NHL reportedly opening to returning to Atlanta for a third time
It's been 12 years since the National Hockey League left the city of Atlanta, Georgia for the second time, but it appears that they are open to returning at some point in the future
In an interview with ESPN's Greg Whyshynski, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that the league is open to returning to Atlanta and that they can overcome some of the issues the two previous franchises had in the past.
"I think some of the challenges that we've seen in the past in Atlanta can be overcome," Daly said.
Daly added, "I think times have changed pretty dramatically and the market demographics have changed pretty dramatically since the first time we went there and then again in 1999. I think a lot of bigger businesses are in Atlanta (now)."
Daly went on to say that the location of an arena in Atlanta will be a very important part in deciding to whether or not have a third NHL franchise in the city.
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Earlier this year, a proposal was brought forward for a $2 billion USD arena and entertainment district in Forsyth County, Georgia that would include an 18,000-seat arena as a potential home for an NHL franchise.
"I also think that rink location will be important with any decision to locate a franchise in Atlanta," Daly said. "I think if you use the Braves as an example, they struggled, as I understand it, attendance-wise for years, even though they had a very successful team on the field. Their latest stadium is in a perfect location and sells out regularly."
The National Hockey League has had two franchises in Atlanta, Georgia in the past, as mentioned. The first was the Atlanta Flames, who were an expansion team that began play in 1972, but less than a decade later were relocated to Calgary.
Then in 1999, the NHL returned and granted the city another expansion franchise, which was named the Thrashers. The Thrashers didn't have a ton of success on the ice and their ownership group was not stable, which led to the franchise being relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, where they were named the Jets.
Do you think the city of Atlanta should get a third NHL franchise or should other cities like Houston, Salt Lake City and Portland get an opportunity? Let us know your thoughts in the poll below!
Previously on Bladeofsteel
| POLL |
12 SEPTEMBRE | 206 ANSWERS NHL reportedly opening to returning to Atlanta for a third time Should the NHL return to Atlanta for a third time? |
| Yes | 45 | 21.8 % |
| No | 74 | 35.9 % |
| There's other cities that would be better options | 80 | 38.8 % |
| See Results | 7 | 3.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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