Updated: Talks continue with TNSE; no announcement Tuesday
Negotiations between the Atlanta Spirit and True North Sports and Entertainment continued over the weekend as a deal to purchase and relocate the Thrashers to Winnipeg moved closer.
As of Monday, lawyers for Atlanta Spirit, True North and the NHL were still exchanging drafts and deal terms but a deal was not finalized. Monday was Queen Victoria Day in Canada, a bank holiday, which prevented the completion of some details.
The deal could be finalized later this week. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the AJC Monday, via e-mail, that “it’s safe to say there will be no announcement on Tuesday.”
Also, the last remaining hope of a buyer willing to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta appeared to have ended. The final prospective buyer, in negotiations with the Atlanta Spirit, with such an intention is no longer interested in pursuing a sale. According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the potential buyer is “probably, but not completely” out of the picture.
True North is led by Winnipeg businessman Mark Chipman and billionaire David Thomson and owns Winnipeg’s arena, the MTS Centre, and the American Hockey League team that currently plays there, the Manitoba Moose. The group turned its attention to the Thrashers after a deal, with public money, was reached to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Arizona several weeks ago.
Key issues between the Atlanta Spirit and True North, such as price, are believed to be settled. The price is believed to be $170 million, with $110 million going to the seller and $60 million to the league as a relocation fee.
Many issues beyond price are part of such deals, such as financing and the commitments the buyer must make to the league going forward.
Even a signing of a definitive agreement would not be the final step in the process: The deal would have to be approved by the NHL Board of Governors before it could close.
Atlanta Spirit and True North opened negotiations in mid-May, shortly after the city of Glendale, Ariz., committed to cover up to $25 million in next season’s losses of the Coyotes, who otherwise would have likely moved to Winnipeg.
The Coyotes’ surprising one-year reprieve in Arizona made Winnipeg a relocation option for the Thrashers, whose owners had made it clear the franchise was in dire difficulty. The Thrashers’ owners had said they were unwilling to keep funding the team’s operating losses, pegged at around $20 million per year in court documents, and had been unable to find a qualified buyer to assume the losses in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Spirit has been looking for a buyer or investors for the Thrashers for several years, although the group has only had clear ownership since December after officially buying out partner Steve Belkin. Co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. told the AJC in February that there was a ‘sense of urgency’ to find a solution for the financially struggling franchise and that relocation was a possibility.
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.
Atlanta would lose its NHL franchise for a second time. The city lost the Flames to Calgary in 1980.
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303 comments Add your comment
OHL
May 23rd, 2011
11:08 pm
@AtlFan, I’ve played hockey and I know what the pre-game shootaround looks like. That’s not a game photo. Stick to the facts. Please don’t use smear campagins, there are those of us who can spot a fake.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 23rd, 2011
11:08 pm
lol that was a picture of WARM UPS, wow how retarded are you?
Getthepuckouttahere
May 23rd, 2011
11:09 pm
There are so many excuses offered by Thrasher fans they outweigh the attendance on any given night. And whoever it was that said the attendance was 13000 needs to get their head examined. There’s a huge difference between PAID attendance and those who actually walked through the turnstiles. If there was 13K every night you wouldn’t even be here talking about them relocating you dopes.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 23rd, 2011
11:10 pm
Btw…how many 13K nights did the Thrashers have in the last 4 years??? And I mean actually sitting in the seats.
ATLfan
May 23rd, 2011
11:14 pm
@Getthepuckouttahere: Zero… Happy now?
@AtlFan
May 23rd, 2011
11:16 pm
Your average ticket price is $48.51 and a sellout attendance is 18545 which equals $899617.95 a game in REVENUE. And note – REVENUE, not attendance is the only relevant figure.
The average ticket price in Calgary and Edmonton, comparable markets to Winnipeg are about $60 bucks a seat. So 15,000 seats at $60 a ticket is $900,000 a game. So its a wash – but that assumes that Thrashers sell out every game WHICH THEY DON’T. And excludes all the comp tickets and giveaways that aren’t computed in the average.
