As expected, Glendale, Arizona has voted to extend $25 million to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in town for one more year, meaning the Atlanta Thrashers are Winnipeg's only chance of getting a NHL team in time for the 2011-12 hockey season. Winnipeg's True North Sports group is thus likely to settle its attention on Atlanta.
The Glendale community discussion lasted about three hours, and from SB Nation Arizona's account only briefly devolved into a Parks and Rec episode.
So why couldn't Atlanta just do the same thing? Well, do you have $25 million to spend for one season of Thrashers hockey? It's an entirely different situation, as the NHL has essentially taken over arena operations for the home of the Coyotes. No such arrangement exists or will exist in Atlanta -- either the team must find a local buyer, and soon, or prepare to ship it to waiting arms in Canada.
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