An analysis: Could NHL’s other owners save the Thrashers?
While the Atlanta Spirit is looking to sell the Thrashers – with relocation a possibility – could the other NHL owners play a part in keeping the franchise in Atlanta?
It is possible.
Currently, there has not been a potential buyer – willing and/or able – that has taken more than the preliminary step to purchase the franchise with the intention of keeping the Thrashers in Atlanta. The search continues with ownership making several pleas for interested parties to step forward. True North Sports and Entertainment has the money and the arena in place to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg. The group first wanted to bring the Coyotes, a team owned by the league, back to Manitoba. When the City of Glendale voted to pay $25 million to keep the team it appeared that situation was settled. The Thrashers, very moveable, were next on the target list with an ownership group willing to sell.
However, is the Coyotes situation really settled? The NHL owners, who have already footed a large bill to keep the team in Phoenix, may not be satisfied with that outcome. Their opposition could delay – or stop – the league from giving the Atlanta Spirit permission to open official negotiations with True North for relocation.
The Coyotes reportedly lost more than $36 million last year and figure to do so again next season. The $25 million payment won’t cover all the cost. The league owners will have to pay more money to keep the team – while attempts to sell the franchise continue. There is only one current prospective buyer for the Coyotes and the deal is complicated, tenuous and faces litigation from a local watchdog group.
If the Coyotes can fetch upwards of $170 million from True North all of that money could go to repay the owners. If the Thrashers fetch that sale price only an estimated $60 million relocation fee would go to the NHL. The Thrashers would be gone and the league would still own the Coyotes and their financial burden – although substantially less.
Even if the Atlanta Spirit and True North reach an agreement, it would have to be approved by the NHL’s Board of Govenors.
In one analysis of the situation, here is what it all could mean:
1. If no league permission to negotiate is granted – or it is delayed much longer – the Thrashers could be safe in Atlanta for at least another season.
2. The Atlanta Spirit’s search for a buyer would continue.
3. Both the Thrashers and Coyotes would remain for another season with speculation on their future ongoing until owners are found.
4. Winnipeg would remain a waiting destination for another year – or longer.
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199 comments Add your comment
Stop the Nonsense!
May 16th, 2011
6:14 pm
3rd World–you have no idea what you are talking about. Absolutely insane. The city of Atlanta has problems. Any major city does. Atlanta is made up of some of the nicest suburbs you could ever imagine. The ignorance is getting to me.
CA Thrashers Fan
May 16th, 2011
6:16 pm
I wonder if Buffy and is beginning to regret that long-term extension at this point. It will be very interesting to see how this affects the contracts of Ladd, Wheeler and Bogosian going forward.
EA
May 16th, 2011
6:19 pm
Ladd did not sign for a reason. As much as we dumped on Kovalchuk he apparently commented that he did not want to wake up one day a year after signing a contract and find out he was moving to Winnipeg. He still remained classy, saying that Atlanta fans were the most patient fans and they deserved a winner.
G52PIM228
May 16th, 2011
6:19 pm
“Population and GDP is what important.”
Correct:
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2010/12/8/1536097/nhl-relocation-winnipeg-quebec-city
Boca Baby
May 16th, 2011
6:39 pm
The NHL goes out of its way to save hockey is Phoenix. ??? And now they will allow another buyer (not unlike the departure of the Flames) to cart the team off to Canada. Why would not the NHL want to keep hockey in a metro area in excess of six million people? Note: The Atlanta market dwarfs the other two. Oh, and by the way, Atlanta sports fans will not support a half hearted effort.
OHL
May 16th, 2011
6:47 pm
Anyone who tells an igloo joke or any other cold weather “we got golf year round” comment is just completely dumb. Do you realize you are insulting 100% of the players that play in the sport that you are trying to save for your city? If you hate cold weather things why cry about losing your ICE hockey team?
Please stop using the market size argument and that the NHL and Bettman don’t get it. I have my own issues with GB just like everyone else, but the NFL took 2 teams out of Los Angeles and wouldn’t dare touch the one in Green Bay. Who thinks the NFL doesn’t know what they are doing? Market size means nothing. Fans do. Where are you going to get more fans? A city that isn’t big but eats, sleeps and breathes hockey or a city with 5 million people of which over 95% never ice skated before?