Currently, if you accept the BS that average Atlanta attendance is 13,469 a game ( impossible to believe when many games have had 6-7000, but lets take it at face value for now) that equals $653 381.19 a game, which, if the Jets sell 10890 seats on average which is a very conservative estimate, their revenue would equal the Thrashers. So its a no brainer to move the team to Winnipeg when sellouts in Atlanta, which will never happen, would equal revenue in Winnipeg with a smaller arena.
Quit quoting potential attendance. Its irrelevant. By your logic, a 100,000 seat hockey arena in Mexico City would be better than a 17,000 seat arena in Toronto, even if tickets were 3 bucks a piece in Mexico City. Wake up clowns, Jets will sell every seat in a week.
@AtlFan
May 23rd, 2011
11:20 pm
okay, how about this one?
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee50/kurtenblog/thrashers.jpg
@AtlFan
May 23rd, 2011
11:40 pm
go thrashers!!
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nhl_experts__41/ept_sports_nhl_experts-822917396-1254160049.jpg?ymxqo9BD41alGLzD
Cornbread
May 23rd, 2011
11:54 pm
Ol’ Denis Lemieux had it right about the Peg Trolls posting here: “Against the rules. You know, you’re stupid when you do that. Just some English pig with no brains, you know.”
Eddie
May 23rd, 2011
11:55 pm
It is a sad day when one city is used a sacrifical lamb to save another city’s team but that is exactly what is going on here.
@cornbread
May 23rd, 2011
11:59 pm
Ya, but Deni Lemieux also had the central point of the whole Movie “Who won de Chiefs?” Thrashers have clown owners worse than the indifferent owner of the Chiefs who was using them as a tax write-off. What other reason could there be for 9 clowns to get together to try and put a hockey team in Atlanta? They smelled windfall profits associated with a crazy network TV deal that never happened.
ATLThrasher
May 24th, 2011
12:07 am
Wow, that was a very insightful reply on my post. Such pleasant language. Just remember, as all decent debaters know, that when one side starts name-calling it usually means they are losing the argument.
Yes, it’s nice that Winnepeg may get a NHL team. And, yes, Atlanta is a tough place to run a hockey franchise which would make it all the more satisfying if some creative business group ever made it happen.
If the Peg fans want to start slinging mud like in the recent Cdn. Federal election where the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois got really nasty at the end cuz the Cons and Dippers went and totally creamed them then you will just come out of this with as much crebility as the now defunct “Natural Governing Party” and the QC Separtists.
Maybe, you should go get Duceppe and Parizeau to campaign for a team in Quebec and see how that works out . . .
sobaka
May 24th, 2011
12:27 am
Hey OHL fan: I live in Westerville and have followed hockey much longer than most central Ohioans. I would NOT crow about the support that Columbus has given the team, as many local media have pointed out the sea of empty seats is growing annually. The most popular player in Columbus history was Jody Shelly, and he is a talentless goon. I never hear the CBJ’s discussed at work by colleagues, so please don’t tell me how COWTOWN is the second coming of Hockey Town.
I genuinely empathize with the hockey fans in Atlanta, as there is no question that the franchise was run second-hand. Had Denver, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Tampa, Dallas, et al, had teams like the Thrashers, those cities would also be lamenting the loss of their hockey teams. Following the departure of the Rockies from Denver in 1982 and the North Stars from the Twin Cities in 1993, the media ripped those two markets as hockey deathbeds. They said the same about Tampa Bay just a few years ago. It is surprising how people cannot understand that a chronically poor product results in poor fan support. Having said that, it is even more surprising that there is no corporate entity in Atlanta willing to invest in the Thrashers, given the relatively low asking price as compared to the other professional sports. Pittsburgh, St. Louis, the Twin Cities, Nashville, and Tampa Bay only have teams because a local corporate power or wealthy individual took the risk to buy the team and give it a chance to succeed. You have to ask yourself why Atlanta always lacks such an entity, be it with the Flames or with the Thrashers.
