Updated: Talks continue, fans still planning to attend Thrashers’ select-a-seat event
By Chris Vivlamore and Tim Tucker
It may be the 11th hour, but some Atlanta hockey fans are clinging to hope.
With the Atlanta Spirit ownership group deep into negotiations to sell the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment, which would move the franchise to Winnipeg, current and prospective season-ticket holders plan to attend a select-a-seat event here Saturday.
“Our select-a-seat event will take place as planned at Philips Arena,” Thrashers president Don Waddell said Friday.
Team officials and owners declined to comment on the negotiations with the Winnipeg group.
One person familiar with the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the fluid and sensitive situation, said no agreement had been reached as of Friday afternoon but that talks and progress continued. The person said complex issues were being hammered out and that it’s difficult to predict when a deal might be completed.
Talks also continued with a prospective buyer willing to keep the team in Atlanta, but indications were that the sale to the Winnipeg group could happen as early as next week.
The Canadian Press reported that Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz said Friday that although nothing is signed, sealed or delivered yet, there is an understanding the relocation “is going to happen” and it is just “a matter of time” before a deal is announced.
The Thrashers organization continues to operate. In fact, at least one new season ticket was sold Friday. The select-a-seat event will be run by ticket representatives with no team executives, coaches or players in attendance. The event will coincide with a gathering of Thrashers fans at the gulch area outside the arena.
For some, the seat event will be a chance to show support.
“We are going about it like business as usual in hopes there is still a season,” said Charlie Clarke. “It seems like the writing is on the wall, but you look at other situations like in Sacramento with the [NBA’s] Kings. The fan base thought it was over. and something happened to keep the team.
“There is no reason now not to go. I know it’s a bit of a tease, but I’m holding out that .001 percent chance.”
Others see it as an opportunity to walk down memory lane.
“I’ll be going to the event, but I’m treating it at it as if I’m going to a funeral,” said Brett Lang, who described himself as a season-ticket holder since Day One. “I will go sit in the seats that my friends, family, and I enjoyed for the 11 seasons, quietly reflect on the good times, and say farewell just like a funeral.”
For one Thrashers fan, the chances of losing the team were enough to make him change his plans to attend the season- ticket event. Darren Schuster had planned to attend as a show of support.
“When I think about how much I put into this team and how much I got back, it’s pathetic,” Schuster said. “You can’t blame the fans. When the team was spending money and winning, the fans showed up.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was informed of the fan gathering on his weekly call-in radio show, broadcast Thursday night on satellite radio and the Internet, by a Thrashers fan.
“It will be interesting to see how many people show up at the rally on Saturday,” Bettman said.
The caller also told Bettman that the Thrashers drew impressive crowds in their first five seasons and attributed recent attendance problems to ownership that has not put a competitive team on the ice.
“I understand that there may be dissatisfaction there, but demonstrating your dissatisfaction by not going to games is an interesting strategy,” Bettman said. “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.”
Bettman vigorously denied that a deal is done to move the Thrashers. “I can tell you that with certainty,” he said. But he did not rule out the possibility and telegraphed what likely will be the NHL’s position if relocation occurs: that no qualified buyer was willing to own and operate the team in Atlanta.
“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,’” Bettman 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.”
The Thrashers’ owners have been seeking a buyer or investors for two years, and have said since February that they face a “sense of urgency” to shed the team’s operating losses, one way or another. The owners have contended in court documents that the team has lost $130 million since 2005.
“The key to this may be, in the final analysis, whether or not somebody wants to own the team in Atlanta,” Bettman said. “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 … if we have to,” Bettman said.
Making a deal to sell, let alone relocate, a team is a complex process involving the buyer, the seller and the NHL, each represented by groups of lawyers and financial advisors.
Atlanta Spirit and True North would have to complete a purchase-and-sale agreement. True North and the NHL would have to complete an “undertaking” agreement, spelling out the buyer’s commitments to the league. The parties would have to agree on how much of the money paid by True North would go to the NHL, rather than to the Spirit, as a relocation fee.
It is believed True North would pay as much as $170 million for the team, with $60 million going to the NHL and $110 million to the Spirit.
Ultimately, the NHL Board of Governors, which consists of one representative from each team, would have to vote to ratify a sale and relocation. A 75-percent vote is required to approve a new owner, and a majority vote is required to approve a relocation.
