Come on - you know the other option. The big one - relocation.
It's pretty much a sure thing in my opinion. I get people are clinging on for hope, I'll admit I've been clinging on to the Nords coming back for a decade.
But this is basically the scenario we all imagined 10-15 years ago.
In the Atlanta situation you could at least imagine the league refusing relocation and demanding the thrashers contract with zero compensation.
In that case you'd have a shot in hell at getting a small bit of time to get a new arena set up.
But in this situation it's not even close. If Tempe wanted an arena you think they'd be so radically close to losing AM support?
The goal post moving is absurd we all know they have 3 months tops to make a deal.
Personally I wouldn't be shocked if they admitted to relocation Monday morning, hoping the superbowl diverts unwanted attention away from the Arizona fanbase. If they wait much longer the gossip etc is gonna go overboard.
I can't see this playing out much longer, it just doesn't make any sense. The ASU story is great as clickbait, it's a sensationalist idea that gets the sports talk going due to its novelty, but once the beer goggles wear the mess is obvious.
Gary throwing shade at the Arena owners in Arizona seemed like he was loading the bases so the "they didn't leave, they were forced out" narrative is strongest.
When you look at the events of the last two weeks, all I see is theatre. Put up the good show, prove a half hearted desperate attempt to save the team was tried, and then announce the relocation.
It's far far too gone at this point, you got a week tops before it's just an accepted fact the team is moving.