For Canadians and northerners in the States who bash hockey in the south, keep this in mind: if the NHL dies throughout the Sunbelt, just how many teams could Canada and the Northeast absorb? It would seem to me that a lot of Canadians and northern US players would be out of work, and add to that the coaching, management, broadcast, and scouting staffs, and you are talking about a significant number of people. Now add to that the number of ice rink shut-downs, you would certainly lose more employment for some of your people. So what would you tell those unemployed people? That you played a big role in them losing their employment? Wonderful. Yes Flin Flon, Yellowknife, Moosejaw and Saskatoon would all draw very well in US markets, and would certainly more than compensate for the loss of Sunbelt teams. Until you realize that the NHL would look like the CFL, and we know what a economic success that is …
sobaka
May 24th, 2011
12:42 am
The problem with being a hockey fan in a non-traditional market is the realization early on that you won’t be concerned with the on-ice product very long, as it won’t take long for hockey-hating Americans and US-hockey hating Canadians poison the air, trying to sabotage the very sport that the league is supposedly trying to grow. It takes an extraordinary fan to endure that. One does not follow a team to see where it ranks in attendance statistically, its TV ratings, its cashflow problems, and to endure ceaseless rumors about the teams imminent demise. One supposedly follows sports because they provide us with an outlet from those very problems.
Until Atlanta finds a legitimate owner willing to endure losses over a few years, the team’s plight seems to be hopeless. With the incredibly bitter feelings over the treatment by the current ownership and the resentment caused by ignorant and callous individuals gloating over the demise of the NHL in Atlanta, the sport is much worse off than it was in 1971, before the Flames first came to Atlanta. At least in 1971, one could say that people in Atlanta were unknowledgeable of hockey. Now, the situation is such that that there are far more people turned off and livid with professional hockey than those who would support it. It is not unlike those who have recently gone through a divorce.
I implore someone, anyone, in the Atlanta corporate world to step forward and buy the Thrashers. You’ve made your hundreds of millions in Atlanta, how about giving back a little to the community in a time of need? There is no question that the team would be well supported were it run in an even average manner.
There is a lot of hurt and anger out there towards the political powers who stood by and did nothing to save this teams, and the same goes towards the hyper-wealthy who have ignored the plight of hockey fans in Atlanta. Ultimately, there will be accountability. The loss of the Thrashers from Atlanta will do much harm to your already less than ideal image of a major league city. I just wonder if anybody has the courage to step forward and do the right thing. Time will reveal all.
SouthernFriedHockey
May 24th, 2011
1:14 am
Sobaka:
Great posts, thanks for the support. While I live in Atlanta, and have for most of my life, I and many others know for a fact that there will be no coprorate saviour. We cant get the mayor, the sports council, or the governor to speak out either. See, Atlanta lost its soul in the early 80’s with the booming real estate market. We went from a town where people gave a d*** to one where cash was the only idol worshipped. The Olympics were the final nail in the coffin. It was and has been clear to see that the corporations here care only regarding profits, not supporting the community that helped them earn those profits.
We can say “what might have been” all we want, it still won’t change the outcome I am afraid.
JLH
May 24th, 2011
1:20 am
So, exactly WHAT did we achieve by boycotting the hockey product that ASG produced?
SouthernFriedHockey
May 24th, 2011
1:25 am
JLH:
Until I see an official count I wonder how many actually boycotted to be frank. Alot of people talked about it but I or anyone else would not know the answer to that.
Crazy Diamond
May 24th, 2011
1:50 am
Atlanta Spirit will screw up the deal. You just know it. We are so screwed.
James
May 24th, 2011
2:10 am
Listen, I live in Winnipeg, the people here are hockey fans for life. The Thrashers can’t even get enough support to survive in a heavily populated, heavily media integrated market. If it isn’t happening, changing your ownership will not mean increased profits. With continued losses a move is inevitable, and the people of Winnipeg have been mourning their losses for 15 years now. There is no point in keeping a dying team on life support for the benefit of no one.
