Mason: Ownership not 100 percent behind Thrashers
Chris Mason feels for Thrashers fans. The goaltender – and the rest his teammates – are in the same place.
Limbo.
While the Atlanta Spirit and True North Sports and Entertainment continued negotiations Tuesday on a deal that would sell and relocate the Thrashers to Winnipeg, Manitoba, fans and players wait for official word about the team’s future.
“Everybody is feeling different things,” Mason told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday. “Everybody is in limbo. I keep getting phone calls [about various news reports]. It’s unnerving. You don’t know what’s going on and you can only wait and see how it all plays out. … You’ve got guys sitting here not know what is going on.
“The people getting shafted are the fans. No matter how much they want to keep the team, they don’t have a say in it.”
Mason said despite lagging attendance, he felt support from Thrashers fans.
“I definitely felt the support,” Mason said. “At games and especially when we were out talking to fans at events. You know there are die-hard hockey fans in Atlanta. It’s hard to maintain the interest when you don’t have success, especially from the casual fan. … One trip to the playoffs is not enough. If you win more people will come. In my opinion, that has a lot to do with the numbers.”
Mason, a Red Deer, Alberta native, said he would like to experience playing in a Canadian market, but not at the expense of Atlanta.
Mason said he did not feel Thrashers ownership was 100 percent behind the franchise. He cites how the team responded at the trade deadline as it made a push for the playoffs.
“I don’t think we were given a legitimate chance,” Mason said. “We made a couple of good moves for [Radek Dvorak] and [Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart] at the deadline. But it wasn’t enough. We were such a young team. It’s hard to make the playoffs. We believed we could win but sometimes you need someone who can score an extra goal or two or help on the power play. Our management was hampered by budget. It’s still hard to make the playoffs even if you have the money to spend. When you don’t have it, it’s even harder. You see it every year. Good teams don’t make the playoffs. A couple of more pieces and we could have been in.”
Talks between The Atlanta Spirit and True North continued Tuesday but no deal was reached. Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz told the National Post he expects news soon. “We certainly do believe it’s going to happen very shortly within the next couple of days,” Katz said. “We certainly do believe that.”
The two sides opened negotiations this month after Glendale, Ariz., made a commitment to cover up to $25 million in next season’s losses of the Coyotes, who otherwise likely would have moved to Winnipeg. The Atlanta Spirit has been looking for a buyer or investors for the Thrashers for several years. Co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said in February that there was a sense of urgency to find a solution for the struggling franchise and that relocation was a possibility.
Meanwhile, Thrashers officials continued business as usual Tuesday with scouting meetings held.
Reed: ‘We will get through it’
Mayor Kasim Reed said Tuesday while it will hurt to lose the Thrashers, the city of Atlanta will move on.
Speaking to reporters, Reed said: “I think any time we lose a major sports franchise it is tough. It’s going to hurt the city, but we are going to withstand it just fine. We will get through it. We have a lot of positive things going on in the sports franchise space that I think we will be announcing pretty soon that will offset it a bit.”
Reed said he has tried to help the team find new ownership willing to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. He has previously stated there would be no public money used in such an effort.
“The Thrashers, as you know, are in an extraordinary position because of the amount of losses that are associated with the team,” Reed said. “So we have not yet seen a path where we can reverse those losses fast enough. If you talk to the Atlanta Spirit ownership, they will share the same thing. It’s not a lack of the city being willing to step up and do something about it. It is a partner with deep enough pockets to be willing to sustain pretty significant losses. We have not yet had any of the individuals in our community who are prepared to take that on. But it has not been for lack of trying, believe you me.”
A plea: Please folks, let’s keep the commenting above board. I have deleted and banned posters for racist and anti-semitic remarks on other blogs. I will do it again to those posters who step over the line. I understand the passion for this issue, but I know you are capable of carrying on civil discussions. Thank you.
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174 comments Add your comment
PureEvil
May 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
I wonder what the economic impact of losing the Thrashers will be to the city of Atlanta.
The Thrashers played 41 home games. So that means there’s 41 new dates open at Philips Arena for some kick a$% concerts.
Thrashers27
May 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
…oh yeah. Soccer sucks.
Just saying
May 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
We are “allowed” to say that we feel if this were the Hawks instead of the Thrashers, Mayor Reed may feel differently. That is not racism C-Viv.
DAVID
May 24th, 2011
2:45 pm
GUYS,,THAT POST WAS A TAD HARSH…so i will step back…but you have to understand there are no local buyers….no one is willing ot take that chance,,and for those of you whoare as passionate as i am about hockey i feel for you!!!!..but there are not enough of you..
