Winnipeg Jets

[drew]

^ I think they will be toast no matter what the outcome of their season.

Even if they win a Cup, what's happens next year - they delete the "all you can eat and drink" from your $20 ticket, or the "buy a ticket get a ticket" campaign?

Either way they are still losing money, and the extra bit of fair weather support they may get won't last.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by hexrae

Sounds like a perfect market for an AHL franchise.

Here's Ken Campbell's 'take' on the latest relocation rumors: The Hockey News

Phoenix sounds like the perfect place for an AHL team, they would have a rivalry with AHL teams in San Antonio, Houston, Austin and OK city. The current Coyote's attendance would be welcome in the AHL. Hope they will be able to reuse the Roadrunner's nickname.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Phoenix sounds like the perfect place for an AHL team, they would have a rivalry with AHL teams in San Antonio, Houston, Austin and OK city. The current Coyote's attendance would be welcome in the AHL. Hope they will be able to reuse the Roadrunner's nickname.

Won't have to, they have the Coyotes in the NHL!

[grumpy old man]

Maple Leafs playing before a seemingly empty house in Atlanta tonight. Must be a great hockey atmosphere.

[hexrae]

NHL talking to billionaire David Thomson about Phoenix Coyotes sale

Two sources with knowledge of the Coyotes finances and ownership said a deal between Thomson and the NHL has been completed in principle and could have the Coyotes back in Winnipeg next season if necessary. Thomson, also considered a possible buyer of the Atlanta Thrashers, is a partner in True North and chairman of Thomson Reuters. True North owns the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League and MTS Centre in Winnipeg, which seats 15,100.

[h0twired]

More smoke...

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/s...29/daily2.html

[ScrappyPeg]

Good but not great news on the topic in the Wpg Freep.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bre...-89436782.html

[RTD]

Originally Posted by ScrappyPeg

Good but not great news on the topic in the Wpg Freep.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bre...-89436782.html

I think this article is more damage control than anything else likely created by TNSE. My guess is that people who want to keep the team in Phoenix have leaked the TNSE "deal in principle" to the Phoenix media, hoping to get the attention of the COG and help persuade them to vote to change the lease agreement and therefore keep the team in Phoenix.

[rrskylar]

NHL talking to billionaire David Thomson about Phoenix Coyotes sale
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks
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The National Hockey League is working on a backup plan with Toronto billionaire David Thomson and Winnepeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment that could send the Phoenix Coyotes back to Canada if a deal with Ice Edge Holdings or Jerry Reinsdorf to keep the team in Arizona falls through.

Two sources with knowledge of the Coyotes finances and ownership said a deal between Thomson and the NHL has been completed in principle and could have the Coyotes back in Winnipeg next season if necessary. Thomson, also considered a possible buyer of the Atlanta Thrashers, is a partner in True North and chairman of Thomson Reuters. True North owns the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League and MTS Centre in Winnipeg, which seats 15,100.

The sources said, however, the NHL still wants to work out a deal to keep the Coyotes in the Phoenix market. The league bought the Coyotes, still in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, for $140 million in October fending off a $242 million bid by Research in Motion CEO Jim Balsillie, who wanted to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario.

League officials said during bankruptcy proceedings last year that if a deal could not be finalized by June 2010 it would be open to a sale that would involve a move from the team’s home in Glendale.

Scott Brown, communications director for True North Sports and the Manitoba Moose (who play in Winnipeg), declined comment.

“Due to the possible impact on both the Coyotes and our own AHL product here in Manitoba, we’ve actually been hesitant to engage in any discussion publicly about the situation in Phoenix as far back as last summer when rumors began to surface of the team’s possible departure. It is our understanding the NHL is working very hard to keep the team where it is in Phoenix,” Brown said.

Glendale city spokeswoman Julie Frisoni also declined comment as did NHL spokesman Kerry McGovern.

The NHL and Glendale are still working with Ice Edge Holdings to keep the team in Arizona with some games to be played in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but there have been reports of financing challenges.

Ice Edge COO Daryl Jones said he optimistic about financing the Coyotes sale. “Ice Edge feels very comfortable with their financing. Our banks are very interested in this deal,” Jones said. He told a Toronto radio station recently, however, he wanted Glendale to move faster in getting a lease deal.

Glendale officials also have been talking to Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and his business partner John Kaites, who previously made a bid for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes have qualified for the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2002 and are seeing a late-season boost in attendance.

The Coyotes moved to Phoenix in 1996 from Winnipeg, where they played as the Winnipeg Jets. The franchise has lost more than $300 million since moving to the Valley and were put into Chapter 11 bankruptcy by former owner Jerry Moyes last year.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by RTD

I think this article is more damage control than anything else likely created by TNSE. My guess is that people who want to keep the team in Phoenix have leaked the TNSE "deal in principle" to the Phoenix media, hoping to get the attention of the COG and help persuade them to vote to change the lease agreement and therefore keep the team in Phoenix.

Yeah, the timing sure does seem suspicious. The first Phoenix media mention of the whole thing, during the week that Glendale is negotiating?

It's really unfortunate (for Phoenix) - if Phoenix had both hockey and basketball in one arena, Glendale wouldn't have to charge so much for the Coyotes. As it stands, if they leave that arena becomes practically worthless. I don't think lacrosse will pay the bills.

