Deal not done to sell and move Thrashers
While negotiations between the Atlanta Spirit and True North Sports and Entertainment continue, no deal has been reached to sell the Thrashers and relocate the team to Winnipeg.
Despite a published report Thursday night saying a deal was done and would be announced Tuesday, officials with the Thrashers, True North and the NHL said no such agreement has been reached.
Several Thrashers officials told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday that the report was unfounded. The Winnipeg Free Press reported that a high-ranking True North official denied the report.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, speaking earlier in the day on NHL Live, said no deal has been made to move the Thrashers to Winnipeg– and criticized reports of a possible move. However, he did not rule out relocation unless someone steps forward to own the team here.
“We get reports, speculation, that the team’s gone. And there’s no deal,” Bettman said. “I can tell you that with certainty that there is no deal for this team to move. Am I predicting that there will never be or that there won’t be at some point in time? No, I’m not saying there is or there isn’t.”
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly also issued a denial. “The Board has not been asked to consider nor approve any transaction involving the sale and/or possible relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers’ franchise. Any suggestion to the contrary is entirely untrue.”
The Thrashers and True North have been in active negotiations, as reported by the AJC. The team is also searching for a buyer willing to keep the team in Atlanta. However with time running out to find local ownership, a deal with True North could be reached in the near future. A move to relocate the franchise would have to be made soon in order to begin play next season.
Bettman said the NHL always wants to keep a team in its current market but must have an owner to operate it there.
“The decision as to whether or not to move a club doesn’t come out of looking at two markets and saying, ‘This market would be better than that market,’” he said. “We try to keep our clubs where they are. And if it is ultimately determined that a club has to move, generally the reason . . . is because nobody wants to own a team there anymore, nobody wants to fund the losses and [the current owner] can’t find a buyer.”
The Thrashers’ ownership group has said that it faces a “sense of urgency” to shed the team’s operating losses and that if a buyer can’t be found to keep the team in Atlanta, relocation is a possibility.
The first two callers to Bettman’s show, broadcast on satellite radio and the Internet, were Thrashers fans. The first said Atlanta will support a hockey team if ownership meets the fans halfway by putting a competitive product on the ice.
“I understand and respect that,” Bettman said, “but the key to this may be, in the final analysis, whether or not somebody wants to own the team in Atlanta. In the absence of either the current ownership group continuing to own and operate or somebody stepping forward who wants to buy the club, that becomes the situation that concerns us or any sports league.
“We’ll only leave a market - in this case Atlanta, picking up on the caller’s statements – if we have to. And hopefully the current ownership group will figure a way out of this that makes sense for everybody,” he said.
The caller told Bettman that the Thrashers drew strong crowds in their first five seasons and that a fan rally will be held Saturday to show support for the team.
Noting that the Thrashers have ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance the past two seasons, Bettman said: “I understand that there may be dissatisfaction there, but demonstrating your dissatisfaction by not going to games is an interesting strategy. It’s your absolute right. But if it becomes a turnoff for anybody who might want to buy the franchise, the long-term consequences could be severe.
“It will be interesting to see how many people show up at the rally on Saturday,” Bettman said.
He declined to put a deadline on a decision about whether the team will be moved.
“Obviously, as it relates to next season, time is getting short,” he said. “We have to do a schedule. We’re doing a schedule with our broadcast partners; we have to have it done for clubs by the end of June. And it’s not something you can do in 28 or 48 hours.”
- Staff writer Tim Tucker contributed to this report.
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381 comments Add your comment
Guffman
May 20th, 2011
10:31 am
“So you’re wanting to watch PLAYOFF hockey games in Winnipeg? Well, someone should tell you that you’re buying the WRONG TEAM, you know?”
I’d rather acquire a young up-and-coming team like the Thrashers than the Coyotes, to be honest. To be honest, I would take any team at this point.
If hockey would actually work in Atlanta financially, assuming you had competent owners, I hope you guys get a team back in the future. It’s just kinda sad that no one in Atlanta would step up to the plate.
At least you have ‘lil Jon “spreading awareness”. Like gee… thanks. The point being, if there was immense financial potential that could be realized in Atlanta, I’m surprised that no one locally would take advantage of that.
