Anson Carter withdrew interest in Spirit
The following is a statement released by Anson Carter about media reports that circulated Wednesday of his interest in buying the Thrashers.
“ANSON CARTER AND ATLANTA SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WITHDREW INTEREST IN ACQUIRING THE ATLANTA SPIRIT GROUP ASSETS IN EARLY 2011
ATLANTA – (May 26, 2011) – Anson Carter, Principal of Atlanta Sports and Entertainment (ASE), withdrew interest in acquiring the assets of the Atlanta Spirit Group in early 2011. ASE was formed in 2008 with the intent of building a multi-media sports and entertainment company based in Atlanta, with the goal of acquiring the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena as the centerpiece of the company. Preliminary discussions were held in early 2010 with the Raine Group, representatives for the Atlanta Spirit Group and as a result ASE decided not to proceed. However, ASE is now focusing their interest on other markets.”
As you can see, Mr. Carter withdrew his interest well before the Atlanta Spirit publicly stated it’s ’sense of urgency’ to find a buyer/investor for the Thrashers in February. The AJC investigated Mr. Carter as a potential investor/buyer months ago. It should also be reiterated that talks between Mr. Carter and the Atlanta Spirit never moved past the preliminary stage. According to several people familiar situation, Mr. Carter’s interest never moved past the level of his group supplying it’s financial ability to complete such a purchase.
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149 comments Add your comment
David
May 26th, 2011
1:24 pm
But they’ve been trying to find potential buyers for longer then just when they stated a sense of urgency. I like how we never heard about this potential buyer at the time, though. I would bet that fan support for this buyer would have been large if it had gone public.
J(Z)
May 26th, 2011
1:29 pm
ANSON!!!!! Unwithdraw!!!!!!! Please!!!!!
Hockey Biltong
May 26th, 2011
1:32 pm
ASG will hose Atlanta big time…..
Random Thoughts
May 26th, 2011
1:34 pm
I smell a rat
Random Thoughts
May 26th, 2011
1:40 pm
Who is this rain group?
What is there motivation.?
Are they on Atls side?
What cut do they get with winnepeg buying.
Why would a ny company care about atl?(see time Warner )
flerd_trandle
May 26th, 2011
1:40 pm
“For those who want to question the AJC’s “investigation” of the issue, keep watching the television news.”
A little defensive, C-Viv?
BIG BUFF
May 26th, 2011
1:40 pm
Why would you call yourself Atlanta Sports and Entertainment then not own any Atlanta sports or entertainment?
Adam
May 26th, 2011
1:41 pm
C-Viv, with all due respect, since when are you the arbiter of what is newsworthy? How come we didn’t see any article back then along the lines of “Anson Carter-led group expresses interest in acquiring Hawks, Thrashers, arena”? If you knew that fact back then, why not investigate it and report on it? That’s clearly newsworthy.
Regardless of your decision, there’s never been a clear explanation how ASG could have legally discussed selling any part of their holdings until clear title was established in the Maryland litigation. Why is this fact being ignored in your reporting?
Old Time Hockey
May 26th, 2011
1:57 pm
Adam, you don’t need clear title to talk, only to sign.
B. Thepeg
May 26th, 2011
1:58 pm
Curse those handsome TV reporters and their inquiries that led to someone issuing a press release.
clark kent
May 26th, 2011
1:59 pm
Awww, that’s a good little lapdog.
Let us know if you need any new info to “report” CViv, since you seem to be getting all your ideas from blog comments.
Relocation News: All Winnipeg NHL related news Day 7 – No end in sight! | Illegal Curve Hockey
May 26th, 2011
1:59 pm
[...] Journal Constitution: Anson Carter withdrew interest in Spirit in January. Doesn’t sound like the conversation got very serious between the ASG & Carter’s [...]
ATL Observer
May 26th, 2011
2:03 pm
Who’s the “source” on in the “TV news” story that claimed lack of due diligence? I think the “TV news” needs to confront them with Carter’s statement on the matter.
Either due diligence was never an issue (and thus source was lying) or interest was withdrawn to observation of lack of due diligence.
Either way, SOMEBODY’s flim-flamming someone.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
2:06 pm
Vivlapeg does seem a bit defensive. I bet he has a nice comfy job waiting for him up in the great white north. Tell Sana and Mrs.Clause we all said hello as you wont be too far from them………./
Whitaker
May 26th, 2011
2:08 pm
Let’s compare for a second the news we here in Atlanta are getting from out local sport writers to the Canadian Press.
Here BLOGS of at least 2 day old news and rumors with NO new FACTS and HUGE omission of facts if it reflect poorly on the Cluster F’ers known as the Atlanta Spirit Group. Being told “well I did not think it was news.” The AJC has been a joke when it comes to covering Hockey, always has and sadly always will be.
Canadian Press – Making/reporting the news. Looking into the impact of the team on the region and other sports (CFL). Sending reporters down here to report what they see and hear (more like what they do not hear).
It is a damn shame that most of us are getting new about OUR team from another country’s newspapers, once we excuse the propaganda that is in them.
There is always 2 sides to every story, and to this Anson Carter Story, the question remains WHY? Why did they withdraw? Should that not have been in this little blog? Oh wait the answer might be a poor reflection on the AJC Saviors known as the ASG. Seriously, are you on their payroll Chris? How much of the $110 million do you get to try to break our spirits?
You want to report sport in Canada? Go, Leave, but know you might have to do some work, not just report 2nd hand news.
Chris Vivlamore
May 26th, 2011
2:10 pm
One more time folks: It has been my policy throughout this process not to name potential investors/buyers until they enter serious negotiations. If I wrote about every person who claimed to have an interest but couldn’t prove it (enter any name you want) or didn’t take the next step it would be ridiculous. When a exclusivity agreement was signed on the Hawks and arena, the AJC told you who it was. It’s that simple.
Adam: It is my job to determine what is newsworthy. That’s why I’m a reporter. I could fill edition after edition with rumor and false reports. Again, I will leave that to others.
Vivlapeg: Time for you to get a new hobby. Bye now.
Buy Chris V a one way ticket to Winnipeg
May 26th, 2011
2:11 pm
And Chris jumps right to the defense of ASG again… seriously, how much are they paying you?
Toni
May 26th, 2011
2:11 pm
Have to agree with Adam here. If you knew the information, why didn’t you report it? We should have known this before now.
It is your job to tell us the news. You’re not supposed to ignore it and go “lol, we knew about this months ago” once someone else digs it up then try to be cute and make digs at them with comments like: “For those who want to question the AJC’s “investigation” of the issue, keep watching the television news.” That’s just juvenile.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
2:13 pm
Vivlapeg does seem a bit defensive. I bet he has a nice comfy job waiting for him up in the great white north. Tell Santa and Mrs.Clause we all said hello as you wont be too far from them………./
*Fixed, there needs to be a delete option when making comments
Atlanta Shortsighted $ Grab, LLC
May 26th, 2011
2:13 pm
So why was it okay for the New York Post to report that Raine Group, LLC had been hired by ASG back in June of 2010, but it’s no big deal that the AJC failed to mention a group was talking to ASG last year, but now it’s okay for you to tell us that talks never moved past the preliminary stages?? Huh? Shouldn’t we have at least known that something was going on? Instead, most folks brushed off the NY Post and called them liars.
