Thrashers fans schedule event
Here are the details, as provided to me the Thrashers fan club, for an event to be held Saturday to support the Thrashers remaining in Atlanta. It will be held in the Gulch by Philips Arena.
Wear your team clothing and bring your signs for pictures. Bring your cameras and phones. During the final hour we will get everyone assembled for a group photo. Photos go to Gary Bettman, the AJC, on facebook, etc, for all to see that we love our team!
It is very important to show visible (and vocal) support for the Thrashers, so really try be there, at least for the last hour! We are thinking about trying to get people like Dan Kamal, Jay Bird, maybe Jeff Schultz to speak during the last hour. Don’t know if we can get anyone on such short notice.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
177 comments Add your comment
Steve
May 19th, 2011
1:01 am
The save the Jets rally had over 35000 and still couldn’t keep the team. Atlanta will need more then that.
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 19th, 2011
7:36 am
Agreed G52PIM228,
350,000 people would not make a difference. ASG is going to sell no matter what, and Bettman wants his $60M to cover his fiasco in Phoenix. Someone with big bucks (real dollars, not JB Smith play money) will have to step up very quickly or it is over.
Relocationist
May 19th, 2011
8:10 am
Why would anyone buy one of the more expensive season ticket packages? From what I experienced, you can buy the cheapest ticket available, walk right in and sit where you want on most nights as the mgt at Phillips doesn’t care as long as there aren’t any complaints (and, I’m not sure that they even care then). The more expensive tickets have been compeltely devalued by management allowing anyone to sit anywhere they want to regardless of what’s printed on the ticket.
JPVJ
May 19th, 2011
8:19 am
Does anybody know if the guy with the tin-foil cup who would parade up & down the aisles will be there ?? If he isn’t there I declare this rally not worthy!. Why is the “cup” guy silent all this time ????? Vive la feuille d’étain !!!!
60mil
May 19th, 2011
8:24 am
its all about the 60million going to gary and the spirit getting their money!
Both parties hate each other but they can agree upon this transaction. Its been in place for some time.
The spirit and gary have turn down and/or have talked people out of buying thrashers.
They claim Atl is a bad sports town. I think its a smart sports town. The Hawks take nights off during the playoffs, who would pay for that crap.
The Thrashers were run and are still run by Waddell…well enough said about that one….record speaks for itself
This THrasher deal is bogus and this San Diego guy is a joke…it will never happen
Marietta St Thrasher
May 19th, 2011
8:45 am
If someone deserves to catch it from his actions, not only through the potential sale of the thrashers and the “Balkan” but his general attitude towards the fans of the Thrashers its Kincade, here is the 680 The Fans GM’s email address, let him know what you think. jimmahanay@680thefan.com
Seattle Jets
May 19th, 2011
8:47 am
So the Braves must’ve had “bad ownership” as well when yall couldn’t sellout NLCS games..Congrats on being the only team in MLB that had that happen…Sorry to you “great fans” on the loss of your team…haha
Thomas Magnum
May 19th, 2011
8:51 am
Really wish that C-Viv wouldn’t have called this a rally. No way that this will have as many people show up as they did in Winnipeg to save the Jets. It’s just setting us up for failure.
Any rally that is organized needs to be done by someone who has some power and an audience such as Kincade or another sports personality and planned way in advance. This should have been done months ago.
Marietta St Thrasher
May 19th, 2011
8:53 am
Seattle Jets…..where are the Supersonics?
G52PMS247
May 19th, 2011
9:02 am
how is a rally going to save a team no one wants to own ?
Seattle Jets
May 19th, 2011
9:06 am
Jacked by hillbillys….So it brings us great joy watching hillbilly teams getting jacked….
LMAO@no dispute about having such warm fans you couldn’t sellout playoff games…hahahaha
Kovy's Agent
May 19th, 2011
9:44 am
Seattle Jets, so your’e claiming that in the history of MLB playoffs only the Atlanta Braves have played to less than sellout crowds???? Where’d you get that stat because it’s totally bogus? In a record run of 14 straight years of playoff appearances it can make one a little gunshy of going to a Tuesday night wild card game, knowing that NLCS and WS games (and the dollars to buy those tix)are still to come. As soon as you have a 14-year run of playoffs with rock solid sellouts at every single game then we can talk, ok?
Seattle Jets
May 19th, 2011
9:53 am
In the era since the Wild Card began only Atlanta failed to sellout out playoff games…Congrats…Oh and Congrats on your “home” “fans” chanting MVP-MVP at Derrick Rose in a playoff game..Great “fanbase”..lulz
Chainsaw Dunlap
May 19th, 2011
10:14 am
Atlanta worst sports city EVER. I got Yankee tickets during the 1996 World Series as a WALKUP at the BOX OFFICE. Any real sports city would have sold those tickets out long prior. This lamebrained city cant support a hockey team w a metro of 5 MILLION? With all the transplants? Hello Winnipeg…and maybe the other teams will follow….