HillMan
May 20th, 2011
10:31 am
Guffman, couldn’t agree more. Just called my season ticket rep. and upped my order. I have been saying in these blogs for days, stop with words and planning events. Call friends, family and co-workers and get them to call the season ticket line today and tomorrow. We don’t need to be at 12000 by a certain date, but we do need to show a pulse. Show that there is interest and with a new owner and 3-4 months before the season starts we can pack the place.
Hockey Hauler
May 20th, 2011
10:34 am
Where do I apply to have my company haul the junk to Winnepeg? We’re done for…Bettman screwed Atlanta.
BUT HERE’S THE WORST CRIMINAL IN ATLANTA HISTORY — DON WADDELL!!!!
FORGET ALL OF THE AWFUL BRAVES TEAMS IN THE 70′S AND 80′S. FORGET ALL OF RANKIN SMITHS’ STUPID & CHEAP MOVES WITH THE FALCONS. FORGET THAT THE HAWKS COULD NOT SIGN DAVID THOMPSON AND MARVIN WEBSTER IN THE 70′S AND THAT THEY WERE AWFUL….FORGET THAT THE FLAMES HAD THE POTENTIAL TO STAY HERE IF THE OWNER HADN’T WANTED MONEY FOR OTHER PROJECTS…THE FLAMES WERE FOR REAL FROM THE FIRST TIME THEY EVER DROPPED THE PUCK!!!
FORGET EVERYTHING ELSE, EXCEPT: DON WADDELL IS THE WORST EGG SUC%!*# DOG IN THE HISTORY OF ATLANTA SPORTS. HE AND THE THOSE IDIOT ATLANTA STUPID GOOFS WERE HAVE RUINED A SPORT THAT MANY OF US LOVE. WADDELL COULDN’T GET HIS BUTT OUT OF A WET PAPER BACK IF HE HAD A KNIFE TO CUT HIMSELF OUT……..HE HAS BASICALLY FOUND A WAY TO GET HIMSELF OUT OF ATLANTA AND LEAVE HOCKEY FANS IN THE DUST!
IF DEAR OLD THRASH CAN HAVE ONE LAST RIDE ON THE ZAMBONIE — HE SHOULD RUN OVER WADDELL AND LEAVE HIM IN THE DUST.
DONNIE, ENJOY YOUR BONUS/FINDERS FEE FOR COMING THROUGH WITH NEW OWNERSHIP OF THE THRASH/JETS — YOU ARE THE BIGGEST JERK IN THE HISTORY OF ATLANTA SPORTS!!!
THE FIRST THING WINNIPEG WILL DO IS FIRE YOUR SORRY BUTT — THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST THING ASG DID — BUT WE KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT, RIGHT?
MY TRUCKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HAULILNG HOCKEY GEAR…..THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO LOAD, HAUL, DELIVERY REAL STINKING OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN CHICKEEN OR BULL “HOCKEY” AND DUMP TRUCK LOADS ON DONNIE WADS YARD IF SOMEONE WILL GIVE ME HIS ADDRESS!!!!!
BYE THRASHERS, I WILL TRULY MISS THIS TEAM!!
Atlanta Native
May 20th, 2011
10:34 am
Freeways, I guess we all need to get off the boards and secure ourselves in our homes and bomb shelters today. I brought up Buckhead because it has the glitz and glamour that has attracted several of the young Thrashers to live there. It really doesn’t matter. It is like arguing with idiots. If you haven’t picked up on why the team has not been supported in the years since we made our one playoff appearance, there is no use going over it again. Have fun at the arena. You all are a very sensitive bunch about your city. It makes you wonder why.
Dusty Rhodes - American Dream
May 20th, 2011
10:37 am
AS the great Dusty Rhodes used to say about Ric Flair, “An Egg Sucking Dog is an Egg Sucking Dog even if he isn’t in the hen house.”
Don Waddell, ASG, Garry Bettman — All of you can go suck an egg!
is it cold in Canada? Should I wear a jacket?
May 20th, 2011
10:39 am
Why not just call up Mayor Kasim Reed and ask for a $25 Million per year subsidy? It worked in AZ.
Kovy's Agent
May 20th, 2011
10:44 am
Two home playoff games in 11 seasons. Two! And they lost both of those. Let’s see Winnipeg sit through that period of incompetence and see how willing they are to pony-up dollars to continue the beatings. Sit through game after game where your team is outshot by more than double. Where you get a 60 minute effort perhaps once a week, if you’re lucky. Where your team feels overwhelmed at times you only hope to not be embarrassed on the ice let alone think you can win. And now have that go on year, after year, after year with the same ownership group and more importantly the same dufus in charge of the on-ice product: Don Waddell. Tell me then how many would step-up and continue to pay their hard-earned dollars for that product? You may call it an interesting strategy Mr. Bettmann but to continue to underwrite that level of incompetence suggests either one has more money than sense, or some other masochistic tendencies.