Here’s an indication of the complexities involved: When the Atlanta Spirit bought the Hawks and Thrashers in 2004, each member of the then-new ownership group had to sign his name 372 times on documents that filled six binders, each about six inches thick.
*** Thanks to all the fans who responded to my request and those I talked to but couldn’t fit into the story. I appreciate your help and your passion.
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553 comments Add your comment
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
4:53 pm
Apparently I have upset some stupid little snow monkey enough to stalk/impersonate me here.. Silly silly little kids.. When Tuesday come and goes without event like the rest of your “deadlines” I will STILL be laughing at Darren Fraud’s stupid little snow money trolls, will you..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
4:55 pm
How is that “ticket drive” coming along..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
4:59 pm
I still don’t think for one second the Thrashers are moving anywhere, ESPECIALLY some tiny already failed cluster of igloos..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:01 pm
Always hiding behind some alias, or pretending to be someone else, such a disgruntled little child but what can you expect from a poor loserpegger..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:03 pm
That’s not my mom commenting above. She doesn’t know who my dad was, you liars.
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:04 pm
I would ask what has you so beat down and hating life, but you live in loserpeg, nuff said..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:05 pm
So basically what you are saying is other than begging the province for cash, nobody has heard from TNSE..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:08 pm
I’ll let you get back to your juvenile name calling and pretending to matter.. Finish living your miserable life, or not.. More suicides in loserpeg than anywhere in Canaduh maybe your fellow peggers are onto something..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:08 pm
I may be a flaming gay man but at least I don’t have to live in Loserpeg with you Snowmonkeys.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 22nd, 2011
5:11 pm
This is G52PIM228’s dad…I’m embarressed that he’s come on here and made a fool of himself, but you need to understand something…he has no friends, I routinely was called to school because he was picked on and hid in lockers for hours on end to avoid the bullies. As an adult, he has never had a girlfriend, he has lived in our basement for years, mom still does his laundry and cooks all his meals and packs his lunch for him when he goes off to work each nght as a janitor at the local library. We’ve tried everything to help him, shrinks, new clothes, introducing him to some gals we know, we even offered to pay for laser surgery so he could rid himself of those awful thick horn-rimmed glasses but he refused. He’s a lonely boy, he masturbates so much he’s got all his socks lined up in a row in his closet, we’re at wits end. So excuse him if he comes off a few cans short of a six pack, he knows not what he does. I’ll call him upstairs for his hot dog and mac and cheese and give you all a break for a bit. Meanwhile just ignore him he’ll eentually go away.
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:13 pm
The joke is in my pants.
Jimmy's Canadian Cousi
May 22nd, 2011
5:14 pm
Enter your comments here
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:15 pm
I’m sick and tired of you impersonators making me say stupid things that I don’t want to.
STOP IT.
Atlanta Flames
May 22nd, 2011
5:17 pm
Okay G52, your 15 minutes are long over. Get off this board. We’ve all had enough of you here.
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:23 pm
I just peed myself, and mommy isn’t home to change me.
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:41 pm
Snow monkey is two words, insane stalker guy..
Todb
May 22nd, 2011
5:46 pm
13000 fans in seats would be announced as 25,000 in Atlanta Phoenix or any of the money pits in the south! Once again where do these attendance figures come from?
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
5:51 pm
Loserpeg WILL NEVER get a NHL team. LOSERS. Although Atlanta doesn’t deserve the Thrashers either. Both Loser cities.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 22nd, 2011
5:52 pm
Once read this in the “New York Daily News” about an Islander game being played in Winnipeg. The writer started it as “the Islanders have a game tonight here in Winnipeg, a city that looks like by plane that’s in serious need of defrosting”.There was once a Czech or Slovak player and I don’t remember his name who was flying into Winnipeg for the first time to play a road game looked out the plane window and said to a fellow player “UGH!! reminds me of Moscow”. Winnipeg you see has always been made fun of and I didn’t make that stuff up it’s all very, very true.
Todb
May 22nd, 2011
6:15 pm
Heard someone compare Atlanta to Beirut only difference in Beirut you have sand negroes with ak47’s Atlanta you have negroes with Glocks
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
6:25 pm
http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/articles/2011/05/22/its_hard_to_see_winnipeg_as_a_winning_move/
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
6:27 pm
It seems odd the guy impersonating me has not been banned, this place seems to have much tolerance for my little stalker’s antics..