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 16th, 2011
7:20 pm
Fans like the ones in Winnipeg who don’t have the money to pay for the very expensive tickets in the NHL. Maybe you expect Thompson and True North as well as all the other NHL teams who are located in Major League cities across North America to prop up a cash strapped Winnipeg Franchise? Who in Winnipeg has the disposable income to pay for NHL tickets? Winnipeg will be a welfare franchise you can count on it.
G52PIM228
May 16th, 2011
7:25 pm
“Who in Winnipeg has the disposable income to pay for NHL tickets? Winnipeg will be a welfare franchise you can count on it.”
But the BoG will have no problem perpetually giving the tiny market revenue sharing payments because they will be glad to have such a rich man in their club..
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 16th, 2011
7:38 pm
@G52PIM228 Here’s a theory for you, just maybe because of all the heat since 1996 that Bettman and the NHL have taken from the obnoxious Canadian hockey fans and MEDIA (not just Whinerpeg) but throughout Canada I believe giving Winnipeg another team only to watch it fail again might be the only to get them off their backs once and for all.
G52PIM228
May 16th, 2011
7:49 pm
“I believe giving Winnipeg another team only to watch it fail again”
Although it would be mighty entertaining, it is much easier to just alienate the small loserpeg fan base by using them for pawns then toying with them using the Canadian media as the vessel..
G52PMS247
May 16th, 2011
8:13 pm
Winnipeg’s hockey population is 750,000 while Phoenix’s hockey population is 6
FTW
southernhockeyfan
May 16th, 2011
8:34 pm
Not a hockey fan: Have you ever been to a hockey game, and if not, what do you care if they stay, or go. Despite what you think, losing them will not just disappoint their fans, it will create economic problems for the city.
southernhockeyfan
May 16th, 2011
8:39 pm
Here is a question to ponder: What happens if the Thrashers are solid, but have to stay one more year for logistical reasons or the simple fact, there is not enough time for them to move. Who will go to games knowing the team is headed to Canada? Not me!!!!
G52PMS247
May 16th, 2011
8:45 pm
TNSE wouldn’t buy them now to keep them in ATL for a lame duck season unless the NHL covers any losses. The NHL governors won’t want to do that either.They will be moved for next season but have to play in the eastern conference for 1 year. This deal will get done in a few days if it is going to get done.
@Nhl
May 16th, 2011
8:49 pm
Winnipeg is one of the few cities in Canada with real estate prices that continue to increase. How’s your equity? Did you spend it all on bullet proof vests?
@G52PIM228 what is that your inmate #
May 16th, 2011
8:54 pm
The only good thing is that if and when the Jets move from Winnipeg you’ll be dead.
Sam K
May 16th, 2011
9:04 pm
Word is out that True North Sports and Entertainment is in negotiations with Atlanta Spirit to buy and relocate the Atlanta Thrashers for the coming 2011-12 season.
The talks are not preliminary and the NHL is working on two schedule drafts for next season — one with Winnipeg and another with Atlanta.
The best news, for Winnipeggers wanting the NHL to return to this city, is the simplicity of these negotiations in terms of the players.
This is about a deal between two groups, True North and Atlanta Spirit. No city council to contend with, no inbred Mayor Scruggs, and no objections from the NHL. Just a bunch of suits haggling over a business transaction.
Sure, there could be some sticking points and this deal could crater but Atlanta Spirit is an extremely motivated seller and True North is an even more motivated buyer. No one else is in the room and its down to money and terms. ( thank the US dollar for saving a few bucks. Good timing)
The NHL, by virtue of allowing these talks and working on a schedule that includes Winnipeg, is prepared to let relocation to Winnipeg happen, as they did last year when they negotiated and released a backup schedule for the Coyotes to play in Winnipeg.
More to the point, commissioner Gary Bettman is OK with it.