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 19th, 2011
10:17 am
WOA! This just posted on facebook. If this is true, there needs to be some investigation!!
“Moores, the man currently in exclusivity to purchase the Hawks and Philips arena, is also part of a firm that has a stake in Jobing.com arena. This is the same arena the Phoenix Coyotes hockey club plays in. Isn’t this a conflict of interest?”
Puck Like A Porn Star
May 19th, 2011
10:36 am
Sage: Thanks for taking the time; I thought even you would be amazed by that interview.
At least some of the Canadian media is waking up to the truth: ASG screwed an already snake-bitten sports town.
Chris Vivlamore
May 19th, 2011
10:48 am
While I would deem a call for fans to unite with the purpose of showing their support of the Thrashers, including a prompting to bring signs, a “rally”, I have changed the blog to call Saturday’s proposal an “event.” Hope that helps those with an issue as to the wording.
I was just trying to help spread the word.
thrasherdawg
May 19th, 2011
10:50 am
In the years the Braves were not winning they could not even fill the stadium to 15 % of capacity. Does that mean we are not a baseball town?
Before Aurther Blank the Georgia Dome was only half full. Does that mean we are not a football town?
So if the Thrashers started winning and most game were sold out….the logic would be weare a hockey town.
So based on the logic above, we are not a baseball town, or a football town. So those of you who say we are not a hockey town are clearly confused to the facts.
Winning solves everything.
JointherollercoasterNHL
May 19th, 2011
10:56 am
this can not be as bad as the Yotes rally of 200 people – if that. Good luck
Thomas Magnum
May 19th, 2011
11:00 am
Thanks Chris! Doubt that will be the deciding factor one way or the other but right now every little bit helps
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 19th, 2011
11:11 am
But Chris,
I thought you hated the Thrashers and wanted them to move. LOL!
Billsen
May 19th, 2011
11:17 am
As one of the four founders of the Nasty Nest, lemme just say this – if you had issues with out passionate and vocal support for the team, I’m thinking you’ve never been to a game outside of Philips. Take a trip to Nashville, and sit in the Cell Block; go to the ‘Canes house and hear them do the same types of chants and heckles that we do. It’s called hockey. If you want peace and quiet at a sporting event, go watch Golf.
Is this a shot in the dark? Absolutely. But for the life of me, I can’t understand the people ripping this event. Do you really think sitting on your hands and not showing is going to help?
This idea has snowvballed from an idea from Jimmy Parts a few days ago to an event. In less than 48 hours, it has blossomed, and I hope that people are spreading the word via social media, email and the like.
For those who don’t know where the Gulch is, it is the sunken parking lot next to the CNN parking deck, and across from Philips. This is where the NN has been tailgating for years. There is ample parking, lots of room, and it is great for playing street hockey (bring your gear if you want to play).
I have no illusions/delusions that this one action will save the team, but as the general said in “War Games”, “I’d p*ss on a spark plug if I thought it would do any good.”
Jb
May 19th, 2011
11:21 am
Good luck to you all!!!! I will be out of town but will be there in heart!!!! GO THRASHERS!!!!
Lionel Moise
May 19th, 2011
11:50 am
Hey Thrashers Fans,
Trying to get in touch with some of the groups who are organizing this rally on Saturday. If you are available today, please email lmoise@11alive.com
Thanks,
Lionel
rujoking
May 19th, 2011
11:55 am
Billsen, you go girl!! Everybody, send those e-mails, make then signs, shout it out loud. How about TJ’s or somewhere so we can party our a**es off !!!
Pegcitygirl
May 19th, 2011
12:00 pm
Sorry Thrasher Fans…Saturday will be too late. There is a BIG announcement on Friday in Winnipeg…would means Winnipeg Jets are back!!!!
Puck Like A Porn Star
May 19th, 2011
12:25 pm
And when there is no BIG announcement (again), that “would means” Winnipeg Jets are NOT back, just like every other time since 1996. Feel free to drop by the blog on Saturday to tell us the revised date of the BIG announcement, you know, just in case.
angryATLfan
May 19th, 2011
1:20 pm
No official announcement will be made until after playoffs… next few weeks will be moving parts of the deal… a ticket drive will take place prior to end of playoffs, which will be the unofficial selling of tics — dressed up as to “test the market to see if winnipeg likes hockey and then boom, NHL back to the peg.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 19th, 2011
1:33 pm
@Billsen — Have you been to a hockey match outside of the southeast US? I’d love to know what other cities say “Marty, Marty, you suck!” when the home team is losing.