FromThePeg
May 26th, 2011
2:17 pm
1) Hockey is not popular in ATL. 200 people (0.04% of ATL pop) showed up to a save the thrashers rally. 35,000 (4.7%) showed up to a save the Jets rally in 1996. Math makes it pretty obvious.
2) On top of hockey not being popular, hockey ownership articles take it to a greater level of boredom. No one would have read a small blurb about Anson Carter considering purchasing the Thrashers. Especially only at a “preliminary discussion” level.
The fact is this wouldn’t even be an issue if ASG wasn’t losing $150,000 since 2005. Maybe fans should go to the games.
ATL Observer
May 26th, 2011
2:25 pm
@FromThePeg, you don’t live here so you’re in no position to talk about what a local newspaper should or should not be covering.
Let’s say, hypothetically, we have a Starbucks in ATL with five people as franchisees. They decide they’re going to sell their equipment/etc. to another franchisee in Winnipeg. There’s more coffee customers there. Does that make the squabbling between the local franchisees and the potential loss of jobs suddenly NOT local news because Winnipeg has more coffee drinkers? No, it doesn’t.
Hey I just saw a Winnipeg story about the city wanting to get out of the golf business! It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the economics or journalism ethics practiced in the city of Atlanta, but I’ll comment on it anyway, since that’s how I roll!
StickerShoke
May 26th, 2011
2:29 pm
Some of you guys are complete nutjobs. You SPECIFICALLY ask Viv to look into the Carter story, he does, and you rip him. There are articles written 2-3 times a day by this guy, yet you bash him for it. Then, complain that nobody is writting anything!
Here is a suggestion, this comment section seems to allow alot of words, so why don’t you grouchy pricks write an article? Fill in ALL the info you have on what has and hasn’t gone on in the past year+, AND state your sources!!
Just a bunch of bitter, angry (rightfully so) posters attacking anyone and anybody who writes or doesn’t write something they want to hear. Has ANYONE contacted the ASG? Calls? Emails? Canadian media this…Chris Viv that…. Give it a rest.
You ASKED for some “digging”, and it was dug. Now you ask why nothing was said earlier, and it is explained to you why. Gawd, your worse then kids..
Joe Friday
May 26th, 2011
2:32 pm
The question is, why did he withdraw? Carter’s tweet leads one to believe that he withdrew because the Spirit was not bargaining in good faith and no intention of keep the Thrashers in Atlanta, THAT’s a huge story, Chris, no?
BigMomma
May 26th, 2011
2:32 pm
“It should also be reiterated that talks between Mr. Carter and the Atlanta Spirit never moved past the preliminary stage. According to several people familiar situation, Mr. Carter’s interest never moved past the level of his group supplying it’s financial ability to complete such a purchase.”
But WHY did they withdraw? Was there something in the books that made them change their minds? Or was it lack of interest and willingness to deal on the part of AS, LLC? THESE are the questions that I want to know the answers to. I don’t think the owners had any interest in selling to anyone other than True North and that this has been in the works for quite some time. The announcement in Feb. was just their way to try to justify their pre-planned actions to fans, media, and world in general. True North has deep pockets and strong motivations so AS, LLC could milk the deal for as much money as possible. Pretty much everyone else would balk either at the asking price or (more likely) the relocation fee. AS, LLC is not being honest in this. I wish you would get to the bottom of these questions, Chris. Sorry, in my opinion, all we’ve gotten is press releases so far.
Atlanta Shortsighted $ Grab, LLC
May 26th, 2011
2:32 pm
“But WHY did they withdraw? Was there something in the books that made them change their minds? Or was it lack of interest and willingness to deal on the part of AS, LLC?”
Good questions. It’s not like Carter’s group pulled out WITHOUT even furnishing its own financial viability. Who’s to say the offer wasn’t $350M in cash with debt assumed? That offer would seem reasonable, no?
rob
May 26th, 2011
2:33 pm
RIP Atlanta Thrashers…….you will be missed. I hope Bettman and the ASG go to H…..E……DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS!!!!!!
Winnepeg better support this team better than we did, but I am sure with a rich ownership in love with hockey they will BECAUSE THE TEAM WILL BE COMPETITIVE THEN, especially since we gave them a good start with some quality building blocks. Damn I’m mad because the playoffs are just around the corner for this team!!!! All the crappy games I have been to and cheered loudly anyways are for naught, and I won’t even be able to celebrate the good things ahead for them because they will be in Winnepeg! WT..!
BigMomma2
May 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
Blah…..blah….blah……blah…………blah……….waaah!!
PB
May 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
Chris – thanks for this information. I have seen references to Anson Carter’s interest (always picturing Anson Carter the player, but I am sure it is a different guy!), but wondered how it may actually be relevant or whether there is anything possible from him as a franchise saviour. Sounds like it is a longshot at best.
One question about this guy – you say the goal was to acquire all three – Hawks, Thrashers and Arena – as the cornerstone of his business, ASE. If he dropped his pursuit of the Atlanta franchises to go out of town, it seems like that indicates there was a serious reason – a poison pill – behind that. Do you think it was the separation of the Thrashers from the Hawks/Arena deals, or was it more serious than that? I guess I am clinging to hope for him to re-appear on the scene now that the Hawks/Arena are no longer under an exclusive negotiating arrangement and therefore forced to be separate from the Thrashers to an extent.
Second question, just a curiosity for me – Why do you post two tweets with links to the same story? The headline is always slightly different, and the link is too, but the story is the same. I am sure there is a simple reason but I wonder every time – can you solve this one for me? Need to sleep at night…
And lastly, to the posters – can we relax a little bit with the viciousness? I have been getting my news from CViv for a long time, and appreciate it. I understand you all might want different slants on stories or whatever, but it is so tiring to read through the personal attacks to get to actual blog posts that say something intelligent. We are all bummed about the team right now, but let’s ease up on our fellow fans and Thrasher followers. Get a punching bag in your garage or something, but please stop wasting my time skipping your posts with all your conspiracy theories and bitching about the information we receive. Thanks.
Chris
May 26th, 2011
2:39 pm
The only good about the Thrashers leaving is Vivlpeg will most likely go with them. The ajc is on its last leg anyway. If its not ncaa its not worth writing about.
Whitaker
May 26th, 2011
2:40 pm
FromThePeg – the number has been reported anywhere between 200 – 600 people. If you go by how many people were there at one time then the 200 – 300 number is correct, but over all with people coming and going it is closer to 500- 600.
You want to compare the 35,000 that showed up to save the Jets. Great. Now let me see that event had the support of the owners, the team, I believe you even met in the arena, and I beleive the media helped to promote it. Am I close? OK, good. Now here the team doesn’t know if they are coming or going, so they cannot show too much support expect for the few that have. Since the ASG own the arena we could not meet within it, the media here is a joke.
I am sorry my fellow fans but the location sucked, if you were not part of the Nasty Nest or had never tail gated fbefore a game it was very hard to find. This hurt the common fan in their abilty to attend the event.