PureEvil
May 24th, 2011
2:54 pm
If the city isn’t willing to help the Falcons build a new stadium why does anyone think they would help the Thrashers stay? Most people in Atlanta don’t care about Hockey. The people in Atlanta would be pissed off if the city helped the team financially.
don
May 24th, 2011
2:56 pm
owers were not going spen money to get a winner coaches or players,might not make money.over paided joe johnson.
Chris
May 24th, 2011
2:59 pm
If this were the hawks this clown would break his back to help out. I will go out of state to attend concerts and such. The city of Atlanta does not want my money unless I give it on the corner to the drunk “homeless person”. FU Mayor and ASG.
glovesave29
May 24th, 2011
3:03 pm
Hey T27 – don’t hate on soccer. One of the problems in sports today is that kids don’t play all of the different sports. I can’t tell you how much playing baseball, football and soccer helped me with my hockey. I think there’d be fewer injuries if people would play other sports that exercise other muscle groups.
Dave
May 24th, 2011
3:05 pm
The KSU stadium can be expand to the regulation attendance for a MLS stadium. For the person who said Ted should buy the team back, he lost most of his money on the AOL crash. He has stated many time if had enough money, he would 1st buy CNN back.
For some reason the Hawks have a major buy out of they break the contract with Phillips Arena. Why was the same type of buy out set up for the Thrashers?
Angela: Chris Mason Fan
May 24th, 2011
3:10 pm
Couldn’t the Thrashers play at the Georgia Dome, as the Hawks did for a couple years while Philips was being constructed, so that the new LOCAL ownership wouldn’t have to deal with Atlanta Spirit?
Puck Like A Porn Star
May 24th, 2011
3:11 pm
Expanding KSU Stadium is already in the works for their football team, now that I think of it, so that sounds like a winner. I hope they can accommodate the parking needs though. That’s the only sports venue outside of downtown that I’m willing to drive so far to (major league sports are worth the trip).
Puck Like A Porn Star
May 24th, 2011
3:13 pm
The Georgia Dome would cost *way* more to cool for a hockey game, but soccer could work there short term…
ATLhockeyBlues
May 24th, 2011
3:17 pm
“Reed said he has tried to help the team find new ownership willing to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. ”
Exactly what did he do? What did any of them do? I really would like specifics. What companies did they solicit? What press releases did they issue? http://www.keepthethrashers.com//videokeepthrashersreally.html
Red Light
May 24th, 2011
3:18 pm
If Carter’s group did offer $350 million for the mess the ASG created, then the white coats will be after them all soon.
Buck Fettman
May 24th, 2011
3:19 pm
Mayor is just showing his true colors.
ATLhockeyBlues
May 24th, 2011
3:19 pm
In addition, that’s 44 nights that parking attendants won’t make money. That’s 44 more nights that downtown will be a ghost town. That’s 44 more nights that MARTA will have no riders. That’s 44 more nights that cab drivers will have no fares. That’s 44 more night’s where Omni International businesses will lose even more money. Will we really get past this? Will really move? Some will, but more than many won’t
Joyaman
May 24th, 2011
3:25 pm
Let’s see. Bettman and the NHL owners spend several years and some of their own money attempting to save hockey in the desert, then Bettman takes about 15 minutes to declare the Thrashers situation hopeless and has the nerve to imply that it’s all about us fans not buying the snake oil that ASG pitchman Waddell has been trotting out for a decade.
Atlanta has more than enough true NHL fans that are willing to support ownership that’s honestly trying to field a contending club (see Arthur Blank and Ted Turner). The problem is that ASG was feeding everyone BS for years while secretly trying to sell off a team they never wanted to own, and to which they didn’t even hold clear title until last December. Those of us who actually understood what was really going on and weren’t willing to enable ASG’s sham are now being punished for being knowledgable and rational. This crap makes the whole Glenn Ford rumour that circulated just before the Flames left for Calgary seem legitimate by comparison.
Meanwhile back at City Hall, Mayor Reed seems to think that the only difference between hockey and soccer is skates and boots. It pisses me off to no end that the fate of NHL hockey in this town is being determined such an assortment of clowns and imbacilles, none of whom could tell you who Maurice Richard was or explain what icing is – unless it’s on a cake.
two faced Chris
May 24th, 2011
3:26 pm
Hey Chris Mason. Funny you were drooling about the chance to go to Winnipeg and play in the frozen tundra when you were on several Canadian radio shows. Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth. YOU TOLD THEM YOU HATED THE SILENCE and it wasn’t fun down here. Go play with your Star Wars action figures.
