Atlanta Thrashers relocation to Winnipeg officially given Thumbs-up by NHL Board of Governors
It was obvious for quite a while now, but the official nod by the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Board of Governors was still a mandatory formality. Now it is official that Atlanta Thrashers is headed to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to make a fresh start in the city
that has been yearning for a hockey team for over 15 years.
After the Winnipeg Jets relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, the city had no NHL team. This is the first relocation in the league since 1997 when the Hartford Whalers was transformed into the now popularly known Carolina Hurricanes.
The Board of Governors of the NHL met in Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday and unanimously passed the resolution which proposed the relocation by the new owners, True North Entertainment and Sports, who purchased the club from the Atlanta Spirit group for
$170 million and paid the NHL $60 million as a relocation fee.
"The Board unanimously approved both the sale of the Atlanta franchise to True North, which is Mark Chipman and David Thomson, and the relocation of Thrashers to Winnipeg", NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, said after the meeting on Tuesday.
Bettman also added that it was a stressful and disappointing situation for Atlanta fans, grown up watching the team, but due to performance and revenue related problems, they had to relocate to a city with better prospects, and Winnipeg seemed like the perfect
place.
True North Entertainment and Sports chairman Mark Chipman and David Thomson were very relieved after they heard the decision.
"We are very honored by the NHL Board of Governors' unanimous decision today", said Chipman, "We know that the fans of this province have an appetite for NHL hockey that is rivaled by few in the League and intend to work very hard to make Manitobans proud
of our franchise for years to come".
Everything is nearly set for the new Winnipeg franchise to start operating as a fully fledged NHL team, but only a few formalities remain.
Newly appointed general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, is still on the lookout for a new head coach which also not far away from being announced.
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