Maybe we should do another in the Park, a place everyone knows.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 26th, 2011
2:40 pm
From the Peg…As much as I admire your passion to set the record straight, you are telling people here the obvious, but as you see these folks are in such denial that this franchise is out of here and nothing will ever change it that they’ll come up with the most outlandish ideas. My favorite was last night…some dope stated that this could work for both Winnipeg and Atlanta, how you ask? He/she suggested that the team split its season, half here and half in the Peg. I know, you’re rolling on the floor LYAO, so was I last night. Obviously this dope doesn’t know much about the realignment that will undoubtedly take place (it’s only all over the net if you look).
Even now, in the 11th hour with the writing on the wall these people will not just acceept the facts, IT’S ALL OVER AND THE CRYING HAS BEEN NON-STOP. The solution to this happening has long since passed, and as you said and I’ve echoed a hundred times…they wouldn’t be moving if people bought tickets and supported this team, but no, they wanted a Stanley Cup from this 9 year old franchise, what a joke. Lose $20 million in a playoff season then they have the nerve to sit here and blame management, meanwhile the owners are expected to bleed green each year for this group of self absorbed fans who won’t for a minute assume an ounce of responsibility for losing their SECOND FRANCHISE! They don’t deserve a hockey team, and they sure should never be considered to be fans of the game.
Adam
May 26th, 2011
2:44 pm
C-Viv, I did the whole journalist/reporter thing here in Atlanta (with a major outlet) back during the Olympics before going to law school. I know full well what newsworthiness means, and it’s not subjective to the reporter, especially in the internet age where print space is not an issue. For you to compare Anson Carter to any random schlub who expresses some feigned interest in the ASG properties is, to steal from the Commissioner, “interesting.”
Carter is a former NHL player who played for many years, and who clearly had the occasion during his tenure in the league to cultivate contacts and get to know potential investors who might be interested in acquiring an NHL franchise. His interest in Atlanta specifically goes back for several years, and he’s never kept it confidential. He’s been publicly tweeting his interest ever since the creation of his company. If he had done enough legwork to put a group together that had the financial werewithal to make a $350 million opening bid, that’s clearly newsworthy by any objective measure. I cannot believe you would not think so. What’s more, if the bid was dismissed out of hand by ASG, any reporter worth his salt would have been asking more questions to find out exactly why.
ATL Observer
May 26th, 2011
2:45 pm
I should point out that I’m not trying to call out C-Viv specifically. If the AJC did their proper job reporting this, then there’s an anonymous source out there claiming lack of due diligence irresponsibly. At that point, if I were C-Viv, I’d actually be MEANER about this and call that “television network” out on the carpet (rather than just calling them a “television network” :-p).
Chris Vivlamore
May 26th, 2011
2:46 pm
One last thing in the interest of full disclosure. I changed my policy on not naming potential investors/buyers after writing several times about a filmmaker who was interested in buying the team a while back.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 26th, 2011
2:46 pm
@PB…I’ve been reading CViv since I moved here and when ver he’s had an interview with ownership he’s asked popcorn questions and gotten popcorn answers. The only reason I see he’d be so cordial to owners is his fear of losing his press pass. I hope he has no ambitions of going to a northern market, he’d never survive. Ron Borges he’s not.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 26th, 2011
2:46 pm
@PB…I’ve been reading CViv since I moved here and when ver he’s had an interview with ownership he’s asked popcorn questions and gotten popcorn answers. The only reason I see he’d be so cordial to owners is his fear of losing his press pass. I hope he has no ambitions of going to a northern market, he’d never survive. Ron Borges he’s not.
Jason
May 26th, 2011
2:49 pm
I don’t think it’s a reporter’s job to decide what’s news. I think it’s more important that all the information be presented and then the public decide if it’s newsworthy or not.
But then, I’m not a former editor who was demoted.
G52PIM
May 26th, 2011
2:55 pm
So now Atlanta fans want to hang the reporter. He’s just reporting news, not making it up. If you don’t like him reporting the facts that NOBODY wants to own this team and keep it local, don’t read the articles.
Its funny who people are pinning thier hopes on……
Phoenix is pinning thier hopes on someone who will not pay a dime of his own money for the team and want subsidy after subsidy…. and Atlanta is pinning its hopes on a picture of a shoe.
Maybe neither place should have a team?
Chris Vivlamore
May 26th, 2011
2:57 pm
Adam: I can see now why you went on to law school. Perhaps a good choice. Would you like me to write an article on the person who has sent me 50 emails that he has 500 billion dollars and wants to buy the Thrashers? Just because it’s the internet age, doesn’t mean journalistic ethics changes any. I’m sorry, but where in Mr. Carter’s statement did he say he made such a bid. Does that happen in “preliminary” talks? You want to law school, you tell me.I know what he said in his tweet. Perhaps that’s why he is clarifying his statement now.
Jason: Perhaps you would like to see the story from Mr. 500 billion dollars as well?
Buy Chris V a one way ticket to Winnipeg
May 26th, 2011
3:01 pm
Chris – your policy is to name names when Atlanta Spirit tells you to. I doubt you spent any real time doing any real reporting other than what was spoon fed to you by ASG. Instead of doing phone interviews with the Winnipeg radio stations, why don’t you get out of your cubicle at the AJC offices and actually look into something for once.
For instance, several people have asked WHY Anson Carter withdrew his offer… have you picked up the phone and called him to ask? Or is that too much work for you?
Ray Ferraro's Bobble Head Doll
May 26th, 2011
3:04 pm
Why are you guys jumping all over Chris? Anson’s group didn’t have the money. This is all just wishful thinking. There is no savior. If someone made a legit offer, and ASG shot it down for whatever reason, don’t you think that would be a huge deal? It would be like the McDavid thing again. Everybody wanted to know who the Balkan was (because he might be the savior), and now that we know who he is…he doesn’t have the cash.
Reality
May 26th, 2011
3:07 pm
So it looks like we are on Stage 2 of Kübler-Ross model now…. ANGER
Anger — “Why me? It’s not fair!”; “How can this happen to me?”; ‘”Who is to blame?”
Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy.
If you are keeping score, there are 5 stages of grief… Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
For those of you who have reached stage 5 now, congrats for moving on with your lives. The rest of you, hurry up and get to stage 5.
glovesave29
May 26th, 2011
3:14 pm
great, just great…amateur psychology now entering the blog…
Everyone progresses at their own rate. I for one have already made my deposit for tickets to the Glads. I want to see them avg. 10K+ next season…and the next….and the next – then we make a jump to the AHL and call them the Flames or the Knights. I have tired of all of this and actually say good riddance to the NHL. But if someone else is at another level – that’s cool…they will get there when good and ready.
Just Wondering
May 26th, 2011
3:16 pm
Chris,
What a lot of us feel is that there are many unresolved questions with Anson Carter removing his bid. If, as you say, you knew about this back then, then tell us why he withdrew. Is it because he saw it was just going to be too much for Carter, or is it that ASG was not interested in selling to anyone other than TNSE (as many of us feel it true – many feel that they have had an Agreement with TNSE for a while, and just postering for a local buyer)?
Puck Like A Porn Star
May 26th, 2011
3:17 pm
I expected the Gulch to be a bad location for the rally, and I suggested Centennial Park instead. I still don’t understand tailgating for any pro sport besides football. Location definitely hurt participation and no bystanders even noticed. If you’re gonna go, go all out!
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
3:19 pm
If I were Carter i’d come back and offer the A$G the $350 million, tell them to stick it where the sun don’t shine and to get the H E double hockey sticks out of town.