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 22nd, 2011
6:46 pm
@G52PIM228 Looks like Winnipeg is already being made fun of by Kevin Paul Dupont in Boston.com even before they have a team. It’s says a lot about the dread that Winnipeg brings out in the hockey media that have to travel to Winnipeg just once or a couple of times each year. Can you imagine what the players think about having to play and live in Winnipeg for 8 months.
Some honor left
May 22nd, 2011
6:54 pm
Guys – we still have not heard the final word from The Balkan. It is too early to say we are done. Another rally would make a point. Let’s get doing this thing.
Some honor left
May 22nd, 2011
7:00 pm
I see passion when I read this postings. There is Winnipeg = Poverty talking about traveling to Winnipeg. There is G5 – I don’t know what he is talking about but I can feel the passion in what he is trying to say. Come on – let’s come together and get this deal done.
Some honor left
May 22nd, 2011
7:01 pm
Let’s not just talk about another rally, let’s put the word out and do it – BIG TIME
Some honor left
May 22nd, 2011
7:06 pm
See – that is the kind of thinking outside of the box we need – is everybody in or are we all happy to be singing “Ohh Canada”?
OHL
May 22nd, 2011
7:21 pm
Winnipeg = Poverty, you asked “Can you imagine what the players think about having to play and live in Winnipeg for 8 months.” Are you even aware that 99% of the players in the NHL spent 12 months a year for the first 20 years of their life in a city with weather like Winnipeg? Do you know what it’s like in Minnesota, Buffalo, Boston or Calgary, Toronto, Montreal or even Finland, Sweden or Russia?
Are you even aware that your own General Manager lives in Buffalo year round?
You are only making yourself sound stupid when you make arguments like that. I’m really going to miss this board after Tuesday.
Blame Canada
May 22nd, 2011
7:36 pm
I can’t believe you bragged about a b list actress filming a movie in your little hellhole in the middle of nowhere. So sad! Haha
Surrender now you Frenchy’s!!!!
MrBill
May 22nd, 2011
7:48 pm
Mr Bill
May 22nd, 2011
7:38 pm
There maybe a little hope because True North is planning to due a test for season tickets, fans must prove they can purchase three years of season tickets so they can see if they can support an NHL team. After all they would need to see if they will recoup their investment. Fans in Winnipeg have been buying minor league tickets for a good while so if this test fails then the deal will fall apart we may have a chance after all and time is getting short each day to relocate a team.
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
8:11 pm
The NHL in Loserpeg is a big time LOSER, TNSE asks for a “ticket drive”, ticket drive fails and TNSE gets to blame the fans for the NHL not returning.. I guess Chimpman is smart after all..
Qwerty
May 22nd, 2011
8:23 pm
The board is pure entertainment! A few shout-outs:
Pegger: Great writing, beautiful prose. The bit about colder-than-cold and hockey games breaking out on a frozen pond is genius. Kudos from a former igloo dueler!
Blame Canada: Good work on the Winnipeg research. You’ve become a google and Wikipedia guru, although you’ve been selective about the things you publish. One question: Have you considered using those research skills to learn about the town you live in? Just askin’
G52: What can I say, man. Great to have you here. Like the cracks on a cement pavement, your posts provide a visible and precise separation between posts worth reading. Keep up the good work!
Ulf, Anders: What can I say? You guys were like music in motion on the ice! Thanks!
Poverty: I find you most intriguing of all the buffoons on the board. Sometimes there are glimmers that you actually understand the economics of professional sports, but very suddenly you go all deer-in-the-headlights. We can help. Actually, probably not.
Everyone, please keep typing. The Nucks won and it’s shaping into a great evening!
Jimmy
May 22nd, 2011
8:26 pm
Thunderbay, Wheres that piss hole located in Cananda ?
Wienerpeg Trolls
May 22nd, 2011
8:26 pm
“I’m really going to miss this board after Tuesday.”
Why wait until Tuesday? Bye….
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
8:28 pm
I’m curious, if loserpeg is such a “can’t miss money making market”, what happened to the Jets..
Getthepuckouttahere
May 22nd, 2011
8:29 pm
From today’s Toronto Sun…
“I’ve been told the Thrashers are still selling season tickets — with at least one being sold Friday,” Vivlamore wrote on his Twitter feed
WOW…one whole Season Ticket. Now that’s what I call support. If you get this guy and the reported 250 fans to show up to your next rally you’ll have 251 fans in all. Again, hockey isn’t supported enough to sustain a franchise, I don’t see what’s so hard to comprehend.