ATLfan
May 19th, 2011
1:44 pm
Pegcitygirl and all other manitobians – AJC stands for ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION and not for “ANGRY JELAOUS CANADIANS”. So, please find your own blog and start posting crap there.
EXJet
May 19th, 2011
2:37 pm
As a hockey fan in Wpg who watched the Jets leave I want to wish Thrasher Fans best of luck with keeping their team. While I hope to someday have the chance to support the NHL in the ‘peg I don’t want to see it happen at the expense of any hockey fan. The negative stuff on Twitter and the various blogs does not represent the sentiments of the hockey fan base in Manitoba who love and respect the game and who have been badly burnt before…
SomaAtl95
May 19th, 2011
3:12 pm
Thank you EXJet – Thank you for your candor. What us Thrashers fans don’t understand is that you guys lost the Jets and wouldn’t want to face losing NHL again when they come back to you (and we all hope they do by expansion), we have already lost 1 team due to crappy ownership, if crappy ownership strips us on NHL for a second time it will kill the sport here, again. Hockey is too great a game to go without!
Why on earth are so many of your countrymen wishing the pain you guys felt once onto us for a second time? With the impending demise of the KHL there will be quite a few more Russians available in the talent pool, the NHL could support 32 teams without issue and properly align conferences into 4 divisions of 4 teams each.
We in Atlanta would love Winnipeg and QC to both get teams back, just not by taking another team away from us. Don’t blame the fans when the owners cry hardship – The A$G was 7 out of 32 in Basketball payroll. They were 28 out of 30 on Hockey Payroll. Basketball doesn’t sell out here.
Our owners are screwing us and it makes it worse to be relentlessly mocked. Thanks again for being so cool about not mocking us.
Billsen
May 19th, 2011
3:48 pm
@ranallo10 (in AT) – Outside of Atlanta, I’ve only seen games in San Jose, Montreal, NY Rags, NY Islanders, Tampa Bay, NJ Devils, Hartford Whalers, Carolina, Nashville and Philly. Someday I hope to be as cool as you – you know, dissing everyone who isn’t you.
Billsen
May 19th, 2011
3:51 pm
Nicely said, ExJet. I grew up a Whaler’s fan, so I know what it is like to lose a team, and I really don’t want to go through that again. As SomaAtl95 said, I would love to see both Winnipeg and QC get expansion teams, but I hate the notion that we have to lose our team so you can get one.
Empty Seats
May 19th, 2011
3:56 pm
In the years the Braves were not winning they could not even fill the stadium to 15 % of capacity. Does that mean we are not a baseball town?
Before Aurther Blank the Georgia Dome was only half full. Does that mean we are not a football town?
—————-
It means you are aren’t a sports town PERIOD. Can’t sellout World Series games with your own “fans”, most NFL teams have a 10 year waiting list for season tickets, people come to ATL to see their home teams because you can’t sellout games like they do. bad fanbase pretty simple.
Columbus made 1 playoff trip too but sellout more, and have more season tickets sold and won’t leave. Too many excuses in ATL, you are a wannabe fanbase. Show up through thick and thin without excuses and other fans might root for you to keep a team. making excuses seems to be what you do best.
When the Colts, Browns, and Sonics left their fans were robbed because they showed up, you people couldn’t sell out your expansion season so cut the crybaby crap. If you weren’t bandwagon and came out through thick and thin you’d still have a team. After this weekend that won’t be the case so you resume not going to Falconvick, Bravo, and Hacks games and blaming their owners for coming dressed as empty seats.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 19th, 2011
4:09 pm
@Billsen — And in all of those places, how many of them said the “You Suck!” heckle while being down? I’m not pretending to be cool, I’m simply asking you a pointed question that clearly makes you defensive. For what it’s worth, you’ve been to far more NHL arenas than I have, thus I feel I’ve posed my pointed question to a reliable source who can provide an honest response.
So again I ask, outside of the Southeastern United States, where have you heard an organized “You Suck!” heckle along the lines of the Nasty Nest (which you are quite proud to have helped found, kudos for that)?
Mark
May 19th, 2011
4:15 pm
This isn’t even supposed to be a “rally” although all the media has decided it is. It is simply supposed to be a tailgate for Thrasher fans attending the Select A Seat event. Many realize it might be the last chance to get together as a group.
Billsen
May 19th, 2011
4:18 pm
Every arena has a different vibe. In Philly & NY, you hear a lot worse than “you suck”. NJ was pretty tame and Hartford was pretty mild, San Jose and Montreal were more into repetitive chanting of the goalies name – no matter the score. Does that help?
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 19th, 2011
4:39 pm
Of course each arena has a different vibe, and there’s an obvious reason that Philadelphia and New York (and Buffalo) are some of the most hated fan bases in the NHL. Obnoxious behavior is not limited to Atlanta, Nashville, or Carolina … but quite honestly, the “you suck” heckle seems to be and it embarrasses me as a Thrashers (and non-traditional hockey market) fan, because it’s quite lame and usually untimely. In fact, several times I’ve had to defend the fans in Atlanta as “not being part of that group” (when asked about why they’d be heckling the goalie while the opponent is beating Atlanta soundly and he’s sporting a shutout).