2mins
May 26th, 2011
3:20 pm
Just Wondering … “many feel that they have had an Agreement with TNSE for a while, and just postering for a local buyer”
While this may end up turning out to be true that ASG was going thru the motions as far as shopping for a local buyer, I can’t believe for one second that the NHL would go along with this and let ASG go thru the motions. I think the NHL has been looking for local ownership as well, BUT, anyone who was going to buy just the Thrashers was going to have to have a lease with ASG… and that is what I feel has killed any deal. Nobody wants to deal with ASG.
Adam
May 26th, 2011
3:20 pm
Wow, C-Viv, way to turn it personal against me (and to miss my point in the process). I never attacked your ethics or you personally. I only questioned where you’ve decided to draw your bright line in distinguishing between credible vs. non-credible interest in ASG’s assets. I think your example of comparing Steven Rollins’s interest to Anson Carter’s (much less that email troll David Robertson) is illustrative. Only one has an NHL pedigree, which is the factor makes it worth reporting.
Since you had to go there, I left reporting solely because it pays for crap, and I aspired to earn a more comfortable lifestyle. It certainly wasn’t because of a lack of talent. The job isn’t that hard, so let’s not kid ourselves.
ThrasherTim
May 26th, 2011
3:23 pm
Chris – I want to thank you for all your coverage of the Thrashers over the last year or two. I understand that the ajc is a journalistic endeavour and not just some blog. Some folks feel you should act like a tmz.com media outlet. I don’t recognize many of these posters’ handles so I know your core following appreciates what you have brought to the table.
The bottom line is that no one has made a legit offer to buy a franchise losing double-digits (at least) millions. Now if a new owner came in and supported the team with more Marketing and players, would attendance blossom? Possibly. But there are no guarantees. Someone would need to plan for millions in losses for years until developing a consistent winner…some kind of tradition for fans to count on.
Don’t pay attention to all the haters. They’re probably teenagers on summer break pounding away at the keyboard.
William Satterwhite
May 26th, 2011
3:31 pm
“Would you like me to write an article on the person who has sent me 50 emails that he has 500 billion dollars and wants to buy the Thrashers?”
First, I’d just like to say that while I have questioned the AJC’s handling of the reporting of this whole story, I have nothing but respect for the job that you guys have to do and the crap you have to put up. With that being said, a big part of your job is putting up with that crap. If someone is sending you 50 emails about buying the team, do your due diligence and figure out if the person is in any way legitimate and if they are, say, a former NHL player or an investor linked to previous attempts to buy into a sports franchise, report it. Part of the reason why Anson Carter is a big deal now and J.B. Smith was a big deal last week is mostly because we are just now getting the details about those people- details that the AJC says they’ve been privy to for a “long time”. You reference Stephen Rollins as to why you stopped reporting on potential buyers, but here’s the thing- if Stephen Rollins or someone close to him were running around on Twitter talking about his plans no one would take it seriously all because of the reporting done on him. If the AJC had reported on J.B. Smith when you supposedly first knew of him, the “Balkan” stuff probably would have died a long time ago and if you had reported on Anson Carter’s efforts when you (again) claim to have first came upon it, nobody would be talking about him today either.
Again, I greatly respect the job you have to do and for what’s it’s worth, you might be be receiving a lot of punishment for something that’s not even your responsibility as the team beat reporter- I can imagine covering the sale of the team adds a lot to what your responsibilities are supposed to be since that is primarily a business story. But please don’t act like it’s at all out of line for your readers to question why information is coming out now from other sources that you claim to have had access to for a while.
radeksmom
May 26th, 2011
3:36 pm
anson carter buying the thrsshers get real…
radeksmom
May 26th, 2011
3:37 pm
Enter your comments here
Jimbo
May 26th, 2011
3:37 pm
I am from Manitoba, the home province to Winnipeg and we watched lawyers take over the NHL and try for the second or third time to enter large markets in the US. We all grow up on skates here and hockey is very important to us, we play as kids on frozen ponds and have for generations, we sold out the Jets when they were here. Gary Bettman explained that we needed a new rink with more corporate boxes to satisfy the revenues he and his lawyer friends hoped to generate. We built a new arena to their standard, we have a willing owner who happens to be the richest man in Canada and would be the richest individual in any NHL ownership group. We want a team and if the losses are in the 100 millions in Atlanta, I hope as fello capitalists you can understand our frustration in delaying this move.
Jason
May 26th, 2011
3:46 pm
Chris, this discussion would probably be more suited for a Journalism ethics board than this discussion board. Honestly, and I’ve been wrong before, but I believe the AJC would be just fine without a hockey team in Atlanta because it’s a lot better for the bottom line.
With that being said, we’ve heard that AS, LLC is in negotiations with TNSE but there hasn’t been anything about whether it’s an exclusive negotiating period, much like the one between AS and the former Padres owner in reference to the Hawks and Arena rights. I know you say you’re digging and doing all you can, but when we have to find out from Twitter feeds about Anson Carter’s interest….
There hasn’t been an issue with “unnamed sources” in the negotiations with TNSE and when the sale will happen, but there seems to be an issue when it comes to other potential investors.
I admit to taking an unnecessary swipe earlier, but it’s very frustrating for people who want the team to stay here to find out pieces of news in late morsels as opposed to a large, initial helping.
trevor
May 26th, 2011
4:04 pm
Whitaker – with all due respect, you could take the 600 and it would still be about the same as the number of Winnipeggers who showed up randomly at Portage and Main at an unplanned celebration literally one hour after the Globe and Mail reported the deal was done. but hey, yeah, if you twist the numbers enough you can almost get to 1/70th of the amount of fans that showed up to save the Jets. honestly, I sympathize with Atlanta fans and I don’t think the Thrashers should be the team moving. I think it should be the Coyotes. I fully believe it’s ASG’s fault; I fully believe atlanta can support a team.. but it’s a joke to start trying to compare which city supports their team more.
Ray Ferraro's Bobble Head Doll
May 26th, 2011
4:04 pm
Wait…I don’t get it…you guys are mad because Chris didn’t report on people who DON’T have the finances? Kincade floated the Balkan forever, and it turns out the Balkan is just a big fraud…Chris didn’t report on him for that reason. Are you guys that desperate that you HAVE to know who is interested in buying the teams, even though they DON’T have the money to do it?
Camboni
May 26th, 2011
4:07 pm
Someone tell Anson to buy the Coyotes and move them to Atlanta!
( o )( o )
May 26th, 2011
4:13 pm
“It’s” = it is.
C’mon, really?
I know you’re rushing and all, but honestly. If you make your living with words, basic grammar should be a given.
(or maybe I should say “I know your rushing and all… “)
Sorry to nitpick about 9th grade English. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Chris Vivlamore
May 26th, 2011
4:13 pm
All: After an encouraging e-mail and another phone call from Thrashers fans to this blog, I would like to apologize for some of my comments. I admit the attacks got under my skin, but I shouldn’t have, oh let’s say, lashed out. For that I apologize. I understand the frustration here. I do. Sorry.
Vivlarpeg: I never said I didn’t go on Winnipeg radio. I’ve said many times that I have been asked many times to appear on Canadian radio stations. Save for one NPR interview, never in Atlanta. I’m OK with that. Don’t rip me for talking to a station interested in what’s going on here.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
4:17 pm
“. Are you guys that desperate that you HAVE to know who is interested in buying the teams, even though they DON’T have the money to do it?”