It sucks to move, but Winnipeg deserves a team. We would cherish and love the Thrashers in Winnipeg without question. Just the idea of the Jets coming back has Facebook promising the arrival of almost 20,000 Winnipegers in full Jets gear to Portage and Main. The Thrash rallied 200 fans to their rally and they ALREADY HAVE A TEAM.
Winnipeg will have a team, and we will support our team to the end. The Jets didn’t leave because there wasn’t fan support, don’t forget that.
James
May 24th, 2011
2:23 am
@ sobaka
Canada and the North do not have to absorb teams there are many other American locations for team to relocate. But if we had to take on new teams Quebec and Ontario alone would be able to take new teams, at least 2 – 4.
“Yes Flin Flon, Yellowknife, Moosejaw and Saskatoon would all draw very well in US markets, ”
Lol I’ve been to Flin Flon and its no Atlanta, but Hockey does not need the Sun Belt, although its a nice addition it has been more of an experiment than anything. If Hockey needed to move North there is and never will be a shortage of hockey hungry markets.
Winnipeg deserves the Thrashers and we have the financial backing, I wish the best for the Falcons, Braves and all other Georgian sports. I know your a big fan of southern hockey and your rare and everything like that, but imagine an entire city that lives for the sport Atlanta wont give the time of day with several times the population of all Manitoba combined. Tens of thousands of Winnipegers would love to cheer on the new team, despite struggling and being a new team. 20 years from now fans will still be cheering on the new team.
If you really are a hockey fan, despite your surroundings you should know the Trash will be in a much better place. The players will be celebrities, free agent signings will be welcomed with overjoy.
The support here is unbelievable, we lost our team 15 years ago and I can feel for you but talk to me in 15 years, there will be few people who could reminisce over the glory of the Altanta thrashers.
soonahockeywidow
May 24th, 2011
2:31 am
To SouthernFried: there are thrasher fan posts saying they have boycotted…check the feeds..sorry sad but true!
To uninformed Thrasher fans:I have had time to read the feed as I look out my igloo window over our barren lifeless Tundra. There is really nothing else to do here in Manitoba,,,PLEASE!!!
It looks like your loss may be our gain it’s true…… but slam us really!!! Tasteless!
Check yourselves…200 proud to support the team…maybe the rally organizers should have sent out a load of free tickets!
The Balkan
May 24th, 2011
5:46 am
Getthepuckouttahere……………stop speaking the truth or you’ll be banned. As a STH for the last three years seldom did I see 13k in the seats.
Deport ASG
May 24th, 2011
7:16 am
@Atlanta Spirit will screw up the deal. You just know it. We are so screwed
True, but as far as last resorts go, the ASG might actually be on our side considering “striking a deal with them” is almost impossible because even the ASG hates itself, those androids can’t agree on anything. Sadly however in this case, I think the stupid Canadians are overpaying for an inferior hockey team so they can have it in an inferior market which in their delusional brains is somehow better than Atlanta. The only they have going for them is that it’s obviously easier to make ice there. We all know why the NHL is quick to accept. Money for their team and Buttman chose the lesser of two evils, No ASG = Winnipeg for a few seasons. I feel bad for our players who are forced to go there. For two years now players have used NTC in regards to Atlanta and Arizona so they ultimately wouldn’t end up in the Peg. Go ask Kovalchuk, that was a huge factor as to why he left and I don’t blame him at all. Ladd is being politically correct but my speculation is that is has something to do with him not re-signing as well, it was a “done deal” that magically never got done. Ladd was one of our best players, Winnipeg. Stop using Byfuglien as a pylon to place in your city as well, he signed that deal because he got PAID, your love for Bryan Little will fade when you see how soft he is and his scoring droughts will be amplified by an actual media unlike the one here. (Not throwing Little under the bus, Winnipeg adores his comments made on twitter..even though the real Bryan Little does not have an account).