Is this hockey or wrestling? Hard to tell down here in football country.
May 20th, 2011
10:44 am
Was that before or after Nature Boy Ric Flair took Dusty Rhode’s face and rubbed it into his crotch before ripping his eyeballs out and breaking his backbone?
G52PlM228
May 20th, 2011
10:51 am
Glendale has warm weather and crime is less than Atlanta.
Danny the Canadian
May 20th, 2011
10:53 am
The really sad thing here is what it does to the fans. I’m a Canadian from southern ontario. If I ever lost my beloved Maple Leafs I would be heart broken. Obviously the Thrashers do not have as huge of a following, however they do have several loyal and die hard fans. In my opinion Quebec and Winnipeg should have a team (so should Halifax and Hamilton). I loathe that it is at the expense of Atlanta or any other team. I can play the blame game but the fact is there are so many factors at play I will never know whats what. I hope that everyone somehow wins in this scenario. I think an AHL team could be a good fit for Atlanta if worst comes to worst.
I saw a stat someone wrote saying 1 in 35 people would have to attend a game in Winnipeg to make it viable. Whoever wrote that, you sure don’t know Canadians. If a team comes to Winnipeg it will be packed to the rafters.
Sidebar: If the thrashers move to Winnipeg, I hope they ditch the Winnipeg Jets name and go with the Winnipeg Rebels… A tribute to the forgotten Canadian almost civil war.
I hope for the best for our neighbours to the south! Cheers
Freeways
May 20th, 2011
10:56 am
Atlanta Native – you’re bang on. It’s all moot since the world is SUPPOSED to end tomorrow, right. (insert eye-roll here).
in all seriousness, I am sincerely sorry you’re losing your team – it stinks.
By the way, I live in Long Beach CA, so I have no direct loyalty (or “sensitivity”) either way. I’ve been to both cities (ATL and WPG) and have to say, Winnipeg is very underated. First time I went I was actually worried my nose would freeze off. Turns out, it’s awesome (great clubs, restaurants, and history) and the MTS Center is amazing.
I’m just tired of seeing all the whiners and complainers slamming Winnipeg when in all likelihood, 95% have never been.
Guffman
May 20th, 2011
10:57 am
Here’s an article I thought you guys would appreciate: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/thrashers-failure-rests-with-owners-and-the-nhl/article2029445/
muser
May 20th, 2011
10:57 am
The poor Thrashers players have no idea how much they’ll hate Winnipeg. -30 in the winters. Mosqitos the size of golf balls in the 12 week summers. 50% income tax year round. Just like the last time, Winnipeg will have to pay a big premium to sign a free agent. They’ll stink again. The seats will be empty again. They’ll move again. I was there to see them leave last time. Thank God I won’t be there for the rerun. Impending disaster!
Cajun Crap Talker
May 20th, 2011
10:58 am
Why did these Jokers EVER buy this team (these teams) in the first place? They’ve never known what the he11 they’re doing. Who knows, may David McDavid would’ve led us to championships . . .
The bizarro commish
May 20th, 2011
11:02 am
Hi everyone,
Bizarro Commish here – clearly there is some misconception about Winnipeg. I have heard from nearly every player in the NHL that they LOVE playing in freezing weather in a town so small that fine dining is Tim Horton’s and hot chicks are fat ankled women. They love it!
In fact, I have a signed petition from every one of the NY Rangers BEGGING me to leave Manhattan and move the team to Kamloops!
Stay tuned….
Resigned
May 20th, 2011
11:06 am
Good Bye, Good Bye, Good Riddance!
Danny the Canadian
May 20th, 2011
11:06 am
Bizzaro…Kamloops is like heaven on earth. Did you just pick a town with a funny name?
St. Louis du Ha! Ha! would have been funnier. Real town…not kidding.
is it cold in Canada? Should I wear a jacket?
May 20th, 2011
11:13 am
Thrashers holding a Select A Seat event tomorrow at Philips Arena? Is this a joke?
Is there no end to the shame & humiliation this ownership group pours onto the heads of ATLANTA Thrashers fans?
