By June 21, the NHL Board of Governors made it official: hockey, for the second time, was leaving Atlanta. In 11 seasons, the Thrashers made the playoffs once, in 2007. They were swept.

Fast forward 19 years, and the NHL awarded another expansion franchise to Atlanta to begin play in the 1999-2000 season. Again the owner, Time Warner, also owned the Hawks.

Whether it happens that the NHL sets up shop in Atlanta for a third time remains to be seen. But the league and the owners of its 32 franchises know beyond a doubt that interest is strong.

The NHL originally moved into Atlanta in 1972 when the Flames played there until 1980 before moving to Calgary. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly Getty Images.

Atlanta is the headquarters to the third largest collection of Fortune 500 companies in the U.S., tied with Chicago. That includes heavyweights such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and Home Depot.

There are other groups interested in bringing the NHL to Atlanta. Vernon Krause, a businessman who has proposed building an 18,000-seat arena in a mixed use development in Forsyth County, ...

ATLANTA (AP) — After losing both the Flames and the Thrashers, Atlanta is making a third bid to land an NHL team. Former player Anson Carter announced Tuesday he's heading a group that made a ...

Forsyth County officials took another step forward this week to bring to life a massive mixed-use development aimed at bringing a professional hockey team back to metro Atlanta. Why it matters ...

Vernon Krause continues to seek NHL expansion approval for Atlanta after Forsyth County's Board of Commissioners backs his project. To stream 11Alive on your phone, you need the 11Alive app ...

Scott Burnside writes about Atlanta's NHL outlook. With whispers the NHL may expand again in coming years, two Atlanta groups are seeking to try it again in that city for a third time.

Vernon Krause continues to seek NHL expansion approval for Atlanta after Forsyth County's Board of Commissioners backs his project. To stream 13WMAZ on your phone, you need the 13WMAZ app ...