Deport Kincade
May 24th, 2011
7:29 am
Man.. Kincade’s really grasping for straws with his ‘all 3 entities are available again’ gobbledygook. The Balkan has done nothing but grab some attention..this “guy” is the same as Rollins..just some parasite that for whatever reason wants people to think he has money. Money he has unsuccessfully spent on sports franchises in which he never gets past the opening stage of negotiations with. It was a nice glimmer of hope for a moment there the AJC seemingly enjoyed shooting down. Kincade is correct in pointing out the media has never cared until now, I’ve been saying that for years, again..none of this should be breaking news, a collapse happening overnight, etc etc. Bradley, Schultz and Vivlapeg are all writing about the Thrashers… that’s NEVER happened, we have NEVER had this many Thrasher articles, we are lucky if we get news on lineup changes before a game.
Matt from MN
May 24th, 2011
7:46 am
This from the broadcast voice of the Thrashers…”You build a foundation of fans generation to generation. Neither young Flames fans nor (likely) Thrashers fans will have had that chance.”
THAT is hitting the nail on the head.
Steve-o
May 24th, 2011
8:10 am
From Soboka: “Having said that, it is even more surprising that there is no corporate entity in Atlanta willing to invest in the Thrashers, given the relatively low asking price as compared to the other professional sports.”
“There is a lot of hurt and anger out there towards the political powers who stood by and did nothing to save this teams…”
———————————————–
Chris,
Re: above: Why has there been no coverage (that I’ve seen) in the AJC taking city hall to task for its complete slience as owners from Canada are about to relocate the team, which would be yet another blow to the local economy?
You’d think the city and state could offer incentives for a new local ownership gorup – comprised of the ultra wealthy businesses the poster notes above — to buy the team and keep the Thrashers and all the jobs associated with the team in Atlanta. The silence from city hall and regiional leaders has been deafening.
j nes
May 24th, 2011
8:48 am
I know it is almost over, but I want to entertain myself with the thought that the Thrashers will be saved by an owner that chooses to screw the ASG by keeping the team in Atlanta but playing at Gwinnett Arena. ASG is certainly incompetent enough to let that happen.
Chauncey DeBrickashaw
May 24th, 2011
8:58 am
“The “front page” of most newspapers would not put sports on there unless it’s a world series or championship of some kind. Again..a lot more things happen in day to day life in Atlanta as opposed to Winnipeg where you people apparently have absolutely nothing to do but try to stay warm and dream of Teemu Selanne.”
See my name, does it sound like I am Canadian? Keep crying because you are the only one in the ATL who cares about hockey!
Atlanta Flames Fan
May 24th, 2011
9:05 am
Boycott; just semantics. People refused to throw away good money towards ASG. From day 1, ASG’s intent was to “discard” the Thrashers.
ASG is the culprit, and Bettman the accomplice. The fans were scruwed no matter what they did.
TrueFan
May 24th, 2011
9:17 am
Ok yall minor league thrives here because it costs far less than those out of our solar system priced nhl tix! I am sorry to the ASG yall still suck but did yall ever try lowering ticket prices? Seems like every year no matter how bad they were thrashers tix went through the roff price wise! I wouod raher pay 20 bucks at the Gladiators games and be able to see than pay 30 and sit in the nose bleeds
soonahockeywidow
May 24th, 2011
9:44 am
Chauncey: If you don’t care about NHLwhy you so bitter about us sad Wpg folks getting the team you said it yourself …..all we have here is trying to stay warm and dreams of Teemu. life in ATL has gotta be pretty slack if you take the time to post (and re-post) about a sport/league you care NOTHING about
thrasherdawg
May 24th, 2011
10:09 am
APB
CAN ANYBODY FIND DAVIID MCDAVID ?
Surviving predictions of impeding doom | Atlanta Thrashers: Ice Man
May 24th, 2011
11:00 am
[...] then just yesterday NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the AJC that “it’s safe to say there will be no announcement on [...]
glovesave29
May 24th, 2011
11:10 am
“Your average ticket price is $48.51 and a sellout attendance is 18545 which equals $899617.95 a game in REVENUE. And note – REVENUE, not attendance is the only relevant figure.”
ERRRRRRR! Wrong. Someone please explain to this person the difference between MEDIAN and AVERAGE.