Eileen
May 20th, 2011
11:17 am
Guffman, thanks for providing us with that article. I keep going over Bradley’s article in my head as the best one yet in this fiasco. I am glad the Globe and Mail referred to it as well. As sad as it is, I hope that the hockey world knows what great fans there are and would have been in Atlanta if not for the ASG.
Kovy's Agent
May 20th, 2011
11:22 am
The more I think about it, I’m going to the select-a-seat tomorrow and buy a boatload of the best seats in the house because the way my luck works, the WPG deal will then fall through and I’ll be stuck with all those seats and have to figure out a way to pay for them! You can thank me on Wednesday when the big WPG announcement is suddenly canceled.
J E T S
May 20th, 2011
11:31 am
Eileen, you are making great sense. As a Winnipeger, please do not form opinions of us based on the few dead beats on here making ignorant comments regarding Atlanta and their fans. Yes we do believe we deserve a team but in no way like seeing another city lose their’s to make it happen. Lets be clear Winnipeg is not taking your team….the Thrashers were owned by a group who obviously did a terrible job and now they do not want them anymore. TNSE just happens to be a group looking to buy something that is clearly for sale. It’s unfortunate for fans like Eileen that won’t have hockey to take her kids too but let’s realize that we are not taking your team from you, we are simply buying something that was for sale. It’s sad that this has turned into insulting each others cities and fans when it seems the real enemy in Atlanta is ASG.
GatorFan
May 20th, 2011
11:42 am
Living in Birds Hill, I guess I’m going to have a pile of NHL players as neighbors soon. People are making jokes about 100 people at Portage and Main last night. Its not official yet. When the official announcement is made I’m sure there will be thousands there.
ThrasherFan
May 20th, 2011
11:52 am
Ponder this…
A Free Agent signs with Atlanta and therefore pays US tax. By being shipping to Canada they immediately jump at least 10% in tax owed. What kind of BS is that?
The bizarro commish
May 20th, 2011
11:59 am
My apologies – late reports indicate Kamloops is home to great weather and hot chicks. Rangers standing outside NHL office on Park Ave. DEMANDING we move them to Sudbury. After all, check out the coldest cities in Canada – who woudnt want to move to these great cities?
Todb
May 20th, 2011
12:00 pm
Let’s do the math 15000 tickets sold for an average price of $60=900,000 18000 tickets sold for an average of $30= 540,000 . Do the math Arena size does not mean everything Wpg will be a profitable team once the BOG see’s this look for more money losing franchise’s
To move
@Todb
May 20th, 2011
12:04 pm
Whatever the math – all you Winnipeg slaggers out there – the one objective reality is that no matter how much money Winnipeg does or doesn’t make – it will be MORE than the money made (lost) in the ‘much larger market’ of Atlanta. Not sure how anybody in Atlanta honestly thinks the team can survive there.
Todb
May 20th, 2011
12:06 pm
Sounds like a great place to live!
Thriving Culture in Atlanta
May 20th, 2011
12:06 pm
Atlanta is 5th in the US in child Poverty. It is one of 18 cities in the US to INCREASE its poverty rate in 2011. Poverty rate is 40%. Crime rate is near the top in the US. Child malnutrition and hunger ranks higher than some 3rd world countries and the literacy rate is well below the industrialized world. Despair and desperation hang over much of the city and sadly, with no hope of escape, many turn to drugs and suicide.
Crews in white panel vans go through the city at dawn every morning to clean up the bodies. Hopes for Federal funding fell through with the financial collapse. Whole tracts of homes in previously respectable neighborhoods have been abandoned due to foreclosure. Homes can’t sell because real estate prices continue to fall and multiple attempts by police to rid homes of squatters who use the homes as crack houses have failed. Many people have turned to prostitution, child porn and dog fighting just to put food on their family’s table. President Obama refused to declare Atlanta a disaster area because then he would have to send money. Obama has yet to visit this decrepit, burnt out shell of a city.
Add to that the school shootings, prison riots, bombing of the Olympics, serial killers, and mass suicides and you get an idea of ‘Atlanta Culture’. But it is warmer there. And they do have a basketball team. Three cheers for the thriving metropolis of Atlanta.
ThrasherFan
May 20th, 2011
12:10 pm
Todb – can’t remember the last time I paid 30 bucks for a ticket here in Atlanta. More like 60-100…
@Thrasherfan
May 20th, 2011
12:25 pm
Good one – scalpers must have loved you. I was at games in Phoenix and Atlanta and got lower bowls for FIVE BUCKS. Comp tickets all over the place.