Jimmy
May 22nd, 2011
8:30 pm
Sorry , The whole Countrys a piss hole…O CANADA ..OUR HOME AND NATIVE PISS HOLE…
Getthepuckouttahere
May 22nd, 2011
8:33 pm
@ Jimmy … Cananda is spelled Canada. Thunder Bay (2 words) is in Ontario. Try Google maps!!!
Getthepuckouttahere
May 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
Jimmy is bitter because he’s never left Georgia, hell he doesn’t even know how to spell Canada, and he thinks Thunder bay is one word. Go back in the trailer.
Jimmy
May 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
Lightening Moving to Thunder bay..When the NHL moves there ..means the finally got the crabs..BYE NHL
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 22nd, 2011
9:19 pm
“WOW…one whole Season Ticket. Now that’s what I call support. If you get this guy and the reported 250 fans to show up to your next rally you’ll have 251 fans in all. Again, hockey isn’t supported enough to sustain a franchise, I don’t see what’s so hard to comprehend.”
I imagine alot of people who would buy season tickets are demoralized and thus they are holding onto their money out of fear the team is probably leaving.
Jimmy's Canadian Cousin
May 22nd, 2011
9:32 pm
Hey Jimbo,
Come visit in Canada. A few things to tell you though:
1. I got my tooth pulled and now I have implants. Most people up here have ALL of their teeth.
2. No dog fights here
3. You know when you watch TV and people speak, well, normally? That is how people speak up here.
4. Beer is actually beer not that watery crap we used to drink on the peanut farm with Grandma.
5. There is hockey. Lots and lots of hockey. Everybody plays it. They all understand the game. No blue glowing lights around the puck when the game is televised here!
6. No NASCAR – people up here actually laugh at Southern Rednecks for NASCAR.
Come on up and visit there Jimmy. There won’t be hockey for too much longer in the South. It’s just not working out down there.
Jimmy's Canadian Cousin
May 22nd, 2011
9:33 pm
PS Jimmy (this is a bit embarrassing) YOUR team is spelled “Lightning” as in electrical activity in the sky. Lightening would mean getting lighter. It’s okay Jimmy – the keyboard is tougher than the crayons that you are used to.
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
9:33 pm
If anyone’s gonna sleep with my sister it’s gonna be me.
Guffman
May 22nd, 2011
10:06 pm
“G52: What can I say, man. Great to have you here. Like the cracks on a cement pavement, your posts provide a visible and precise separation between posts worth reading. Keep up the good work!”
ROFL.
Some honor left
May 22nd, 2011
10:25 pm
So… when is the next rally? Is anybody here tight with the Balkan – having him at the rally will be key to our success
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
10:32 pm
Balkie BartakaMOOSE.. Coincidence, I don’t think so..
G52PIM228
May 22nd, 2011
11:22 pm
The ticket drive in gongdale is going well……I heard we are up to 500 so far!!!
I hope my mom can afford to buy me one.
TONY
May 23rd, 2011
2:05 am
Agreed. As a four year season ticket holder and a partial season ticket holder before that, there are no excuses folks. You NEVER went to the games and we sat for years with other teams out yelling our home team – embarrassing. ATLANTA caused this move, not the THRASHERS. You cannot have a franchise with 9,000 in attendance night after night. We were 2nd lowest in the league forever. The others had history and a cup, we never had a playoff win. HOWEVER, the THRASHERS threw the latter part of the season for sure. We know this. They were 2nd in the conference in NOV, 13th by April. Along the way, trading all their stars and signing BUFF only to lure Winnepeg. That’s the real story. 130,000,000 loss. Bad business no matter if COKE is right around the corner. No playoffs, no fans, no gimmicks, changing jerseys every 5 minutes (BLUELAND but red jerseys? smart) and bringing in 17 year old girls skating around in mini skirts to bring in more male fans – sort of demented and sick.
TONY
May 23rd, 2011
2:07 am
We had the Flames, the (IHL) Knights and the Thrashers – lost them all. WHY? Not a hockey town, in fact, not a sports town. Fans here are so metropolitan, they have no loyalty – and why should they? The Braves won once in how many years? The Hawks? The NHL will never offer us another franchise, and we don’t deserve one. Stop your pouting…you should have been cheering when the rest of us were there 41 games a year. The Thrashers had 5 coaches in 12 years? Wow, that is just terrible. Do the math, no support, no winning, no consistency – get the buses ready……they are moving out.