Mr. Bettman gets what he wants in the NHL and if you need proof, just have a look at the sideshow in Phoenix. The commissioner wasn’t interested in leaving the desert and he moved heaven and hell to keep the Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena.
The board of governors have Bettman’s back and his blessing on talks between True North and Atlanta Spirit tells the entire story in terms of the governors. They’ve signed off and any needed massaging of league bylaws is an afterthought.
If True North can give Atlanta Spirit what it wants in short order — this deal will be done and approved and Winnipeg will have its Jets or Falcons or Moose or Ice or whatever they end up being called by this fall.
But time is an issue.
True North is approaching its internal deadline and while they could stretch things a bit its unlikely they’ll allow this to drag into June. There’s just too much to do and True North will want to get off on their best foot.
Should they land an NHL franchise they’ll want to immediately begin selling tickets and sponsorships, not to mention all the logistical work that remains to be done.
There’s also the matter of a marketplace test still to be conducted. True North chairman Mark Chipman discussed the concept with Free Press reporter Tim Campbell last spring and it’s understood Winnipeggers will be asked to show their willingness to pay NHL prices for NHL hockey before any deal is finalized.
Count on a week for such a test. My bet is that season tickets for the entire arena sell out in a week. And note – you only get to buy a season ticket if you buy for 3 seasons.
GO JETS GO!
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 16th, 2011
9:05 pm
I just saw a Canucks highlight featuring the 2 guys we passed up when we had the #1 overall pick. Waddell drafted Patrick Stefan, and Vancouver picked the Sedin twins.
Flying1bob
May 16th, 2011
9:05 pm
Michael said: If Winnipeg has 700,000 people and 500,000 are hockey fans that’s 450,000 more hockey fans than Atlanta has. I don’t care if the population of Atlanta is 40 million people. It has absolutely NO F*&%^NG RELEVANCE!!! WAKE THE F UP
Are you kidding, Hwy 75 just opened as the water on the Red is under control, which means all or most of the folks from Glendale, (hockey fans) are on there way up here to live and watch a team that is funded with ticket purchases and not tax dollars.
Ok now to my point, crap that’s sharp,,, anyways there’s 850,000 plus up here now and I have heard 550,000 in the surrounding area of Atlanta’s rink.
We will support it if it comes and for a long time. You folks in Atlanta may lose your team but your ownership is the reason, if they would have spent the money on that team when they had it and got to the grass roots of the community the chairs would have been full, and you would have enjoyed wait for it…….the Playoffs……….playoffs…..playoffs, and that’s what your fan base deserved but never got. Hell the first round just for starters gives the fans hope for the future, and ticket sales comes with that,….. those guys never gave you that.
G52PIM228
May 16th, 2011
9:12 pm
“the Jets move from Winnipeg ”
They left new York..
Southernhockeyfan
May 16th, 2011
9:12 pm
@Nhl I agree the anti Canada jokes are out of line, but so are you bullet proof vest jokes. We are a city of 5 million people and there is going to be high crime, but there is nothing funny about gun crime. Just ask somebody who has been a victim.
@Southernhockefan
May 16th, 2011
9:18 pm
I agree. But even less funny is a ‘tard in Atlanta that says I eat moose droppings in an Igloo. First of all, Gerbils have droppings, Moose have boulders. 2nd of all, if I knew how to build an igloo I certainly would be quick enough to shoot the Moose first than let it take a dump in my house. We shoot animals for food, you shoot people for crack. But I heard the ‘culture’ all y’all have down there is great.
wpgJetsfan
May 16th, 2011
9:19 pm
The reason for the ATI-Winnipeg Jokes are coming from people from the AZCentral Boards. The Coyote Fans are trashing your boards. They should be banned from here as they have no reason to comment here other than to stir up trouble. They are making fun of nothing only Winnipeg but you Atlantans as well.
VAN ISLE
May 16th, 2011
9:39 pm
Na-nanana, Nananana, heyheyeheyyyyyy Good Bye
CA Thrashers Fan
May 16th, 2011
9:56 pm
Stay classy Canada.
bem
May 16th, 2011
9:58 pm
think about the children
Crazy Diamond
May 16th, 2011
11:06 pm
We are so screwed.
Sorry, but don't save'em
May 17th, 2011
1:35 am
I’m very fond of The Thrashers, but they’re making the $$$$$$ situation hard for The Hawks. We’ll be sad, but we’ll live. Basketball before Hockey! I’m just saying.
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 17th, 2011
7:33 am
DW was quoted as saying “all options are availalbe”. OPTIONS? THE TEAM IS GONE!! But Don just couldn’t end it without another lie.
t
Get The Puck Out
May 17th, 2011
7:39 am
Channel eleven is reporting that local lil John and hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer is interested in the Thrashers. Anyone know anything about this?
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 17th, 2011
7:40 am
I wish I had enough money to get tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals and sit behind one of the benches or the penalty box. I would wear my Thrashers jersey and hold up a sign “BETTMAN DOES $60M TRICKS”.
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 17th, 2011
8:11 am
Hey all you lawyers out there. How about an anti-trust/ conflict-of-interest lawsuit and injunctio against the NHL?
Peter Puck
May 17th, 2011
9:14 am
Hockey can succeed in Atlanta. Build a physical team, keep the roster 50% or more North American, and eventually move the team to the northern suburbs (GM site would probably work). But we can’t afford to lose the Thrashers. Once they are gone, it’s hard to imagine any future for the NHL in Atlanta.
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 17th, 2011
9:54 am
I heard that Glenn Ford is going to try to save the Flames.
Thrashers in talks with True North for relocation « semicliffordmatic
May 17th, 2011
11:02 am
[...] the AJC wondered if other NHL owners would block the relocation because if the Phoenix Coyotes were to move next offseason, they’d net “upwards of $170 [...]
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 17th, 2011
11:53 am
@Nhl ” Did you spend it all on bullet proof vests?” This is coming from Winnipegger right? Did you know Winnipeg has the highest homicide rate in Canada? So if someone steals your toque and you grab your musket off the fireplace and shoot him. If want to see what a strange place Winnipeg is for all of you unfamiliar with this isolated outpost. I was hoping the independent film made by Winnipeg native Guy Maddin called “My Winnipeg” would be posted on YouTube but unfortunately you only get trailers and pieces of the film. Watch what you can of this film and you will know why Winnipeg was hated by everybody associated with the NHL and it was considered a joke by members of the NHL media, players, executives and owners right up until the Jets left in 1996 which made a lot of people very happy throughout the NHL. Don’t believe the propaganda spread by Winnipeggers about how great Winnipeg is and that we love hockey blah… blah… Thrasher players are scared about having to possibly leave Atlanta for Winnipeg you can count on it.
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
I wonder how NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol feels about this? He can’t be too happy; just weeks after giving the NHL a $2B contract, the NHL abandons the 8th largest US TV market. This is done to grab a $60M relocation fee to cover their losses of their disaster in Phoenix.
Guffman
May 17th, 2011
3:12 pm
Who cares what Dick Ebersol feels about it. They signed a 10-year contract. You think Bettman is worried about 2022 when the contract is up?
Guffman
May 17th, 2011
3:16 pm
“Thrasher players are scared about having to possibly leave Atlanta for Winnipeg you can count on it.”
The only players that would be scared are the unprofessional fluff players that would play on a perennial loser like Atlanta merely because of the weather.
I’d rather have the competitive players that would want to play for a winning franchise, regardless of how the weather is outside.
You’d rather playing for a loser franchise with dead fan support and get a sun tan? Go play for Phoenix and Atlanta. I wouldn’t want those kind of flakes on my team. And you’re surprised your team hasn’t won a single playoff game in 11 years?
Boo_Radley
May 17th, 2011
3:50 pm
@Winnipeg=Poverty
Your slanderous comments on the quality of Winnipeg are uncalled for, and frankly quite juvenile. Winnipeg is a slow/steady growing city with a consistantly low unemployment rate, steady housing market, free & accessible health-care, and a beautiful downtown.
I would ask if you’ve ever been to the Exchange District in Winnipeg before you begin to talk about a lack of culture, but from your comments you’ve obviously never visited Winnipeg in your life. Let me say this, the rejuvination of the downtown core that has occured in the past 5 years is nothing short of extraordinary, and the people that call Winnipeg home do not take kindly to such unsubstantiated allegations as you have put forward.
So, get out of your armchair and do something positive for a change. Railing agaisnt a city you obviously haven’t experienced first-hand is low and is a poor representation of the people of Atlanta.
to clarify
May 17th, 2011
4:25 pm
Guffman, Boo_Radley and co: what the point of posting all this crap? trying to calm us down because we are mad at NHL and ASG? Wait for a while and chances are that you’ll get thrashers. For us it will be loosing the team and we don’t really care how beautiful Winnipeg is in hockey (winter) time and we don’t really care how many frozen people will go to games.
For now, we hope NHL will stop the sale to punish ASG. If you do remember what loosing team means for you, you would support us.
Barry
May 17th, 2011
4:30 pm
tarps3 on Thrashers message board reports this…
RT @JohnKincade Craig Custance of The Hockey News will report Venture Capitalist J.B. Smith as #thebalkan..he’s correct in that reporting
more from Kincade:
- J.B. Smith has been attempting to put together a deal to purchase the Thrashers, Hawks and Philips Arena since early March
- J.B. Smith will now get the full “media treatment” and will make his desire to own all 3 entities public knowledge
- Equity 11 is his firm and he has put together many deals that dwarf the expected purchase price of all 3 entities
chaz
May 17th, 2011
5:39 pm
@ Winnipeg=Poverty
My Winnipeg! HA! That movie was hilarious! The part with the horse frozen in the ice? That was amazing. I was just at the memorial they have for those horses.
If you believe what you see on a Guy Maddin movie, your clearly aren’t too bright. What would you know about the NHL in Winnipeg in 1995? Im all for a respectful comment section, but I would never insult a persons city, or where they come from, because it doesn’t define who they are, but moreso the words that you type and what you say and do define you. Dont be so superficial.
I wont think all Atlanta folks are as childish as yourself, for obvious reasons.
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 17th, 2011
6:37 pm
Why do I have to go to Winnepeg papers to get information from CViv? The article quotes Vivlamore stating that the groups (including JB SMith) supposedly trying to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta are not credible.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Local-Thrasher-suitors-discredited-122065019.html
EA
May 17th, 2011
6:51 pm
C Viv–best friend to everyone in Winnipeg. Is it possible just to say “no comment” until this situation plays out.
Guffman
May 17th, 2011
8:43 pm
@ Clarify: We were not happy that Bettman structured the league to pull teams from Canada to put them in the southern US. The worst was seeing that stupid blue FOX glow puck because you guys couldn’t follow the action.
I hope that the league contracts from these locations and puts them in places where there are knowledgable and rabid fans. Sorry man.
whiney pegboy
May 17th, 2011
8:50 pm
We can see the puck just fine down here. That was a misfire on the league’s part, not on ours.
Taylor
May 17th, 2011
9:01 pm
Great points Chris. Hopefully the rest of the NHL can save the day. In the meantime, if everyone could take the simple act of “liking” the “Keep the Thrashers in Atlanta” page on Facebook, would help to unify the fanbase
MrBill
May 17th, 2011
10:23 pm
Breaking News the Thrashers have been purchased by Martians and will be playing on Mars next season this is according to John Kincade. Oh by the way the reception isn’t any better there with 680. Heck you get 2 miles out of Atlanta and you lose the signal. This station is suppose to be the voice of the Thrashers but you can’t here the broadcast at night. Also they give the Braves alot more coverage of the Braves before and after each game. They give the Thrashers very little as well as the AJC they show no interest is this team and that is something that has hurt the attendance. You have to got to page four in the sports section to see anything about the Thrashers, But when it comes to a possible relocation they are all over the place what is that all about.They certainly are taking the story away from the Stanely cup playoffs how about that Mr Bettman.