DD
May 24th, 2011
11:15 am
did any of the buyers who are interested ever get to meet with these two so called owners of the thrashers or did they just pass them by. Also is there someone out there that wants all three and could stop this deal with the canadians?????
OHL
May 24th, 2011
11:23 am
sobaka,
Your scientific analysis of “I never hear the CBJ’s discussed at work by colleagues” is not as scientific as Nielsen ratings. The Blue Jackets do very well in tv ratings. Also, before the Thrashers were even owned by ASG, they were owned by Turner Broadcasting, the exact type of big corporate entity HQ’d in Atlanta that everyone is calling for to buy the team now. But no one supported the team when Turner Broadcasting owned it. Their last 2 years when Turner Broadcasting owned the team Atlanta was posting back-to-back years of #28 out of 30 in NHL attendance. Meanwhile Columbus at the same time had their 3rd year in a row of being in the top 12 in NHL attendance with less talent on the ice and a population much much smaller than Atlanta.
So it goes to show that Atlanta won’t support a team if Coke or Delta comes in because they didn’t support it when Turner Broadcasting owned it. Columbus on the other hand has shown great interest in hockey and we know that by the number of years they ranked in the upper half of the league attendance figures and the tv ratings that the Columbus tv market gets.
Dwayne
May 24th, 2011
11:28 am
Atlanta Spirit Ass Clowns bio will read: Most influential person, John Gacy.
Dwayne
May 24th, 2011
11:29 am
Where is the Thrasher Fan Club???
sisu
May 24th, 2011
11:30 am
Sad days when hockey fans attack each other. Winnipeg can say they deserve a team and that maybe true. But why would they take one from another city? Anyone in Winnipeg know how much seats on the glass are for the Moose? For the Thrashers here they were $225 per game.
One can hope that this “salary cap” vision everyone talks about saving hockey will start to work anyday now. The salary cap protects NY rangers from over spending (oops, no it didn’t, they bury players in the minors) and forces teams like Atlanta to spend some money, otherwise there would have been 23 players making the minimum here each season.
If this team moves then I hope that the people of Winnipeg will support it with consecutive sellouts better than Colorado did (when their streak broke)
@glove save
May 24th, 2011
11:43 am
I understand the difference between median and average. 48.51 is the average. If you do know the median, let me know, though not sure what it would prove either way. Median isn’t relevant here.
Warren
May 24th, 2011
11:52 am
As a former Manitoban I am excited to hear Winnipeg will probably be getting a team again, but also want to say to the true hockey fans in Atlanta I am sorry you have to go through losing a team, and it’s too bad some Canadian hockey fans have been posting on AJCs site about how you “deserve” to lose the Thrashers. Perhaps they forget what it was like when the Jets and the Nordiques headed south at no fault of the fans in Winnipeg or Quebec City. Thrashers fans deserve credit for supporting a pretty bad ownership group that is showing it’s true colors now. No real passion for the sport or building a winner, just for making a dollat.
I remember being a Flames fan in Canada and the excitement of the team moving to Calgary the same year I moved to Alberta, but also being excited for Atlanta to get another team a few years ago to replace the Flames. Sadly I think this is probably the last chance for the city for a long time to enjoy NHL hockey.
Davis T
May 24th, 2011
11:56 am
The Thrashers are moving. I believe if the ownership groups from BOTH sides are debating, then it’s obvious that there is going to be a relocating process. Now, many people are saying that the Board of Governors, basically one “delegate” from each team, has to approve this deal, with a 75% vote approving the governor. It’s pretty obvious that the owner will be approved with a 90% or higher rating if not unanimously. I mean, the guy’s a BILLIONAIRE, I believe according to a live talk show, the guy who’s buying them is the 17th richest man in the world. David Thompson leads True North along with Mark Chipman who also wanted to buy the Coyotes a few weeks ago. Also, a majority is required to allow the team relocate, which all of us have no idea of who decides. Unless the Thrashers find some one who’s willing to buy them, there’s no hope with the ASG. Probably the worst owners of any sports franchise. Welcome to Winnipeg.
Andrew51
May 24th, 2011
12:31 pm
@ATLThrasher
……………Sure.
