Down to one group currently negotiating to keep Thrashers in Atlanta
There is currently just one group in active negotiations with the Atlanta Spirit interested in purchasing the Thrashers and keeping the franchise in Atlanta.
The group, not from Atlanta, is working with team president Don Waddell. A deal is not imminent, according to Waddell.
“My job is to try to find a buyer who will keep the team in Atlanta,” Waddell told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “As long as they keep taking my phone calls, I’ll keep working.”
Earlier this month, Waddell was dealing with two prospective buyers, neither local, to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta.
Negotiations also continue between Atlanta Spirit officials and True North Sports and Entertainment on a deal to purchase the Thrashers and relocate to Winnipeg. Such a deal is also not imminent, however an agreement would likely need to be reached in the near future to accommodate relocation.
An exclusive negotiating agreement has not been signed allowing multiple on-going negotiations.
“As has been the case, I cannot comment on who we are talking to or the status of those discussions,” Atlanta Spirit co-owner Bruce Levenson said.
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324 comments Add your comment
Kevin M
May 19th, 2011
11:28 pm
So where will the Thrashers be after the Winnipeg crowd gives up on their team for a third time? Kansas City?
G52PlM228
May 19th, 2011
11:32 pm
3rd time ?
what century do you live in ?
Kevin M
May 19th, 2011
11:32 pm
Andrew, the Thrashers were on NBC in 2006. Unfortunantly, all the big teams up north have stars or money teams and take all the games for themselves. At least Fox and ABC had regional games, not a 1 game Sunday brunch every week like NBC
Kevin M
May 19th, 2011
11:33 pm
1995, 1996 and whenever the canadian policians sell them out again. Wasn’t like the mayor of Hamiltion was too eager to get the Coyotes in 2009, same in Winnipeg now…
Thrasher@Fan.com
May 19th, 2011
11:34 pm
The Flames left Atlanta as contenders. The thrashers are leaving because they suck and they are really really suck. Winnipeg is a sucker town and it deserves the sucker team. Go thrashers!
Kevin M
May 19th, 2011
11:35 pm
The NHLPA so would rather have a team in Hamilton or Toronto where it actually could make money, but alas,….
Kevin M
May 19th, 2011
11:38 pm
Columbus has been for sale for 3 years since their inaugural owner died. Maybe we could get the Jackets if the Thrashers leave??
StevenBrunt
May 19th, 2011
11:39 pm
The NHL wants southern Ontario for a big expansion paycheque, a few 100 million + money to the Leafs/some to sabres.
they are not gonna let a team relocate there for a few peanuts compared to expansion
Southernhockeyfan
May 19th, 2011
11:41 pm
I know this is out in left field. but since it looks like the Thrashers are a lost cause, what would be the chances this one ownership group bringing another troubled team to Atlanta? Just a question.
Kevin
May 19th, 2011
11:46 pm
Kevin M is really in denial isn’t he? (Just to ease your mind, my name really is Kevin) Thrahers are leaving dude, and when this is announced Tuesday I’ll come right back here looking to see if you’ve crawled away with your tail between your legs when I ask, who is the idiot now? I told you they were leaving, so stop drinking the Kool-Aid this columnist has been pouring down your throat and accept the fact you’ll be getting the hockey package next year, hockey is out of Atlanta for good now…deal with it.
Sonny F
May 20th, 2011
12:10 am
Versus reported at 10pm that the deal with Winnipeg will be finalized tomorrow and announced by Bettman in the afternoon. Another source said the deal was not completed but was imminent.
Jason
May 20th, 2011
12:17 am
That’s ok… in a few years when the NFL puts a team into Toronto, it will end the Canadian Football League. We’ll have our revenge. And in five years, a metro Toronto city will pull the Thrashers/Jets away from small market Winnipeg. This will also be around the time that the NHL finally discovers that being a Canadian league with a couple of teams in the States doesn’t get a tv contract even from little ol’ VS.