NHLFan
May 24th, 2011
3:27 pm
I think that the issue is an interesting contrast to the situation in Phoenix. Atlanta has the advantage of a basketball team that plays and draws fans so there is no black eye to the NHL for abandoning the team in Atlanta. Unfortunate, but also transparently bad management by the league. I can not believe there is a relocation fee as part of the sale (does this sound like a way to finance the losses in the desert?).
And why not Portland or Seattle? Why go back to a place that has failed before (sorry Atlanta).
EA
May 24th, 2011
3:34 pm
I was pretty upset with Chris Mason for his comments to the Canadien media. However, I will give him credit for perhaps thinking about the siutaion for a while and realizing what an injustice he was doing to the Atlanta fans.
Barry
May 24th, 2011
3:37 pm
Wow not only has ASG and Gary Bettman given up on us, but the Mayor of Atlanta has as well. And people wonder why hockey doesn’t seem to work down here…because the people at the top don’t give a crap!!!
Random Thoughts
May 24th, 2011
3:49 pm
The ASG has the ability to screw things so if the deals falls through don’t be surprised.
Nice job with mason….it’s refreshing to hear some honesty and don’t think for a minute that players don’t understand how ASG are the most unorganized and greedy owners, perhaps of all time.
Long live the thrashers in atl
PureEvil
May 24th, 2011
4:06 pm
And people wonder why hockey doesn’t seem to work down here
It’s hard to argue with the fact that now 2 NHL franchises have left Atlanta. It’s very doubtful we ever get another.
jimcee
May 24th, 2011
4:07 pm
Incredibly weak commentary from the mayor of such a major city.However,to fans in other cities that are thinking about cutting their nose to spite their face this serves as a sad lesson.As poor as ownership has performed you are either a fan or you aren’t.What if the Thrashers had made the playoffs and were on a Cup run? I have a feeling most fans would forget about the owners and get behind the team.Still can’t believe no one stepped forward locally to save this team…makes Atlanta look pretty bad next to Nashville,Tampa,Buffalo,Pittsburgh,Florida (Miami) and Dallas.And to people who say it’s a college football town…yeah so what? 99.9% of all NCAA football players won’t make the NFL or CFL…they are not good enough! You have the BEST professional hockey players in the world playing in and visiting Atlanta playing to rows of empty seats,disgruntled fans and all the mayor can say is it’s too bad…unbelievable.
PureEvil
May 24th, 2011
4:13 pm
If this was any other team in Atlanta this blog would be 50 pages long by now. Hell the Braves blog regularly goes 20 pages just for 1 game.
EA
May 24th, 2011
4:16 pm
PureEvil-we have had several pages on 4 different blogs for weeks.
PureEvil
May 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
EA- All I’m saying is the Thrashers moving doesn’t generate near as much fan fare as it would if any other team in Atlanta was moving. It’s barely even front page of the sports section material. Which is unfortunate but true.
R. Stroz
May 24th, 2011
4:29 pm
Kasim Reed is too ignorant to “understand” how those losses are “created” by the ASG. BTW, Mr. Reed, according to the ASG, the Hawks are “losing” money as well.
The mayor cites the ASG as a source to validate his point. What a useless tool!
Hopefully, the city of Atlanta can “withstand” the impending boycotts and backlash by vendors left “out in the cold’ by his abject poverty in the intelligence department.
PureEvil
May 24th, 2011
4:30 pm
Gwinnett county is nearly broke.
Dana Blankenhorn
May 24th, 2011
4:32 pm
I’m not interested in having my tax money go to a bunch of billionaires. Period. If Gwinnett County is so hot-up for hockey, why haven’t I heard word one from their county commissioners about paying the $25 m and putting the Thrashers in the Gwinnett Arena for a year, pending a sale to a suburban consortium?
It’s because suburban taxpayers aren’t chumps, either.
David F
May 24th, 2011
4:54 pm
As excited as we in Winnipeg are to be getting the Thrashers, everyone i know take no happiness of this being at your expense. Business can suck sometimes and we have been on this road before, so we know well how this feels for the Thrasher fans. For the record, we will embrace this team with open arms, sell out every game, and remember where this team came from.
MikeJ
May 24th, 2011
4:58 pm
What’s helping seal the deal (imho) is that this is all private money willing to pay for the Thrashers to move to Winnipeg. No government handouts required. Remember the CA$ and US$ are around par now and the Canadian economy said, basically, “what recession?”. No foreclosures, low unemployment.. WIll be good for a few years anyhow.
EA
May 24th, 2011
5:01 pm
David, if you all are still selling out after 11 years with no playoff wins, then your city really does want to go to hockey games above all else. Thanks for the kind words. We appreciate the Canadien fans that do understand this is a loss for us.