Or maybe they do have the money but the ASG keeps moving the goal posts.
2mins
May 26th, 2011
4:19 pm
Maybe Carter will buy the Coyotes and move them….
“ASE is now focusing their interest on other markets,” Carter said in a statement on Thursday
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/192249/29/Potential-Thrashers-buyer-dreamed-of-Atlanta-empire
Mark
May 26th, 2011
4:21 pm
“For those who want to question the AJC’s “investigation” of the issue, keep watching the television news.”
A petty childish comment in my opinion. Act like a professional if you want to seen as one.
Ray Ferraro's Bobble Head Doll
May 26th, 2011
4:23 pm
“Or maybe they do have the money but the ASG keeps moving the goal posts.”
But, that’s not the case with Anson Carter nor with JB Smith.
Do you think ASG has a price, and then when buyers meet that price, they refuse to sell to them? If that were true, the prospective buyer would be raising hell. That’s not happening.
T.J.
May 26th, 2011
4:25 pm
Chris, just continue to do your job and pay no mind to the antagonists. People always insist on shooting the messenger in these instances.
It might not be a bad idea to decline any and all future Canadian TV/radio requests, though, for obvious reasons…
ATL2WPG
May 26th, 2011
4:29 pm
Oh I get it, its the reporters fault no one wants to buy a team thats loosing tens of millions annually.
If only Chris had built up these tire kickers in the AJC the public would have embraced them so warmly that surely one of them would have followed his heart instead of his head and signed up to pay the millions in losses each year. Cause thats what billionaires do, bleed money on sports teams to be heroes in the eyes of the rest of us. Really guys???
We’d be happy to have Chris up here in the peg but my guess is he will stay in ATL, given the responses on this blog i’m not sure why though. He has been talking to our media and for those of us who have heard him, we can hear in is voice that his heart is breaking over the team leaving. We recognize it from 15 years ago when we were going through this same thing.
I know how you feel, we were a city with great hockey fans but no white knight and a team that was loosing money and as fans it was painful to be so powerless to stop it. But to blame Chris for the franchise leaving is nuts. This guy loves hockey and I’m sure ATL, you think he wants this to happen? Get real!
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
4:36 pm
Not to be picky but it’s losing not loosing.
Get Well Stan Mikita
May 26th, 2011
4:38 pm
Obviously there are a lot of frustrated Thrashers fans on here (myself included) and we are venting about the seemingly imminent loss of our team. Two points:
-The Thrashers have been the red-headed step child in the eyes of the Atlanta media since their inception. Understand the source of some of the venom?
-The trolls and other out of town visitors espousing their “facts” about the Atlanta hockey market need to do a little fact-checking when it comes to the departure of the Flames! They did not leave due to lack of fan support.
The hockey fans in this market are about to get screwed for the second time by ownership economics and the lack of consistentcy by the NHL. Don’t expect us to like it.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
4:41 pm
“Do you think ASG has a price, and then when buyers meet that price, they refuse to sell to them?”
Considering how poorly they ran the franchise I think they should negotiate down to whatever the prospective buyer offers(ASG doesn’t deserve any kind of profit) and yeah I don’t trust them. I still believe they have had no desire to keep the team here.
BigMomma
May 26th, 2011
4:56 pm
Chris, you’ve always done a great job covering the Thrashers. This has just become very emotional for a lot of us because of our love of the team and because we feel like we are being lied to by the owners and the league.
Again, the questions I’d like answered are these:
1. Why did Carter withdraw his interest? And why has every group interested in keeping the team local failed to progress past “initial interest” stage?
2. If AS, LLC did not intend to sell all three entities, why did they enter an exclusive negotiating period for only the Hawks & Phillips at a time when it seemed there were other parties interested in purchasing all 3? And why did that period end abruptly when the remaining interested parties bowed out? Additionally, when exactly did that exclusive negotiating period begin?
3. Most importantly, when exactly did AS, LLC first begin talking to TNSE about buying the Thrashers? And who initiated the negotiating? Has there a “verbal agreement” in place for a while? Was it in place before the other groups who were interested in keeping the team in Atlanta came forward?
Answers to these types of questions would go a long way in quieting some of the vitriol being spewed from Thrashers fans. Because the appearances are that this has been going on for quite some time behind the scenes, with NHL approval, and there were never any intentions of keeping the team here. News reports elsewhere seem to back that up. It would be nice if you could find out some of this for us…make the bitter pill a tad bit easier to swallow if our assumptions are shown to be incorrect.
Again, thanks for your reporting over the years. What will you be assigned to do once the Thrashers leave?
ATL2WPG
May 26th, 2011
4:59 pm
Sorry, the losses are so great I must have added the extra o for emphasis!
Really though all the best to everyone in ATL who is hurting. You guys don’t deserve this, that ownership situation is a mess and in my opinion they alone should be the ones taking the heat for this. Had it been managed properly it could have been a different story. Tampa wasn’t in that different a position just a couple of years ago and look at them now, its amazing what one winning season can do.
( o )( o )
May 26th, 2011
5:21 pm
There never were intentions on keeping the team here. That’s as obvious as the day is long.
Well, maybe not. How about this: the ASG never intended on retaining ownership. I don’t think it mattered to them who bought the franchise, as long as they didn’t own it anymore. So it could have stayed in Atlanta, though that’s always been a long shot at best.
It’s my opinion that ASG has been just biding time – until they could sell.
clark kent
May 26th, 2011
5:23 pm
So Chris we’re about to have a pro franchise leave town in at what could best be described as a mugging, and at worst could be described as an disingenuous and deliberate attempt by an ownership group to devalue an asset in attempt to get rid of it in order to make a profit at the expense of the city. And yet all we’ve gotten are puff pieces about what is happening. Is it any wonder there is animosity here?
Why has AS, LLC been trying to sell the hockey part of their assets since after only one year of ownership, as revealed by court documents? Was this their intent from the beginning? Are their purported losses on the hockey side of operations real? Have they given anyone who would keep the team local a fair shot, or are these recent efforts just window dressing for their real motives? Why aren’t city leaders, and the mayor specifically stepping up to question the ownership’s jettisoning of the team?
Why is no one asking these and other real questions that cut to the chase of why hockey is most likely leaving the city?
Acer
May 26th, 2011
5:26 pm
Chris, your reporting around the entire sale from start to finish increased your stock in my mind. You are right up there with Craig Custance as my most favorite AJC reporter. Keep up your work.
Paddy
May 26th, 2011
5:36 pm
It appears to me that c Viv is just doing his job as a responsible journalist.
ThrasherFan
May 26th, 2011
6:18 pm
I don’t think it makes much sense to slam Cviv. However, something je said about what is newsworthy and he decides what to report is more a symptom of a huge problem with the press in general these days. Reporters seem to think they are the guardians of info, when is this day and age, info is easy to find and distribute.