Don’t be surprised if in fifteen or twenty years if there is an American Hockey League that puts the NHL out of business. Being a league of small Canadian markets simply can’t last forever against the economic might of American metropolitan markets.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 20th, 2011
12:24 am
So this whole thing about a group to buy the Thrashers and keep them here was smoke and mirrors?
Old Time
May 20th, 2011
12:30 am
At the ‘tard who wrote @ Old Time, is your daddy one of the Spirit clowns? As I said with the NBA lockout and the moving of the Thrashers they don’t have 41 dates to fill next year they will have 82 and lose their naming rights. Have you been to Phillips lately ‘tard. It is a dump and needs serious renovation, I know your daddy doesn’t like to hear that but the truth hurts. Both leagues are finding out that they should not let the Spirit clowns join their respective clubs.
Flames
May 20th, 2011
1:29 am
Heart broken for a second time! My family will be destroyed over this. I will boycott anything that the ASG owns. I have become close with several of the players. I have spoken with several of them today and they said that they do not want the team to leave Atlanta. I just hope that this is a bad dream.
Smith reiterates interest in Thrashers, will speak to media “shortly” – Examiner.com | Watch News Daily
May 20th, 2011
1:33 am
[...] The AJC reported on Thursday that a non-local owner remains to purchase the team and keep them in Atlanta. Although, it’s unknown whether this is Smith’s group, while the Toronto Star’s Damien Cox reported that the deal to ship the team to Manitoba’s largest city may be bogged down why the parties argue about price. [...]
Anders Hedberg
May 20th, 2011
2:43 am
Jason,
Canadians currently own lots of what you think of as American and the rate of us buying you is accelerating. It’s not 1970 anymore. Things are changing – unfortunately for you. Your dollar is sinking, your unemployment rate is huge, your deficit is massive and your financial relevance on a worldwide scale is shrinking. Things are not getting better anytime soon. Economic might? Not anymore Jason – that was a long time ago.
Mat"T"
May 20th, 2011
4:33 am
So what your saying is our hope rest in DON WADDELL’S HANDS!!!! Zombies take me now.
Mat"T"
May 20th, 2011
4:38 am
Anders Hedberg-Thanks for the update on your fine country. How do you say it in French?
UhhhDouchebag Troll? Weren’t you a goalie for us a couple of years and couldn’t stop the biscuit from getting in the net if you were allowed to board up the opening? The U.S. will return even though The NHL will not, I don’t even need to say it for it is so. I guess the Canadian based NHL can’t afford to keep a team here even though all the U.S. based leagues can. Hmmmm.
G52PlM228
May 20th, 2011
9:29 am
Enter your comments here
SV
May 21st, 2011
3:17 am
Its the last hope in saving the thrashers, but i believe all fan should have closure with the team.
greatwhitenortherner
May 21st, 2011
8:25 pm
glovesave29, winnipeg had only 1 team. this is the 2nd time around for atlanta. a half empty rink does not support a hockey team. stop whineing you have basketball,baseball,and football. and as for bettman that idiot is pro american, if he could move all 6 nhl teams out of canada he would. why dont you have atlanta look into aquireing an AHL team the fan base in atlanta could support that brand of hockey. if canada with a population of less than 100 million can operate WHL,OHL,QMJHL,and MJ”A”HL im sure the U.S. could strike up at least2-3 leagues to help kids improve their game. that way the american kids dont have to move north of the border to play in the best hockey program in the world.
DisgustedFan
May 22nd, 2011
10:12 am
Hockeyfan, I agree with you. I haven’t been a Waddell basher, but now I believe Waddell’s earliest ‘achievement’ was selecting Patrik Stephan & his final ‘achievement’ was LYING to Thrashers Fans that he was still “Working……to try to find a buyer who will keep the team in Atlanta” when the deal was already done to send the Thrashers to Winnipeg. I hope I’m wrong.
xela54
May 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
man some of you thrasher fans are just plain sore. trashing another city is just plain childish. grow up people. i can understand the atlanta fans wanting to keep their team in atlanta. you have to fill the rink with at least 17,000 fans so the organization can show a profit.