(S (S (S (BASENP (NNP Atlanta)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (ADVP (RB later)) (VP (VP (VBN granted) (BASENP (DT an) (NN expansion) (NN franchise))) (PP (IN in) (BASENP (NN 1997))))))) (CONJP (COMMA ,) (CC and)) (S (BASENP (DT the) (NNPS Thrashers)) (VP (VP (VBD took) (BASENP (DT the) (NN ice))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB start) (BASENP (DT the) (NN 1999-00) (NNP NHL) (NN season)))))))) (PERIOD .))