The BettFather
May 20th, 2011
12:29 pm
Sorry, but Wpeg is only RENTING the Thrashers cause the numbers don’t work. Wpeg couldn’t even consistently sell out the old arena when the Jets played here. Just ask anyone who lives here! Now we’re talking 15,000 seats (sellout) when the Thrashers averaged 13,469 home attendance last year with a team that was consistently sh*tty by all measures and absurdly sh*tty at certain points of the season? This is like some kind of sad joke!
More important is the lack of luxury boxes to sell in Wpeg. That’s where the money is made or lost, not the turnstiles (a popular misconception). Bettman would sooner move the Thrashers to Antarctica than give Wpeg another “destined for future relocation” team. But he’s getting at least a $60 Million payoff that the league desperately needs because of his corrupt mismanagement of it. There is no other buyer for the Thrashers — ANYWHERE.
The $60 Mill + the only buyer available are the reasons the Thrashers are making a pit stop in Wpeg. Within 5 years they will relocate once again, probably to an American city, with fans demonstrating in the streets! Deja vu all over again.
Bob's your uncle
May 20th, 2011
12:35 pm
At the end of the day … money talks and BS walks. It doesn’t matter why Thrasher fans weren’t going to games … the simple fact of the matter is that they WEREN’T going to games in sufficient numbers to earn the team a profit. Leafs fans have reasons to complain too (some would say 40+ years worth of reasons), but they still go to games, pay through the nose to do so, and as a result, MLSE is a money maker. Anyone looking at things objectively without emotional attachment (that would be people other than you NHL, Thrasher and Coyotes fans, etc) would quickly come to the conclusion that a NHL team belongs in Winnipeg, Quebec City and Southern Ontario far MORE than Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami (among other NHL cities). Look at the facts
John Ferguson
May 20th, 2011
12:37 pm
BettFather – you used the key words “the only buyer available”. Meaning the other “buyers” are not available. Guys like the Balkan, Boots Del Biaggio, Bruce McNall. They’re not available. In all of North America, other buyers are not available because hockey is not viable in non-hockey markets. The only really genuine available buyers are in cities like Winnipeg. Stay tuned – Quebec City is next. Then Hamilton.
This really weird experiment of playing ice hockey where there is no ice is coming to an end.
Stan Drulia
May 20th, 2011
12:39 pm
Freeways — “95% of them have never even been there”. Exactly. Bush league town. Bush league culture. Bush league beer. Nice boobs pressed against the glass in Vancouver recently.. but overall bush league country.
Aetna
May 20th, 2011
12:40 pm
Hope you like your new AHL team next year.
Love,
Hartford, CT
Joe Friday
May 20th, 2011
12:42 pm
“THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO LOAD, HAUL, DELIVERY REAL STINKING OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN CHICKEEN OR BULL “HOCKEY” AND DUMP TRUCK LOADS ON DONNIE WADS YARD IF SOMEONE WILL GIVE ME HIS ADDRESS!!!!!”
Oh, it’s coming. All of their addresses and phone #s are coming.
Todb
May 20th, 2011
12:49 pm
MTS center has 46 luxury suites plus 2 party suites(single game rent) rumor has a suite will be $150,000 and they are all spoken for. Average ticket price in most cities in the south are to low that is why they are losing money all the Canadian teams except Ottawa made a profit last year (Ottawa lost 1 million) look for more teams to be on the move now that tv contract is locked in
The Balkan
May 20th, 2011
12:55 pm
The ASG will hold a “Le Bron James” type TV special to announce they are taking their talents to Winnipeg.