I wouldn’t get so personal with Cviv though as he’s just trying to so his job. However, in general the old news business is dying.
braveslose
May 26th, 2011
6:20 pm
I love the purity of ice hockey as much as any fan possibly can. The beauty of a well executed goal. The breathlessness of a stunning save. The joy of success. The sportsmanship following a hard fought series. I admire players for going full speed ahead despite injuries, dislodged teeth plus a few cracked or broken bones. No other professional athletes are anywhere near as dedicated. I use as an example the oft sore toe of one Matthew Ryan. But I digress. Hockey is an honorable sport. The sport itself. A pity scumballs and lying backstabbers have taken over at management levels. Will I miss the Thrashers? No more than I would miss cancer. Years of utter uncaring ineptitude with nothing but more of the same had they remained. Better to lose the quitters now than later. Will root for Flames plus any team which faces the Thrashers or whatever their new nickname will be. Do I forgive? Maybe with time. Lots of it! Do I forget? Hell no!
stee
May 26th, 2011
6:24 pm
For those of you bashing on Chris, I’ve been surfing the other hockey sites and also have seen not mention of other potential buyers for the Thrashers. So lay off him. We should all be bashing the ASG. They are the cause of this issue.
On another note, the longer this takes, the better it is for us.
Still would like to know what will happen to youth hockey since my son plays.
stee
May 26th, 2011
6:25 pm
Doh!… Should be “no”, not “not”. Fingers think for themselves……
braveslose
May 26th, 2011
6:31 pm
As a sports reporter of decades myself I want to commend you Chris. Well done young man. Enjoy all your columns. Best.
braveslose
May 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
Chris. Always remember that when talking an angry unreasoning mob (disillusioned Thrasher fans pi$$ed off over losing their idols) that no matter how you say something it is going to make someone angry as Hell! I attempted to alert all fans to this months ago. Was called lunatic or worse. No reasoning with mobs. Just hang in there pal.
R. Stroz
May 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
Blame Levenson
Mooseberg
May 26th, 2011
6:43 pm
Wow, C-Viv,….you might as well board that plane the winterpeg now, you definitely are done in this town.
JK Sockey
May 26th, 2011
7:04 pm
Hell those of you who were unaware of Carter’s group should have been following me in 2009…
Chris, don’t listen to these windbags. Keep reporting what you can when you can!
steve
May 26th, 2011
7:05 pm
Enter your comments here
T.J.
May 26th, 2011
7:10 pm
Last time I checked, Chris was not an partner in the A$$hole Sellout Group.
T.J.
May 26th, 2011
7:11 pm
a partner*
Crazy Diamond
May 26th, 2011
7:15 pm
Someone, anyone, please put us out of our misery.
Puck Like A Porn Star
May 26th, 2011
7:33 pm
Until further notice, no news is good news.
OHL
May 26th, 2011
7:51 pm
Mr. Vivlamore,
I just heard up in my neck of the woods that it was actually Anson WILLIAMS that was interested in buying the Thrashers and keeping them in Atlanta. You can see his reaction to hockey in Atlanta right here – http://digilander.libero.it/happydays/riconoscimenti/anson_williams_big.jpg
He is putting together an ownership group that can be verified right here – http://image.qpicture.com/image/a/artist-anson-williams/anson-williams-357881.jpg
You need to investigate this now.
done and done
May 26th, 2011
8:46 pm
If this were the HAWKS up for sale, the AJC would set up an entire section just for that. Sad that 11Alive and Fox5 have run rings around the AJC for “suburbia’s team”
It is a valid question to ask why and when was the exclusivity period signed for just the Hawks and arena. Did the AJC ever go question Mr. Moores about his interest in the arena and Hawks? They should have.
Make Levenson say that this team is heading out of town. If no one else is negotiating, what happened to the Montreal businessman? Anyone ask him about ASG?
WHY HASN’T ANYONE TALKED TO ANY OF THE ATLANTA FLAMES????? CANADA DID. They live here and can give LOTS of info on Don Waddell and ASG and their total neglect of the sport in this city.
Come one, quit pandering to Canada on the radio and do some of your work around here for the people that pay your salary through readership. Serve the people of ATLANTA by asking the tough questions…..or ask the easy ones of Bernie Mullen (Why did you leave the Thrashers) Dan Bouchard, John Anderson, Bob Hartley, Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, Dany Heatley, Tim Ecclestone, Eric Vail…… David McDavid……. the list is endless.
BernieMarcus
May 26th, 2011
9:03 pm
should be called immediately!!! Recent issue of ATLANTA magazine said it was his goal to give away all of his $1.9 billion. Why can’t he use $120million of that to save the Thrashers?!?!
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
9:33 pm
So Gearon admits he knows nothing about hockey. NHL……….Atlanta on line 1 a little help please?
Thrashers27
May 26th, 2011
9:45 pm
Sorry, CViv. I’ve tried to be understanding and patient with your work for the last couple of years. I hate to join the doglpile, but now your sad excuses for journalism and lame attempts at justifying your actions are as much as I can take. I feel the fans and our hockey team deserve better.
I sincerely wish you the best in your endeavors after the expected demise of NHL hockey in Atlanta and I hope you can find your true calling once Ole Yellar has finally been tied to the tree.
Long live The Thrashers!
simon hawkley
May 26th, 2011
9:47 pm
Dear Americans,
Winnipeg. not Winnepeg. Winnipeg. Doesn’t your computers have spell check?
I have absolutely no sympathy for a city that does not support their Hockey team and a media that could care less about hockey. THE FACTS ARE THERE. READ THEM
– 10-1 ratio on Canadian coverage vs American coverage on this issue
– Adlanta (I spelled it wrong on purpose, how you like that?) losing millions of Dollars a year
– Atlanda third worst in the league in attendance with 72.6 % capacity
– 200 people showing up to the pathetic save the Thrashers rally while (in 1996) 35,000 showed up in Winnipeg for their rally
– A idiotic ownership group in Atlanta Spirit while True North has the 17th wealthiest man in the world in David Thompson.
– Alanda couldn’t keep interest in Hockey back in the seventies with the flames
THERE IS NO ARGUMENT – ATLANTA DOES NOT DESERVE A HOCKEY TEAM AND WINNIPEG DOES. PERIOD
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
9:49 pm
“– Alanda couldn’t keep interest in Hockey back in the seventies with the flames”
Sorry but the Flames moving had nothing to do with fan interest.
simon hawkley
May 26th, 2011
10:04 pm
Nice retort. I knew someone would pick on my (admittedly) weakest argument. What about all the other facts? huh? I wouldn’t suggest getting into a battle of wits with a gentleman from a country with five times the education funding (and five times the hockey knowledge).
simon hawkley
May 26th, 2011
10:07 pm
can of worms opening in 5…4..3…2…1
Thrashers27
May 26th, 2011
10:07 pm
Simon, my spell check is working just fine, I checked…it keeps telling me “Winnepig” is the correct spelling. Also acceptable, “Land of one Douchebag who uses the internet handle of “Simon Hawkley”".
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
10:08 pm
The “rally” wasn’t really a rally and I have no problem with you calling the ASG idiotic(that’s probably putting it nicely).
simon hawkley
May 26th, 2011
10:14 pm
keep ‘em coming. Enjoy the AHL.
simon hawkley
May 26th, 2011
10:18 pm
And just when will your “rally” be? We had a jubilant “rally” last week on media speculation. 300 people came.
