Quote:
Originally Posted by GORDBO
I thought the definate deadline was Dec 31st! If the wasn't done by then, the team was to sold to another interested party. [Thompson- Chipman]
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Yes, but only if Glendale had not found a buyer by then.
According to the deal they signed with the NHL, they completed that side by MH placing in the $25M "downpayment", getting approved by the executive committee BOG, and also having a somewhat unfinished lease approved by city council.
The NHL has taken this as goodwill on the CoG's part & on MH's part that he will purchase the team, as such, the official stance is there is nothing involving relocation in the books.
There are RUMORS regarding the Thrashers coming to the Peg (logic would say they are) but these are just rumors thus far,
and MH seems to be close to purchasing the Yotes (AZ sources say it will be done this week or next week some time)
However, there is a watchdog group that could theoretically stall the deal, which might put the NHL in the hot seat, and the entire BOG has not yet approved MH as an owner (although the assumption is that it will). So far, there is question as to whether or not the bonds will be sold, but ultimately, the NHL is really the only one who knows what's going on...
Its a waiting game right now
What is expected to happen? We're hoping the NHL comes...no, RETURNS to the Peg this fall...
but it is expected the Thrashers will stay in Atlanta, as they have already started booking 2011-2012 season tickets on their website,
and the Yotes sale is expected to finish with MH getting his bond money to make a payment to the NHL.
Garry Bettman said in the "Why Not Canada" video series however, that if someone has interest or puts forward something to buy the team, (indicating TNSE since it was the Winnipeg segment) then they sign NDA's or Non Disclosure Agreements, stating they do not talk or refuse comments regarding anything until it is made "official" by the NHL.
Plus, TNSE has also said that they do not believe the "Ballsilie route" and they respect the NHLs wishes over everything else.
So, the bottom line is, until the NHL makes it official, we will not know 100& sure. As these months pass, we might get from 90%...to 95%...to 99%...to 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999% through the media, TNSE's moves, and rumors etc...
but we will not know for sure till the NHL makes it official, because TNSE would have signed NDAs and they will not say a single thing until the NHL says so....
this is all part of professionalism, and the NHL has nothing but the utmost respect for those who follow this. You can guarantee Mark Chipman believes the same thing, and GB respects him a lot as a result. This creates good word, and ultimately sends the opposite effect that Ballsilie did.
JB could learn from this, and I think he has after THREE times realized his erroneous ways (I hope...I would love to see Hamilton cop a team after Winnipeg and Quebec City)
So yeah. TNSE will say nothing until the NHL says something, and this is really the bottom line.
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