The rumor going around is that Winnipeg is the top relocation choice should the Coyotes deal with Phoenix fall apart. Mark Chipman’s True North group would purchase the Coyotes backed by Canadian billionaire David Thomsen.
Let’s compare Winnipeg and Kansas City.
Arena — Winnipeg — yes (though an admittedly small one) Kansas City — yes
Fans — Winnipeg — yes (hockey mad) Kansas City — yes (though maybe not as many as our Canadian friends)
Owner — Winnipeg — yes (True North/Thomsen) Kansas city — NOPE.
The last one is probably the most important. There is no owner that wants to put a team in Kansas City. Period. A franchise must have an owner.
This column from the Winnipeg Free Press is interesting. Despite Winnipeg’s overwhelming advantage as the possible relocation site for the Coyotes, there are still whispers about our city (or are these whispers just around to keep AEG happy).
Bettman did say that if all efforts to keep the Coyotes in Glendale fall through that the city where the franchise originated should get the first shot.
Ok, so let’s say that happens and the Coyotes move back to ‘Peg.
What happens to the Manitoba Moose? True North owns the Moose.
I have an idea. How about if Chipman keeps the Moose, eventually transferring the Moose’s affiliation from the Canucks to the Winnipeg franchise and moves the team to a city with a ready-to-occupy arena, Kansas City?
The “Jets” would have an affiliate in the same time zone — 760 miles away.
The Coyotes relocating back to Winnipeg seems to be a real possibility. The fact that the Moose are owned by True North is also a fact.
The scenario above seems to be far-fetched because AEG is completely uninterested in the AHL, despite the fact it would bring at least 250,000 people to the P&L district during hockey season.
But, it would make for an interesting division in the AHL (perhaps we could call it the Big XII division)
Kansas City
Oklahoma City
San Antonio
Texas (Austin)
Houston