Athrasherfan13
May 24th, 2011
5:12 pm
Everybody and their brother has had something to say or offered viewpoints and potential solutions about the sale of the Thrashers. Hell, John Kincade kept up his farce for well over three months….as misplaced as it was he at least did something. Neither Kasim Reed nor any of his administration have done anything to keep this franchise in Atlanta. It is my guess that the ASG has pledged a number of season seats to the less-than- honorable Mayor in exchange for his NOT rocking the boat with regard to the Thrashers. Mayor Reed, stop blowing smoke up everyone rear end…..personally I’ve had enough.
AGTFan
May 24th, 2011
5:25 pm
Boycott the NHL. Boycott anyone who sponsors the NHL. Put the blame where the blame belongs. ASG and the NHL.
charliedawg
May 24th, 2011
5:34 pm
Thanks for the sentiment David F. ASG buying the Hawks/Thrashers was a case of nepotism anyway when Time Warner sold them, Ted’s son-in-law basically came in at the last minute and stole the purchase from David McDavid. Anyone remember him? Sued Time Warner and won, maybe things would have been much better Ted hadn’t been a softie with his daughter’s husband……..
FrustratedThrasherFan
May 24th, 2011
5:48 pm
Thanks Chris and Thor,
The real losers in this will be the wives and children of the players who have established roots here in ATL, especially the children. The average temperature year round in Winnipeg is 35F. It is the windiest Canadian city (which goes nicely with the temp) AND it the Homicide capitol of Canada.
Unfortunately, I think the deal is done but I will cheer for you Thrasher players on the team right now wherever you go; will try to get to Nashville and Tampa to see you. I think we ended the season with a great team, great coaches, and a great GM in Rick Dudley. We would have made it to the playoffs next year. This is a true tragedy for all us who care about the Thrashers.
G52PlM228
May 24th, 2011
5:49 pm
What did I say
R. Stroz
May 24th, 2011
6:06 pm
Add Kasim Reed to the list of individuals who have inhaled the ASG’s appendage of procreation.
jw
May 24th, 2011
6:13 pm
just wish the commissioner of the NHL would come out and say it’s a planned deal with behind the scenes negotiating from the NHL instead of telling everyone (straight faced, too!) that it’s an attendance and fan issue. When your players discuss the ineptitude of management, how can you stand in front of America and make this a fan issue? We know the time is near – just be honest about what the NHL is doing to keep a promise to Winnipeg.
soonahockeywidow
May 24th, 2011
6:18 pm
Frustrated thrasher fan: FYI 39 murders in Winnipeg 2006…Atlanta 110 in 2006
we promise not to let your thrasher wives and children get murdered….as for the temp we have about 70 temperature range from our coldest temps in winter to warmest temps in summer
soonahockeywidow
May 24th, 2011
6:19 pm
that’s a 70 degree temp range
FrustratedThrasherFan
May 24th, 2011
6:51 pm
soonahockeywidow: By your name apparently you are not a Hockey fan. Yuh, 70 degree temp swing from below zero up to 60 maybe. Don’t forget to factor in your windchill to drive that below zero temp even lower. I’m sure the Thrasher wives and children are relieved that you’ll protect them. Say what you will you’ll find out soon enough just how unhappy the Thrasher players are about being ‘forced’ to move to Winnipeg.
EA
May 24th, 2011
6:52 pm
I am waiting for Bryan Little to clarify his remarks–while he did say Atlanta has some die hard fans–he then said, “maybe it is for the best, they have a hard time selling tickets there”–. What a slap in the face to Thrasher fans.
audit needed
May 24th, 2011
7:00 pm
Why does everyone keep taking the ASG at their word about these supposed “losses”? Have they shown anyone proof?
kickback
May 24th, 2011
7:06 pm
Hey Reed,
Stop kissing ASG butt just so you can get free Hawks tickets. Thanks.
EA
May 24th, 2011
7:29 pm
Mayor Reed’s comments have been picked up by all of the Canadien newspapers. How embarassing.
colga87
May 24th, 2011
7:43 pm
It’s not the fans that is the cause of the likely move, it’s the lack of fans. I understand that there are many reasons why people stopped showing up or never attended a game. I’ve lived in a city that lost more than two teams (not NHL) and it was always primarily because of a lack of support from the community. I feel bad for the fans that stuck it out, it’s not your fault.
nice going Bettman
May 24th, 2011
7:49 pm
How did the ASG ever get approved by the NHL to buy the Thrashers in the first place?
Atlanta is no different than many other NHL cities
May 24th, 2011
7:58 pm
The Predators, Hurricanes, Lightning, Panthers, Stars, Ducks, and Sharks would have all been bought and moved to another city if they were purchased by the ASG after year 3. And you can possibly add the Avalanche and Blue Jackets to that list too.