Figures someone would resort to making fun of my handle because no real arguments hold any validity.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
10:20 pm
http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2011/5/26/2192516/thrashers-local-investor-lanford-thrashers-buy-sell
Thrashers27
May 26th, 2011
10:21 pm
Not making fun of your handle, just calling you a douchebag. Douchebag. Most Canadians are great people, you…are a douchebag. Douchebag.
Take off ya’ hoser!
Les Habitants
May 26th, 2011
10:24 pm
RDS is the largest all-sports TV channel in French language outside of Europe. It is also one important NHL broadcaster. If you read French, see the link below. It basically says that there is no doubt about Winnipeg getting a team and Thrashers moving. The issue is that Thrashers owners do not really like that $60M will go to the NHL.
http://legrandclub.rds.ca/profils/608456/posts/114346/public
simon hawkley
May 26th, 2011
10:38 pm
Ya… I am a douche bag. I smoked a joint (we can do that here, freely) and realized my douchebaggery. Sucks you guys are losing your team. I have empathy. At least you guys have awesome improv! I hear Dads Garage is quite funny.
Thrashers27
May 26th, 2011
10:41 pm
I know you’re waiting for a reply, you douchebag, so just to put your mind at ease…I’m done with you, douchebag. You can call your mom in to kiss you goodnight and scold you for smoking weed. Get a job, Douchebag!
simon hawkley
May 26th, 2011
10:49 pm
Scolded for smoking weed? That’s a foreign thought.
Thrashers27
May 26th, 2011
10:51 pm
…wait, I’m not quite done with you afterall…
For you to take any kind of pleasure in the fact that folks (many of them fellow Canadians, who appreciate a piece of home in Atlanta.) are about to lose something very near and dear to them, is borderline psychopathetic. Why would you choose to laugh at someone’s loss?.
Hockey is a beautiful thing no matter where it is played.
Reality has just set in and you realize that…yep, you really are a douchebag.
Take off ya’ hoser!
Long live The Thrashers
G52PIM228
May 26th, 2011
10:54 pm
Still no NHL in loserpeg..
SHOCKING!!
G52PIM228
May 26th, 2011
10:55 pm
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2010/12/8/1536097/nhl-relocation-winnipeg-quebec-city
G52PIM228
May 26th, 2011
10:56 pm
I’m pretty sure Sarah Palin has a better chance of being president than loserpeg has of getting an NHL team..
G52PlM228
May 26th, 2011
11:47 pm
I support Sarah Palin in AZ.
Red Dawg
May 26th, 2011
11:49 pm
WTF?? Are you guys on glue? I’ve seen everybody including the Mayor, the city of Winnipeg, the country of Canada, The NHL, Mason, ASG and even the Governor blamed for this mess. Now it’s Chris Vivlamore next on the hit list? Who’s next? Obama?
Give it up, guys.
G52PlM228
May 26th, 2011
11:53 pm
George Bush deserves some blame. Seriously, C-Viv is NEVER critical of ASG. If I read his material, I would think they (ASG) was doing an adequate to good job and have been equally good to the Thrashers fans.
Red Dawg
May 27th, 2011
12:07 am
1. If you don’t like AJC/Vivlamore, it’s a free market – go somewhere else.
2. I’ve read stuff from Chris Vivlamore that is critical of ASG
3. He moderates this blog where freedom to speak openly and criticize ASG looks to be alive and well.
G52PIM228
May 27th, 2011
12:10 am
“Thrashers President Don Waddell said Wednesday that the deal with True North Sports & Entertainment is “still a work in progress” and refuted The Hockey News report.”
Acer
May 27th, 2011
1:07 am
Thanks Donny “Zhitnik is in our future plans” Waddell. I guess that the deal is close to be being finished.
Acer
May 27th, 2011
1:18 am
Keep Hockey in Atlanta? No problemo: http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/site/default.asp
ATLThrasher
May 27th, 2011
6:38 am
http://m.nbcsports.com/s/4177/phtDetails?itemUriVal=feca60aabc2e19c856a2bfab5b4c45d2%2F1351131144111015106552141869&view=hdl&itemTitle=Thrashers-to-Winnipeg%20and%20the%20NHL’s%20relocation%20by-laws
NHL will probably violate their own bylaws with the relocation.
The stats I like to point out are:
Georgia unemployment rate: 9.9%
Atlanta 2011 Home Price Appreciation Forecast: -5.5%
Thrashers average attendance down only 1% from last season.
Bad ownership in such an economic climate is obviously contributing to Thrashers minuscule local 0.23 TV rating.
Given the resiliency of Thrasher attendance under the perfect storm of economic calamity and bad ownership gives hope that a new Hockey franchise could work here when economic times are better.
NHL had better make sure they have a plan to keep a Winnipeg franchise going under 1990s Canadian economic conditions with 63 cents Cdn. dollar just in case it happens again.
Duke
May 27th, 2011
7:00 am
One Last Road Trip To Minnesota for Draft!! Voice Your Opinion In Front Of Gary Bettman And All The NHL!!!! You Know Winnipeg Fans Will Be There! Gaaaarrrrrrryyyyyyy….
jason
May 27th, 2011
7:27 am
Anson has showed a sign of having a brain left..Good show to withdraw instrest. Very smart of you…Atlanta can not have a hockey team…People there would rather watch a car turn left for 3 straight hours before a hockey game…Now that is complete stupidity! Bye bye hockey from Atlanta…AGAIN!!!!! LMFAO
jason
May 27th, 2011
7:31 am
Ahhhh ATLthrasher guy…What attendence? The 1000 people that go to a game..Or the 12 people that showed up for a rally? And our dollar is now abouve yours, has been for awhile. 5.5 million people in that city and you can not keep a team…..YIKES!!! And they are not in violation of any of there own bylaws with a relocation..If that is the case, then a team MUST go back to winnepeg and quebec city! And thrashers27…You need some mental help!!!
ppp
May 27th, 2011
9:00 am
If the Thrashers leave town – how will anyone know?
dd
May 27th, 2011
10:03 am
THE THRASHERS OWNERS DO NOT DO NOT WANT TO KEEP THE TEAM HERE all interested buyers don’t waste your time. The OWNERS are money hungry men and they are toooooo busy in lawsuits with one another. There day will come when they will be begging for a chance to do good but time is running out for them (IN GOD WE TRUST). I hope their money runs out and they need to find a job and maybe the Braves or Falcons can hire them to clean toilets, because that is all ATLANTA cares about is there baseball and football. ATLANTA is awful they can’t keep sports for nothing first tennis was taken than the second nascar race now hockey. Oh yes lets get some soccer at phillips. My last time at Phillips was for Bon Jovi and that will be my last time giving the owners my money, I will not go to any events at Phillips, Falcons or the braves can’t wait for the economy to get better so I can leave ATL and go to a real city who cares for there people.
G52PIM228
May 27th, 2011
11:22 am
How could you losers let a team go to Loserpeg?
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 27th, 2011
11:39 am
It’s over! ASG is basically evicting this money losing franchise from Philips Arena. I think the bigger question now becomes how much money do True North lose in the tiny MTS Centre and very poor Winnipeg in their first season there. I think True the losses in 2011-2012 will be around $15 Million in Canuck money.
