ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Thrashers’ sale and move to Winnipeg is not yet official, but Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed already is talking as if losing the team is inevitable.
Reed said Tuesday losing the Thrashers “is going to hurt the city but we will withstand it just fine.”
Reed said the city was willing to work to keep the team, but had no success in its search for a buyer to keep the team in Atlanta.
The ownership group, led by Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr., are in talks to sell the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment, which would relocate the team to Winnipeg.
Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz told the National Post in Canada on Tuesday he expects the sale to be final this week.