Believe it or not, those types of things actually feed people outside of Atlanta to consider our fans to be “dumb” hockey fans.
As for the obnoxious in arena behavior, clearly other Atlanta fans take enough exception to make note of it, so perhaps it’s more obnoxious than you’re willing to admit. I purposefully sit on the opposite side of the arena because it puts me far away from your crew … but I’m sure others love it. I personally enjoy games with an organic atmosphere of fans cheering good plays, getting upset over bad plays, and I don’t enjoy not people incessantly yelling obscenities at professional athletes and other fans in the arena. To each his/her own, obviously.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 19th, 2011
4:42 pm
“don’t enjoy not” — Me fail English? That’s unpossible.
Billsen
May 19th, 2011
5:24 pm
Dude – we NEVER EVER have heckled anything with profanity. Sorry, but “you suck” ain’t profanity.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 19th, 2011
5:37 pm
Ahh, people must just be making it up then. I guess it’s the people who sit in the middle of the Nasty Nest, the uninvited guests.
Atlanta Rhythm Section
May 19th, 2011
6:06 pm
Telling the opposing goalie “You Suck” is embarrassing? Grow a spine.
Sage of Bluesland
May 19th, 2011
6:14 pm
I haven’t seen Ranallolamb post so much since his continued defense of the indefensible (i.e. Don Waddell).
How are Don’s decisions working out for you, now?
Cheers.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 19th, 2011
7:37 pm
@ARS — No, Atlanta Thrashers fans being considered ignorant is embarrassing. As I’ve stated, I can see why people would be given such an impression.
Billsen
May 19th, 2011
10:00 pm
Funny – I’ve never heard or seen anyone calling Atlanta fans ignorant – except for Ranallo. I grew up playing hockey, and have been an NHL fan since 1971. I think I have a pretty good grasp of how the game is played, and yeah, heckling is part of it. It is designed to get under the skin of the opposing players – especially a goalie. It has been a part of virtually every game I’ve ever seen. Deal with it.
Harry
May 19th, 2011
10:39 pm
Winnipeg population 630k Manitoba total 1.2 million
It would be a disaster for that place to have a pro team. There is no way a town, yes it’s a town, could handle a nhl franchise.
Sean M.
May 19th, 2011
10:56 pm
Ffffff I would have really liked to go to that; I’m gonna go to Atlanta tomorrow to tour a college on my shortlist of colleges I wanna go to. I would’ve totally tried to find a way to stay overnight and make it, but my cousin’s getting married that Saturday and family comes first.
Hope the rally goes well and I really, seriously hope the Thrashers stay in Atlanta. I don’t know what I’d do if this team moves. It isn’t the fans’ fault that the team is in this dire situation; it is the Atlanta Spirit that literally did not care a bit about this franchise and drove those fans away. Ownership has to meet the fanbase halfway, and A$G failed to do that. So. Sickening.
coldsoul
May 19th, 2011
10:58 pm
To those questioning why WPG wants a team to move it’s because WPG will NEVER get an expansion team it is not that sort of market for the reasons set out by many posters here. WPG has no choice but to get a failing team if they want to see a NHL team. Negative comments about the city also rev things up and change the minds of those who would be otherwise more mild mannered. I am one who has fallen into that trap at time, its a vicious circle atl fans->stupid wpg comment->stupid atl responsens -> even more hostile wpg comments -> even more hostile atl responses. I also don’t believe you will see expansion for quite a long time the last expansion was not successful at all and has left the NHL in a horrible situation.
The comments about the NHL being greedy and wanting the 60mill for relocation are insane, ATL does not have a buyer willing to purchase the team and keep it in ATL for 110 mill that is why they could/will relocate.
The comments about not winning a stanley cup are ignorant their are 30 teams, you do the math Vancouver is trying to make it their first one ever in 40 years (not to be confused with having a long term losing team- that along with a horrible management group would kill almost any marker and certainly WPG).
The fact of the matter is ATL does not currently have a perspective ownership group and have not there has never been an real buyer for all the teams (other than the Balkan). The current ownership group is not responsible AT THIS MOMENT for not being able to get a local buyer they salted the earth with huge loses a long time ago. I will be sad for the Thrashers fans if the team moves but it will be over shadowed by my excitement at getting to watch NHL hockey again. I would bet that is the sentiment of the majority of Winnipegers.
Kevin
May 19th, 2011
11:06 pm
LB, get your facts straight. The Islanders were last in attendance. Phoenix was 29th. Atlanta was 28th.