Winnipeg Rocks
May 27th, 2011
12:12 pm
That’s right… I guess we’ll how it goes. We’ll do okay with our significantly lower crime rate, stronger economy, healthier population (by ANY index of population health). Now that all this is over, Poverty, it is time for you to try to find some work so you can have some hope of reclaiming your home from the bank. Until then, go brush your tooth before going out to bet on that dog fight. Deliverance was a documentary, banjo picker
Les Habitants
May 27th, 2011
12:36 pm
Winnipeg = Poverty,
By $15 million in Canadian money, you mean around USD 27 million, right? With the way the rate is slipping, it might be the value in 2012.
Nathan
May 27th, 2011
12:52 pm
@ C -Viv,
If some of our comments out of frustration have gotten under your skin or been less than professional (mine especially) I will apologize. That being said, it certainly does not change my opinion of what I have written because the Anson Carter story while it may not been anything but preliminary talks, I certainly think that you are in the “know” enough to realize that this has been a long time coming (i.e. the ASG pulling out) and could have created a bit of buzz that could have forced the ASG to be a little more forthcoming.
Also, have you considered attempting to get some sources on the inside to truly figure out what is going on with the ASG’s books? I don’t mean that comment as an attack but a real legit question. I realize that is all confidential but I would hope that there is maybe someone with the organization willing to be an anonymous source for you that could help shed some light on ASG’s accounting methods. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
@ Everyone
Lets keep it above-board here folks, its not Winnipeg’s fault that we are losing this team it falls squarely on the shoulders of ASG and Bettman.
Krust
May 27th, 2011
12:53 pm
Hey Winnipeg Rocks,
Are you going to pony up $75.00 a seat to sit in the lower bowl of the MTS Centre for 42 regular season games and 3 games that don’t matter. If you can add that is $3,375.00. I have for 11 seasons for a pair of tickets. That total would be $74,250.00. So Mr. Hockey are you ready to spend your money. Because I can bet that True North is in this to make money. And just remember what Mr. Bettman said Wednesday on Tampa Radio There is no deal yet and there may never be. All thrashers fans and Canada want to rain on Gary Bettman as worm and he may be, but he holds the last say so. I have heard all the rumors the deal was done months ago. Then whats the hold up get it over with. I smell a rat.
Winnipeg Rocks
May 27th, 2011
1:39 pm
I’ll see your $75.00 ticket and raise you. My family’s seats will be a little more than $75.00. I’ve got it covered – thanks for your financial advice but I’m doing alright.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
The big hockey fans from Canada who are posting here are the ones that you can bet never purchase a ticket. Have you noticed that most of these Canadians feel some sort of need to compare non-NHL related stuff like economy, crime etc…etc… I guess when you are raised and live in Canada the envy of not being born an American is something that just eats away at you every day. As Rick Moranis once said on David Letterman ” Being born a Canadian living next to the United States is like being brought up in a shack”.
Winnipeg Rocks
May 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Have you noticed that Winnipeg = Poverty doesn’t understand the inherent hypocrisy as he has an issue with people commenting on the economy while he uses his moniker? Yes, we are all in mourning that we can’t be American.
When Canadians travel, we do as Canadians. While in Europe and Asia, I met countless Americans who wore the maple leaf so people would think they were Canadian. I guess they are not proudly American enough to travel as Americans. Look around the world to see how well loved you are.
Krust
May 27th, 2011
3:01 pm
Winnipeg Rocks,
Your so European
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 27th, 2011
3:58 pm
“Look around the world to see how well loved you are” Another oldie but goodie from terribly insecure Canadians. United States of America is the center of the planet while Canada is an unknown place that few around the world care to visit and even fewer wish to live there. I think all U.S. Universities and Colleges should ban Canadians from attending, I wonder how this would be received in Canuck land. I’d bet Canadian women would be crossing the border to have their kids born in U.S. hospitals, so in the future they could still be able attend the greatest higher education system in the world.
Winnipeg Rocks
May 27th, 2011
3:58 pm
Já ég er. Oui, je suis. Ja, ik ben. Sì, sono. Ναι, είμαι
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 27th, 2011
4:04 pm
@ Winnipeg Rocks But there are only 30 million Canuckleheads compared to 300 million strong and brave Americans, maybe the federal government in Ottawa needs to take out ads in all the world’s newspapers to get those numbers up. Forget about the evil U.S and come and immigrate to Canada and yes it do have weather that most of you won’t like but the fishing is good.
Winnipeg Rocks
May 27th, 2011
4:15 pm
I always find buying another nearly bankrupt US company helps soothe my insecurities.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 27th, 2011
4:19 pm
Following the leader again Eh? Lose money in U.S. then lose money in Canada. Canadians are only followers in the world and never leaders.
Winnipeg Rocks
May 27th, 2011
4:52 pm
Follow the leader? Good God, man, we’re buying your country.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 27th, 2011
4:53 pm
I’ll bet that when the Canadian Prime Minister attends world leader events. he’s known mostly as “whose that guy” and “why is he wearing a name tag upside down” and if he happens to forget that name tag he’ll be asked to fill up the water glasses again.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 27th, 2011
4:58 pm
“We’re buying your country” Ever heard of buyer beware!!! Chinese are also buying up stuff in America does that mean that China and Canada are being set up for a future economic fall? Maybe a C.I.A. plan to get rid of deep woven world socialism.
G52PIM228
May 27th, 2011
5:49 pm
Canada = America’s little side kick..
illputitoncspan
May 27th, 2011
11:39 pm
Are you kidding me?!!! Anson Carter doesn’t have the money to buy an NHL team. Heck, he doesn’t have the money to buy an AHL team. Hey Anson, do us a favor and become Boston Sports and Entertainment. People in Boston know who you are. People here in the South don’t and could care less. Let’s see, we are land locked, we have terrible traffic and tons of violent crime… yeah, that move makes sense. Keep following the crowds and buying into the hype Anson. It’s like the scene out of Animal House, where at the end of the movie the band keeps walking into the wall at the end of the alley. Yep, that’s Atlanta now. I’m sorry, I mean the ATL! ATL, ATL, ATL, ATL, ATL…
illputitoncspan
May 27th, 2011
11:43 pm
To the loser posting as “Winnipeg=Poverty”… Dude are you kidding me?… You are taking shots at Winnipeg and Canada regarding education. Have you seen the crappy education the Atlanta Public Schools put out and the zeroes who run the schools… Not to mention DeKalb and Clayton and…
Winnipeg Rocks
May 28th, 2011
2:11 am
This Winnipeg = Poverty guy is not very bright. Keeps setting himself up and it’s not even a fair fight but if he insists, here we go:
1. While blogging from his economically depressed country, with double digit unemployment and record levels of foreclosed homes and personal bankruptcy, he takes shots at another country’s “poverty”.
2. He comments on the healthcare system of another country while every major indicator of population health in his country (incl infant mortality rates, life expectancy) lags behind Canada and the rest of the developed world.
3. While living in a country with an embarrassingly high illiteracy rate and educational indicators that don’t compare well with the developed world, he starts a commentary on another country’s education system.
4. The best one of them all though is the commentary on another country’s head of state. This from a man whose country elected George W Bush for not one, but TWO terms.
What’s next on your list of insults? That Canada has a problem with gun crime?
Ferns
May 28th, 2011
9:14 am
Enter your comments here
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 28th, 2011
12:07 pm
Here’s a list of world recognized great leaders from the country of Canada: