Winnipeg Jets: Difference between revisions
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{{For| the original NHL team|Winnipeg Jets}} |
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{{Current sport|sport=ice hockey|event=NHL franchise relocation|date=July 2011}} |
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{{pp-semi|small=yes}} |
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{{NHL Team |
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|team_name = Winnipeg NHL team <br> (pending) |
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|current = 2011–12 Winnipeg NHL team season |
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|bg_color = |
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|text_color = |
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|logo_image = |
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|conference = [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern]] |
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|division = [[Southeast Division (NHL)|Southeast]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Tim |url=http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Source+Winnipeg+team+would+remain+Southeast+Division+2011/4832632/story.html |title=Winnipeg NHL team would remain in Southeast Division in 2011-12 |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=2011-05-24 |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> |
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|founded = 2011 |
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|history = '''[[Atlanta Thrashers]]'''<br />[[1999–2000 NHL season|1999]]–[[2010–11 NHL season|2011]] (Pending) ([[National Hockey League|NHL]])<br />'''Winnipeg NHL team'''<br />2011–present ([[National Hockey League|NHL]]) (Pending) |
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|arena = '''[[MTS Centre]]''' |
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|city = [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]] |
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|uniform_image= |
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|team_colors = |
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|media_affiliates = |
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|owner = {{Flag icon|CAN}} [[True North Sports and Entertainment]] |
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|general_manager = TBD |
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|head_coach = TBD |
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|captain = |
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|altcaptains = |
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|minor_league_affiliates = [[Manitoba Moose|St.John's AHL Team]] |
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|stanley_cups = '''0''' |
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|conf_titles = '''0''' |
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|presidents'_trophies = '''0''' |
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|division_titles = '''0''' |
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}} |
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A currently unnamed '''Winnipeg NHL team''', recently acquired by [[True North Sports & Entertainment Limited]] (True North), contingent upon National Hockey League [[National_Hockey_League#Organizational_structure|NHL Board of Governors]] approval, will be a professional [[ice hockey]] team that will be based in [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]], [[Canada]]. The team will be a member of the [[Southeast Division (NHL)|Southeast Division]] of the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) for at least the [[2011–12 NHL season]]. Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season, after playing as the [[Atlanta Thrashers]] since [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999]], the franchise was contingently acquired by True North with the intent to move the team to Winnipeg.<ref>http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=564247</ref> Official status of the new Winnipeg NHL team is subject to the NHL Board of Governors ratification on June 21, 2011.<ref>http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564242</ref> |
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==Franchise history== |
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[[File:Crowds in Winnipg gather for announcement of relocation of Thrashers NHL franchise to Manitoba.jpg|left|thumb|Crowds gather at [[The Forks, Winnipeg|The Forks]] in Winnipeg on May 31, 2011 for the official announcement that the Atlanta Thrashers would relocate to Winnipeg pending the approval of the NHL Board of Governors]] |
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[[Atlanta]] was awarded an NHL expansion franchise, named the [[Atlanta Thrashers]], on June 25, 1997. It was the second NHL franchise for Atlanta (their first being the [[Atlanta Flames]], established in 1972, who departed for [[Calgary]] in [[1980–81 NHL season|1980]] to become the [[Calgary Flames]]). The Atlanta Thrashers qualified for the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] only once, during the [[2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers season|2006–07 season]], and they had difficulties in drawing fans to attend their games over their final seasons.<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=James |url=http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/06/add-the-atlanta-thrashers-to-the-list-of-teams-facing-attendance-issues/ |title=Add the Atlanta Thrashers to the list of teams facing attendance issues |publisher=NBC Sports |date=2010-11-06 |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> |
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As early as October 2009, there were rumours that True North Sports and Entertainment, a company which owns both [[Winnipeg]]'s [[MTS Centre]] and the [[American Hockey League]] [[Manitoba Moose]], was purchasing the Atlanta Thrashers with the intention of moving the team to Winnipeg.<ref name="TSN-CoyotesCourtFilings">{{cite web |
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| author = Ken Wiebe, SUN Media |
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| title = Thrashers to Winnipeg? |
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| publisher = canoe.ca |
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| date = 2009-10-04 |
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| url = http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Atlanta/2009/10/04/11298236-sun.html |
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| accessdate = 2010-12-13 }}</ref> By May 28, 2011, multiple reports had confirmed that the deal to purchase and move the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg was done, and all that was left was for the NHL to decide the right time to officially announce the relocation.<ref>{{cite web |last=McGran |first=Kevin |url=http://www.thespec.com/news/world/article/539314--after-winnipeg-where-does-nhl-go-next |title=After Winnipeg, where does NHL go next? |work=Hamilton Spectator |date=2011-05-28 |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> According to ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', a deal was finalized on May 20, 2011 to relocate the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/atlanta-thrashers-moving-to-winnipeg/article2029179/|title=Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|accessdate=2011-05-19|author=[[Stephen Brunt|Brunt, Stephen]]|date=2011-05-22}}</ref> The league later denied the report, but acknowledged that advanced negotiations between the two teams were underway and that commissioner [[Gary Bettman]] supported the move.<ref name=star520>{{cite news |last=Zwolonski |first=Mark |last2=McGran |first2=Kevin |url=http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/994421--atlanta-thrashers-move-to-winnipeg-not-complete-parties-insist?bn=1 |title=Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg not complete, parties insist |work=Toronto Star |date=2011-05-20 |accessdate=2011-05-20}}</ref> On May 20, 2011, the ''[[Winnipeg Sun]]'' confirmed that an agreement in principle has been reached,<ref>{{cite news |last=Penton |first=Kirk |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/AHL/2011/05/24/18183561.html |title=Moose deny St. John's move |work=Winnipeg Sun |date=2011-05-20 |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> while Winnipeg's mayor [[Sam Katz]] announced that he was confident that Atlanta Thrashers relocation to Winnipeg would soon be officially announced.<ref name="KatzConfident">{{cite news |last=Wiebe |first=Ken |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/24/nhl-announcement-in-next-few-days-realistic-katz |title=NHL announcement in next few days 'realistic': Katz |work=Toronto Sun |date=2011-05-24 |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> On May 31, 2011, at a press conference at the [[MTS Centre]], [[NHL Commissioner]] [[Gary Bettman]] confirmed that the Atlanta Thrashers had been sold to True North, and would relocate to Winnipeg for the [[2011–12 NHL season]] pending the approval of the sale and relocation during the meeting of the NHL Board of Governors on June 21, 2011.<ref>http://www.tsn.ca/returntowinnipeg/story/?id=367433</ref> The reported purchase price is $170 million, with $60 million going to the NHL as a relocation fee.<ref name="KatzConfident" /> Season schedules are being prepared that accommodate for the team's move to Winnipeg,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawless |first=Gary |url=http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/hurdles+potential+Thrashers+sale+Winnipeg/4795756/story.html |title=Few hurdles to potential Thrashers sale to Winnipeg |work=Montreal Gazette |date=2011-05-17 |accessdate=2011-05-20}}</ref> while True North is reportedly preparing to move the Moose to [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]], returning the AHL to Atlantic Canada after a six-year absence.<ref>{{cite news |last=Short |first=Robin |url=http://www.thetelegram.com/Sports/2011-05-24/article-2529832/AHL-return-waiting-on-first-%26rsquo%3BPeg/1 |title=AHL return waiting on first ’Peg |work=St. John's Telegram |date=2011-05-24 |accessdate=2011-05-24}}</ref> |
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Season ticket sales began June 1, 2011, with [[Manitoba Moose]] season ticket holders having priority. The team is seeking to sell 13,000 season tickets in an effort to prove its viability.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h2xoOSMvLll0ZYgMl9xXeA1TjIfQ?docId=7023633 Rush starts for NHL season tickets in Winnipeg; AHL faithful get first crack]. ''Canadian Press''. Retrieved 2011-06-01.</ref> Within the first three and a half hours of season ticket limited pre-sales the new franchise sold 1,870 packages to Moose season ticket holders in two and a half hours.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fans commit to buying 1,870 season tickets on first day of drive |author |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Fans-commit-to-buying-1870-season-tickets-on-first-day-of-drive-122978198.html |publisher=''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'' |date=June 1, 2011}}</ref> The number of season tickets sold jumped to 4,170 on June 2 and 7,158 on June 3.<ref>{{cite web|title=Drive to 13,000|url=http://driveto13.com/|publisher=Drive to 13|accessdate=2 June 2011}}</ref> Season tickets opened to the general public on June 4 and sold out in just 17 minutes. <ref name=13000sth>{{cite web|last=Tait|first=Ed|title=NHL season tickets sell out in just 17 minutes|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Priciest-NHL-tickets-already-sold-out-123156823.html|publisher=Winnipeg Free Press}}</ref> Once the 'Drive to 13,000' was completed, TNSE started a season ticket waiting list, which after two hours was shut down after 8,000 people had signed up. <ref>{{cite news|title=Season ticket wait list capped at 8,000 following 17-minute sellout |Ed Tait |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Priciest-NHL-tickets-already-sold-out-123156823.html.html |publisher=''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'' |date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> |
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True North has confirmed that the name of the new team will not be announced until after the successful completion of the season ticket drive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/ourteam/transition-game-123086863.html|accessdate=2011-06-04|title=Transition Game-True North has hands full, but not overwhelmed|author=Tate, Ed|publisher=Winnipeg Free Press|date=4 June 2011}}</ref> The rights to the name Winnipeg Jets belong to the league, and Commissioner Bettman has confirmed that the True North will be permitted to use the Jets name if they wish.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40548-.html|title=Boylen: Why Winnipeg should be nicknamed the Jets|author=Boylen R|publisher=The Hockey News|accessdate=2011-06-04|date=2011-05-31}}</ref> The team will not be named the Thrashers, since True North did not acquire the name in the transaction, and the rights to that name are being retained by the ownership group in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-thrashers/waddells-job-thrashers-name-964455.html|publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|author=Tucker T||title=Waddell's job, Thrashers name will end with sale|accessdate=2011-06-04|date=2011-06-01}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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{{wikinews|Atlanta Thrashers sold to True North Sports and Entertainment, moving to Winnipeg}} |
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* [[Atlanta Thrashers]] |
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* [[Winnipeg Jets]] |
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{{-}} |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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{{NHL}} |
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[[Category:Atlanta Thrashers]] |
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[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Manitoba]] |
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[[Category:National Hockey League in Winnipeg]] |
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[[Category:National Hockey League teams based in Canada]] |
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[[Category:Sport in Winnipeg]] |
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[[de:Winnipeg (NHL-Franchise)]] |
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