is that it ain't over until one of three parties pulls out and says it's dead.
Could that happen? Sure, it could.
When might it happen? I don't know, it could be days or maybe a week or two or three. Months is certainly not a viable answer because if the Coyotes are going to relocate to Winnipeg or anywhere else, there is much that needs to be done to facilitate it both within the league and the new market as well.
So whether it's days or weeks, we should get an answer to our question soon enough.
Now, here's another question: Is there a chance the Coyotes stay put in Phoenix for next season and beyond?
My opinion on that is a qualified yes, it's not entirely out of the question, it could still happen. I think it's probably a longshot at this point and perhaps getting to be a longer shot with each passing day that the NHL, City of Glendale and Hulsizer don't announce they have a deal.
But we must also allow for the possibility of a rabbit to be pulled out of the hat, that as long as the Hulsizer deal hasn't been declared dead it could still be resurrected in some form to keep the Coyotes in the desert.
For weeks now, a lot of people in the NHL community at large have been whispering that the Hulsizer deal is dead or on life support with little or no chance of being revived, but, as of this particular moment in time, none of the three vested parties have communicated that in any meaningful way.
Maybe that changes tomorrow or next week or whenever.
In the meantime, the good news is we have the Stanley Cup playoffs to keep us busy.
I said more than a month or so ago that, for the first time ever, I felt like Winnipeg was a legitimate landing spot for the Coyotes and the return of the NHL to Manitoba could become reality.
For every day that has gone by since then that there hasn't been an announcement the Coyotes are staying Phoenix, I've been getting a stronger feeling that they may actually end up in Winnipeg. With each day that continues to pass without a resolution in Phoenix, that feeling will only intensify.

[30ranfordfan]

Still going with "I'll believe it when I see it".

I gotta say though...... I bet Bob MacKenzie thinking Winnipeg has got TSN a whole lot more clicks on their web site.

I'll be happy to be proved wrong, but I'll be very surprised if it happens.

[centrehice]

Wpg. Arena too small. Not enough off-site merchandise sales to generate other profits for the team, or the NHLPA.

Wpg. fans will not spend $160.00 on a ticket that they paid $17.00 for in 1996.

[mightykeebs]

Bettman has already said that the fact the Wpg arena will only hold 15000 isn't that big of a deal since most clubs have issues with those last 1000-1500 seats anyways.

The big trick will be to see what happens in terms of the season ticket sales and how many people will be willing to confirm to a minimum number of seasons, I believe the Winnipeg free press says its around 3 seasons. Now if they can do that it will be a good start to get a team back there. However what will the fans be like if the team doesn't make the playoffs or have any sort of strong playoff runs. Given the teams history its not likely they will make it to the cup any time soon. Will the fans turn fair weather and support them while they win and abandon them if they lose.

The NHL however is also running out of options as to where/when to relocate the Yotes as it is. Winnipeg will work in the potential short term but will they have the long term desirability that they league would hope for?

Also Atlanta is having financial issues as well and may be up for relocating. So maybe they might end up in Winnipeg. Does the NHL have a potential backup plan for another failing franchise or will they just start folding teams and do an expansion again later on when there are arena's that will support an NHL club?