Quick Facts: Winnipeg Jets
| Owner | True North Sports & Entertainment (Mark Chipman & David Thomson) |
| CEO / Leader | Mark Chipman (Executive Chairman, True North) |
| Founded | 2011, Winnipeg, Manitoba (relocated from Atlanta as Thrashers) |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Stock Ticker | N/A |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns the Winnipeg Jets?
The Winnipeg Jets are owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, a privately held company controlled by two key principals: Mark Chipman and David Thomson. Mark Chipman, a Winnipeg businessman, serves as Executive Chairman and was the driving force behind bringing NHL hockey back to Winnipeg after the original Jets departed for Phoenix in 1996. David Thomson — a member of one of the wealthiest families in Canada, whose fortune derives from the Thomson Reuters media and information empire — provided the financial backing that made the franchise acquisition possible and sustainable.
True North acquired the Atlanta Thrashers from the Atlanta Spirit Group in May 2011 for approximately $170 million and immediately relocated the franchise to Winnipeg, where it began play as the new Winnipeg Jets in the 2011–12 season. The return of NHL hockey to Winnipeg was met with enormous celebration, with tickets selling out within hours of becoming available. True North is privately held with no publicly traded shares — the ownership structure is entirely private through Chipman’s and Thomson’s controlling interests.
David Thomson belongs to the Thomson family, whose wealth is rooted in Thomson Corporation (newspaper publishing) and Thomson Reuters (financial data and media). The Thomson family is consistently ranked among Canada’s wealthiest, with a net worth of over $60 billion across the family. David Thomson, the 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet, inherited the family’s media empire and has diversified its holdings significantly. His financial partnership with Chipman made True North one of the most financially stable ownership groups in the NHL.
About Mark Chipman, David Thomson, and the Jets’ Return
Mark Chipman had long been involved in Winnipeg sports, having previously owned the Winnipeg Spirit junior hockey team and building the MTS Centre (now Canada Life Centre) arena through True North. His vision for returning NHL hockey to Winnipeg was eventually realized when the Atlanta Thrashers became available in 2011. Chipman’s on-the-ground work in Winnipeg — building community relationships, securing corporate sponsorships, and overseeing arena operations — complemented Thomson’s financial resources to create a complete ownership team.
David Thomson is known primarily for his stewardship of Thomson Reuters, the information services giant that combines the legacy of the Thomson Corporation and Reuters news agency. He is one of the world’s wealthiest people and one of Canada’s most prominent art collectors. His investment in True North and the Jets was both a financial commitment to Winnipeg and a personal passion for bringing major league hockey back to the Canadian Prairies.
Key Ownership Highlights
- True North Sports & Entertainment, led by Mark Chipman and backed by David Thomson (Thomson Reuters family), acquired the Atlanta Thrashers in May 2011 for approximately $170 million and relocated the franchise to Winnipeg as the new Jets. It was one of the most celebrated franchise returns in NHL history.
- David Thomson’s family wealth, rooted in Thomson Reuters (one of the world’s largest information and media companies), makes True North one of the NHL’s most financially secure ownership groups. The Thomson family is consistently ranked among Canada’s wealthiest with assets exceeding $60 billion across the family.
- The original Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996) were one of the WHA’s founding franchises before joining the NHL in 1979. Their departure for Phoenix in 1996 left a 15-year void that was filled with enormous emotion and community investment when True North brought the NHL back in 2011.
- Canada Life Centre (formerly MTS Centre and Bell MTS Place) in downtown Winnipeg is the Jets’ home arena, built and owned by True North. The arena seats approximately 15,000 for hockey and has consistently sold out games since the Jets returned, making Winnipeg one of the NHL’s most passionate markets on a per-capita basis.
- The Winnipeg Jets have developed into a competitive team with strong young talent, anchored for much of the 2010s and early 2020s by players like Connor Hellebuyck (one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders), Mark Scheifele, and Blake Wheeler. The franchise has made multiple playoff appearances and is building toward championship contention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Winnipeg Jets?
The Winnipeg Jets are owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, led by Executive Chairman Mark Chipman and backed financially by David Thomson of the Thomson Reuters family. True North acquired the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011 and relocated the franchise to Winnipeg. The ownership is entirely private.
Are the Winnipeg Jets publicly traded?
No. True North Sports & Entertainment is privately held. However, key backer David Thomson’s primary business interests include Thomson Reuters Corporation, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (NYSE/TSX: TRI).
Were the Jets previously in Atlanta?
Yes. The modern Winnipeg Jets were previously the Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2011) before True North purchased the franchise and relocated it to Winnipeg in 2011. The franchise returned to the Jets name, honoring the original Winnipeg Jets who left for Phoenix in 1996.
Have the Winnipeg Jets won the Stanley Cup?
The modern Winnipeg Jets have not won the Stanley Cup. The original Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996) won the WHA championship three times (1976, 1978, 1979) but never won the Stanley Cup during their years as an NHL franchise.
