On Tuesday, Glendale, Arizona will hold a vote at 10 pm ET on the future of the Phoenix Coyotes that's very much worth the attention of Atlanta Thrashers fans. The city has to decide whether to pay $25 million to the NHL to cover operating costs for the team's upcoming season, which would ensure the Coyotes stay in town instead of moving to Canada. If the vote passes -- and it's supposed to -- Winnipeg's full attention turns to Atlanta.
All the pressure would then be on the Atlanta Spirit Group to decide what to do with its hockey franchise. The True North Sports group could potentially offer more for the team than any local buyer could, but sending the Thrashers out of town would heavily devalue ASG's Philips Arena investment. It's kind of a lose-lose for team ownership, unless an Atlanta buyer emerges and does so quickly.
Word from Arizona is that Glendale is openly hoping the Thrashers do go to Winnipeg, thereby removing a potential Coyotes relocation market. So much for Sun Belt solidarity, y'all.
Meanwhile, 680 The Fan's John Kincade insists someone within the camp of his #thebalkan character is coming up with a way to "come forward." Decipher that as you please.
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