"On behalf of the entire Phoenix Coyotes organization, we are very pleased that Glendale City Council voted in favor of keeping the Coyotes in the Valley for the upcoming 2011-12 NHL season," Coyotes COO Mike Nealy said in a statement. "We are grateful to Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs, City Manager Ed Beasley and Glendale City Council for their unwavering support.
"The City of Glendale and the National Hockey League are committed to hockey in Arizona and we will continue to work with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Mayor Scruggs to find a long-term ownership solution that will keep the Coyotes in Glendale for many years to come."
While this appears to be good news for Phoenix, as the NHL and Glendale will have more time to work with prospective owner Matthew Hulsizer on an arena lease, the city of Winnipeg was hoping to bring the team back to Manitoba.
Instead, it's believed True North Sports and Entertainment will now attempt to purchase the Thrashers and move them to Winnipeg.
The Atlanta Spirit has been trying to sell the Thrashers for several years, and while there have been groups interested in keeping the team in Atlanta, such a deal does not appear to be on the horizon.
"We are continuing to seek solutions for the Thrashers," Thrashers co-owner Bruce Levenson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution earlier today. "I will not comment on any speculation."
According to the Journal-Constitution, and citing an unnamed source, a deal to purchase the Thrashers and move them to Winnipeg "could move quickly."