[trueviking]

it is huge news that the NHL has confirmed that thomson has been involved in talks to bring a team to winnipeg...that has always been rumour until now....it seems that if the puzzle doesnt fit together with phoenix, it eventually will....if thomson wants a team, there isnt much that can stop him.

funny that true north denies it and then the NHL offices confirm the exact opposite.

all the rumours aside, that revelation is huge....its only a matter of time.

[trueviking]

NHL denies deal for Coyotes to Winnipeg; confirms talks
By Greg Wyshynski

For those scoring at home: The Phoenix Business Journal reported Monday (via two unnamed sources) that a deal between the NHL, Toronto billionaire David Thomson and Winnipeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment "has been completed in principle and could have the Coyotes back in Winnipeg next season if necessary" if either Ice Edge Holdings or Jerry Reinsdorf are unable to keep the team in Glendale.

Hold up, wait a minute: The Winnipeg Free Press reported later in the day that relocation to the MTS Centre was a "Plan C" and a bit of a long shot.

Tonight, the NHL commented on the scuttlebutt, with deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirming discussions with Thomson and Manitoba Moose governor Mark Chipman while denying that a "safety net" deal is in place in case Glendale can't make a deal with new owners.

From the NHL:

"In response to the many inquiries we have received in light of the story in the Phoenix Business Journal this morning, we would like to make clear that at this point in time the National Hockey League has no 'deal' in place to move the Coyotes' franchise to Winnipeg -- or to any other city for that matter -- in the event a transaction cannot be timely consummated in Glendale.

"Our focus continues to be on completing a transaction with local ownership that is committed to operating the team in Glendale. Based on the communications and information we are receiving on a regular basis, the stakeholders involved continue to express a high level of confidence that that can be successfully achieved. We will not focus on completing arrangements for one or more alternative option(s) until such time as it may become necessary.

"With respect to Winnipeg and Messrs. Chipman and Thomson, we have had ongoing discussions over time regarding their potential interest in owning an NHL franchise (as we have had with a number of other individuals and cities around North America) and potentially bringing an NHL franchise back to Winnipeg. It remains an intriguing possibility and one we would consider given appropriate circumstances, but there is nothing new to report on that front at this time."

The timing of this Winnipeg dust-up is interesting, as Ice Edge and Reinsdorf are filing arena lease proposals this week to the Glendale city council. Nothing underscores the importance of a favorable lease like the welcoming arms of a Canadian city next season, right?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl,230957

[JustinL]

^^^ This is sounding pretty promising. Even if THIS isn't the big deal that gets us a team back here, it certainly appears that the pieces are in place for a team to make its way here shortly. An "intriguing possibility" ? That's pretty positive, hopeful language from the NHL. It sounds like they want a team here.

[viperred88]

my hunch is it will have to happen this off season or else wait until after the new collective bargainning agreeement in 2012.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by JustinL

^^^ This is sounding pretty promising. Even if THIS isn't the big deal that gets us a team back here, it certainly appears that the pieces are in place for a team to make its way here shortly. An "intriguing possibility" ? That's pretty positive, hopeful language from the NHL. It sounds like they want a team here.

Bettman himself has gone on record many times stating that the NHL could return to Winnipeg if things line up. Yet here we are, 16 years and $300 million later.

Don't get too excited by their wording there, that's just the usual BS we've been hearing ever since the Jets left. They can't outright say "fuck you Winnipeg", because they'd lose a HUGE TV audience (plus half of Canada would give Bettman the finger). So they shower us with platitudes about how Canada really should have more teams, hey it's a good idea and an intriguing possibility, but only when the time is right.

When's it gonna be right, Gary? This league continues to bleed money while Canada pays the bills. It's been this way for several years now. Where's #7? Or hell, #s 8, 9, and 10? I'm pretty sure we can lose $30 million a season in Halifax just as easily as in Phoenix, and you'll have more than 5 TV viewers to boot.

[RTD]

What about this whole "the plans have been layed out to increase the seating capacity in the MTSC by 3,000". Can anyone confirm how true this is, considering we've been told by a few people that the structure simply wasn't built to accomodate increase seating capacity.

[JustinL]

Originally Posted by freeweed

Bettman himself has gone on record many times stating that the NHL could return to Winnipeg if things line up. Yet here we are, 16 years and $300 million later.

Don't get too excited by their wording there, that's just the usual BS we've been hearing ever since the Jets left. They can't outright say "fuck you Winnipeg", because they'd lose a HUGE TV audience (plus half of Canada would give Bettman the finger). So they shower us with platitudes about how Canada really should have more teams, hey it's a good idea and an intriguing possibility, but only when the time is right.

When's it gonna be right, Gary? This league continues to bleed money while Canada pays the bills. It's been this way for several years now. Where's #7? Or hell, #s 8, 9, and 10? I'm pretty sure we can lose $30 million a season in Halifax just as easily as in Phoenix, and you'll have more than 5 TV viewers to boot.

Perhaps you're right. Although I'd say that this isn't the same cyclical talk that they've had all along about Winnipeg since the Jets left. Mainly, you've got a statement that specifies they are actually in talks with a specific owner who wants a team here, in Winnipeg. This is new. It's very vague, but that's a bit more than the usual rhetoric.

I'm sure if Bettmen outright gave Canada the finger, we'd still watch NHL hockey nonetheless. That's what we do.

[freeweed]

• Video Link

[RTD]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/video/latest...-back-the-Jets

[trueviking]

^hilarious.....as always, its all about toronto.....