Andrew51
May 24th, 2011
12:32 pm
Gary Bettman owns shares in Mighty Putty.
schmeckdawg
May 24th, 2011
1:05 pm
You gotta love this. All of this pi$$ing and moaning about saving the Thrashers and 200 people show up at the rally. That tells you pretty much everything you need to know!
Loud Fart
May 24th, 2011
1:12 pm
I can say this..I’ll be there when it fails in Winnipeg, again. According to the NHL – Winnipeg is not economically viable for an NHL franchise (1996). Since then they’ve built a new traffic light, so yes, it will work this time.
@Chauncey, I don’t care what you are, just another arrogant piss ant sized vulture circling the carcass. Crying? That shows you are merely flocking to this turd like a fly, I’ve complained more than anyone for YEARS about how this team was ran into the sludge, I wanted these fraudulent owners out, sadly if this is the only way the owners leave, good riddance. That will be my joy in never supporting anything that has to do with them or having to speak over the head of “fans” like you and your jelly brain wit that got stale as soon as you trolls showed up.
Loud Fart
May 24th, 2011
1:13 pm
200 people huh? I guess the Canadian media and math would have reported that a month before the rally even took place. Still getting tweets from Bryan Little?
James
May 24th, 2011
1:30 pm
@ Loud Fart
The NHL left Winnipeg due to the salaries exploding, the canadian dollar being too low and the rink being too old. I hope you realize that the MTS centre is brand new, the dollar is stronger than the American greenback and there is now a salary cap. Fan support has always been there despite the team struggling.
Read a book troll.
Warren
May 24th, 2011
2:00 pm
In an attempt to be a voice of reason (as I am excited for Winnipeg, but do feel bad for Atlanta AGAIN losing a team) it will succeed in Winnipeg, and for proof of that a person just has to look at Edmonton. Very comparable cities. Edmonton with an older rink which has the smallest seating capacity in the league, ownership with less financial backing than True North, but a fan base as loyal as the Winnipeg one will be.
It’s just too bad the Atlanta ownership group couldn’t have looked at what has been done in places like San Jose. That is a great example of a traditional non-hockey market, but a loyal fanbase built up by years of solid teams and treating fans fairly. Atlanta’s fans, like those of the NY Islanders and the Florida Panthers aren’t stupid. They know a BS effort to build a winner when they see one. You can say spend your money and get out and support the team, but how long can you realistically do that before you feel taken for a fool? As for 200-400-600 people showing up for a rally….what do people expect. It’s a foregone conclusion. Why show up and look even more foolish?
D-Bird
May 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
I’m ashamed.
I’m ashamed first and foremost of Don Waddell for being the WORST sports executive in the history of sports. I’m ashamed that the ASG allowed a team with so much potential, to go by the wayside. I’m ashamed that the local business leaders did not step up with more financial support. I’m ashamed of Arthur Blank for trying to land an MLS team in Atlanta, when he could have helped save our Thrashers. I’m ashamed that the local hockey rinks/leagues (I belong to the AAHL) didn’t do a better job of promoting the NHL. I’m ashamed that the local politicians didn’t step up and voice their opinions. I’m ashamed that the NHL is trying to fast-track the sell/relocation of the Thrashers. I’m ashamed that I always said “I’ll get season tickets next year”.
However, last but not least; I’m ashamed that I am a devoted subscriber to the AJC. You did a piss-poor job of not only covering the Thrashers over the years, but at reporting the dyer situation of the potential loss of our team. We all know sports reporters don’t win Pulitzer Prizes for their work, but you set the “reporting” bar so low that it’s no wonder that our community at-large was in the dark about hockey. Atlanta isn’t a “hockey town”, and it never will be with the type of (ASG) promotions and (AJC) coverage that were bestowed upon the Thrashers. The AJC dedicates much of their time to investigating “real” issues, like School Boards, Tax & Millage Rates and Mortgage Scams, however they elect NOT to investigate the financial impact that losing a sports franchise will have on our city. AJC – you failed!
R.I.P. Thrash!