Potential new rink for the Thrashers to skate

Peachtree City (a southern suburb) has approved putting funding for a two-rink facility on the November ballot. It sounds like they've done a good bit of talking with the Thrashers. While it sounds right now that this facility would complement the arrangement the Thrashers have in Duluth, this one being much closer to the airport, it would be attractive and give them leverage against the Duluth IceForum in that there would be somewhere they could pick up and move to. And that would go a long way. There is, after all, no intrinsic reason for the Thrashers to practice in Duluth.

As much as the Thrashers use the airport, it would make a lot of sense to practice closer to it.

It will be up to Peachtree City voters to determine whether to spend $941,000 a year for 20 years to build an ice rink and fitness center, which would be leased by two private companies...

[Local gym owner Dar Thompson] also said Thursday night that the Atlanta Thrashers will do minicamps in summer for our kids, hold some practices here, possibly some prospect camps for them here, and visiting NHL teams staying here in PTC using facility for pre-game warmups.

Possible exhibition events and camps from Gwinnett Gladiators.

And from The Fayette Daily News:

During his presentation Thursday, Thompson included a letter from Don Waddell, Executive Vice President and GM of the Atlanta Thrashers.

“The Thrashers would like to be involved in this, and will do mini-camps and hold some practices here,” said Thompson.

He also presented a letter of support from Toby Jeffreys, Majority Owner and Chairman of the Gwinnett Gladiators.