Zombie Steve
May 20th, 2011
12:56 pm
The NHL Network just confirmed the deal. FU Waddell. FU asg. FU bettman. And FU Winnipeg
John Ferguson
May 20th, 2011
12:58 pm
You guys want proof that hockey is not viable in places like Atlanta or Glendale? Go to the home page of ajc right now. You will struggle to find a story about this – you can find it but you will have to drill down. This stuff is front page news in Winnipeg. Atlanta is in the process of losing this team and most people there DO NOT CARE. It is and was the same story in AZ – the Yotes are within an inch of leaving and it is hard to find anybody in Phoenix who cares. There was virtually nothing about it in the local papers. There was and will be way more in the news about this in Winnipeg and even Canadian cities not directly involved than there is in Atlanta. This story (Thrash moving) was a story on a national newscast in Canada last night. Why? Because we care. This is religion to us. You guys don’t and that is cool because it is not part of your culture. A few dozen of you will miss the team but for the most part, Atlanta will not care.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 20th, 2011
1:06 pm
Bad news for Thrasher players being exiled to the very poor 3rd world city of Winnipeg. Get ready for less money boys with true North trying to cut costs in a city with very limited revenue streams and silly tax rates. I wonder how many players are on the phones with their agents like goalie Denis Lemieux in the the movie “Slapshot” “That’s right they closing, Trade me right F#@!IN Now!!!” and then they all hang up on their cell phones.
jw
May 20th, 2011
1:10 pm
so this atlanta spirit outfit – if they sell the Hawks, could they maybe afford to run the Thrashers? Bottom line for the Thrashers is this – make ticket prices affordable, put some talent out there that wants to be in the town and work on making the playoffs – we need a Pendleton (1991 Braves) who is willing to help get it going – at any cost. Got to put a winner on the ice before folks will visit the Blue Crew’s home – and that’s another post for another day.
Todb
May 20th, 2011
1:15 pm
How do you know what our tax rates are? They will love this city when they enter the loudest building in the league. Worse that can happen everybody is wrong team has to move we will be known as 2 time looser’s just like Atlanta
Joe Friday
May 20th, 2011
1:26 pm
“A few dozen of you will miss the team but for the most part, Atlanta will not care”
this is not true. huge misconception on the part of our Canadian friends. I’ve lived in this city for 22 years, and I’m from an Original 6 city. Everyone at the games is from Detroit, Philly, NY, Pitts. Chicago, Buffalo . . . we’re all hockey fans, it’s why we quit going, they weren’t playing hockey! If we had a real owner, we’d have sold it out every night like we did in the early years, and Waddell is the one he drove people away through his mismanagement of the club. This is biggest travesty I’ve ever seen . . .
Joe Friday
May 20th, 2011
1:32 pm
To our Canadian friends, at least be educated about what happened here.
Atlanta is a not a southern city except for geography. What I mean is that 100% of the increase in the population in this city over the past 20 years is all from transplanted northeners. We’re all hockey fans.
The big joke around here is at a meeting at church we always ask people “anyone originally from Atlanta” and one person out of 30 raises their hand . . . we’re all northeners, hockey is in our blood, we just didn’t have a GM (until this year) or owners that knew how to build a team. Tronna is the only town that will support a loser year after year . . .
The takeaway here is not that hockey couldn’t make it here, there’s millions of northeners who live here now, the takeaway here is that ownership and Don Waddell failed, not the fans.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 20th, 2011
1:49 pm
@Todb If I want to find what the tax rates are Winnipeg all I have to do is find it on a little thing called the internet which you happen to be using right now. A new Winnipeg franchise will have to move you can count on it, so don’t get too loyal to them.
Yep
May 20th, 2011
1:56 pm
How can two season of 13k average give reason to move a team? This is BS and the league could care less. I hope the NHL along with Canada go under water.
Kal
May 20th, 2011
2:05 pm
As much as everyone wants to blame Atlanta Spirit, there is another body that gets blame in this fiasco.
The suits at Time-Warner who had a deal with David McDavid for the two teams and Phillips Arena. They changed their minds at the least minute and showed their business acumen by having to pay $318 million to McDavid to settle a lawsuit.
WHy doesn’t ASG give Dave a call?
NHL collapse
May 20th, 2011
2:13 pm
The NHL is on the verge of a financial melt down. A team is moving from a city of 6M to a city of 700K just so the league can collect a relocation fee of $60M. I dont care how “niche” the sport was in Atlanta if the team cant make it there it has no shot in Winnipeg.
Consider that the ECHL Gwinnett Gladiators play in a COUNTY here that has 100K more people than ALL OF WINNIPEG.
HA!
There are at least 10 NHL teams on the verge of bankruptcy. There are zero ownership groups interested in buying an NHL team in an American market. The only viable North American market left is Toronto where people want a 2nd team because their current team sucks ass. Good luck NHL! We will see you again on the TV ratings list–just behind bull riding and female roller derby….but ahead of midget wrestling!
Todb
May 20th, 2011
2:16 pm
Dude I can assure you we do not pay 50 percent in income tax!