Thrashers deal may continue into next week
Negotiations on a sale agreement between the Atlanta Spirit and True North Sports and Entertainment that would result in the relocation of the Thrashers to Winnipeg, Manitoba continue to move slowly and now may not be completed until next week.
Two people familiar with the negotiations who asked not to be identified because the sensitivity of the talks told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday progress continues to be made. “All parties are moving slowly,” said one on the people familiar with the situation.
A sales agreement has not been completed with details described as “consent, owner approval, proof of financial information, etc.” still to be worked through.
“There are complex issues that take time to work through,” the AJC was told.
In typical sales involving a professional sports franchise, a Consent Agreement is negotiated between the league and the negotiating parties. It contains language on the relationship between the league and team and the rules for operation.
“I would be shocked if it happened by Memorial Day weekend,” the AJC was told.
One of the details not in question is the sales price and how it will be divided. According to one of the people familiar with the negotiations, the $170 million price tag – with $110 million going to the Atlanta Spirit and $60 million going to the NHL as a relocation fee are and have been firmly in place.
While the final details are still being worked out, members of the Atlanta Spirit organization met this week to discuss the details of an announcement when an agreement is finalized.
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138 comments Add your comment
George
May 26th, 2011
3:44 pm
If the owners and league are ok with the team being sold to move then it’s gone. But if the league is against it then they can stop it with a lawsuit. Which is what happened when Jim Balsillie tried buying the coyotes and moving them to Hamilton. The league stepped in to stop it, team declares bankruptcy and NHL is forced to buy it.
Get Out Of Atlanta
May 26th, 2011
3:48 pm
So glad to see them go!!!!! They never have been anything but losers…..we don’t need any more loser teams……we have the choking Braves……will be so glad to see the Thrashers gone!!!!!
Bluelander
May 26th, 2011
3:58 pm
Chris, why do you continually take ASG at their word and refuse to take them to task? Why is it that Jeff and Mark are the only ones being critical and asking questions of them and Bettman? You are a good reporter. It is painfully obvious that ASG has done a whole lot of stuff behind the scenes to prevent the Thrashers from being sold to someone who will keep them here. Why not question them about the offers on all 3 properties and whether the Hawks and Arena rights are truly for sale, or the curious timing of the Moore’s exclusivity agreement? C’mon man, ask some questions!
Einstein
May 26th, 2011
4:23 pm
Sorry nopester. I’m a die-hard dawg through and through. I was just trying to make the Techies feel better about themselves since they can’t ever beat us.
Ilya Kovalchuk
May 26th, 2011
4:31 pm
Now you see why I left. Not only the owners suck but, the press does as well.
OHL
May 26th, 2011
5:02 pm
George,
The league doesn’t even need to go to the courts, they are their own company. The BoG put the kibosh on Balsille, not the courts. And it was Nashville he did that with. But your point still stands, if they want to block it, they can, and they are not making an effort to block this.
letsnotgetexcited71
May 26th, 2011
7:40 pm
It’s fascinating how a great game like hockey can bring out the stupid in everyone. The fact of the matter is both Winnipeg and Atlanta fans are both getting beaten and whipped like an old mule. This deal is probably done and the NHL will take there sweet time annoucing this thing. So lets all agree lets sit and wait and just ignore CBC,TSN, ESPN, AJC and whoever else speaks about this and lets wait for TSNE and ASG to finish and annouce this thng. After all at the end of the day they are the ones doing this deal. Buy the way the upper deck was never opened for moose games get your facts straight
MrBill
May 26th, 2011
7:55 pm
This is getting exhausting all this going back and forth and I am betting a $1000.00 with anybody out their that time is running out and this deal will not happen for this year but will hang over or heads next season. They still have to do a test sale of season tickets in Winnipeg and next week is June and I’m sure Winnipegers have there summer plans and money allocated for vacations and what not and did not plan on buying hockey tickets so we maybe lucky.
letsnotgetexcited71
May 26th, 2011
8:20 pm
Mrbill quick and simple this will get done because ASG does not want to right paper anymore, and as for WINNIPEGERS they will be there trust me on that.
MrBill
May 26th, 2011
8:41 pm
Time will tell and Gary Bettmen just said in on Tsn sports time is getting short and I think this won’t get done in time and I think the Stanley cup playoffs and finals are in the way at this point and Bettmen dosen’t liike bad press. If this was going to be done then it would already have happened and don’t forget you have a draft coming up. The new team has to get people in place like scouts and winnipeg won’t know who to draft our scouts have been doing all the scouting indications are they won’t keep Dudley and Ramsey so they would to hire a staff pretty quickly. I believe this deal will fall apart soon and the Thrashers will be back next season and we will have our best season ever and attendance will be way up there. Be positive Atlanta !!!!
OHL
May 26th, 2011
9:10 pm
letsnotgetexcited71/MrBill,
I heard that TNSE wants to announce on a Monday because it would give them a full business week to sell and ride the buzz whereas any other day you have that much less time. If you do it on a Friday it may almost be useless compared to a Monday. Anyday in between is just that much less than Monday.
What is also interesting is that the Stanley Cup Finals will start next Friday, a full week after tomorrow’s Game 7. I can’t remember how it has always been historically, but it didn’t seem like that long. But it would make sense that if Gary wanted there to be dead time and not have the press interfere with the playoffs, this is exactly what he would do. No one knows for sure but that makes a lot of sense if they were to announce next Monday. And of course we have heard it a thousand times already that they couldn’t do it this past Monday due to the holiday.
Kelly
May 26th, 2011
9:30 pm
MrBill: Just because the last i hasn’t been dotted and last t crossed doesn’t mean that all parties aren’t already preparing for the deal to go through. The NHL has already drawn up a schedule with Winnipeg on it, TNSE is already working on who would be the executive and Winnipeggers are already lining up their pennies for season tickets. If it falls apart now it will only be because some insurmountable issue cropped up, not because of artificial timing issues.
hockeyguru
May 26th, 2011
9:56 pm
regarding the so-called “attendance” fans not coming issue–the Chicago Blackhawks went through a long stretch where there were 3,000 people a game and the team was deep in the red–and there was no talk about moving the team (I know, they’re an Original Six, but if this was the criteria, they would have been gone.) No, the issue is the ASG were/are not committed to the team..
MrBill
May 26th, 2011
10:28 pm
Monday is holiday here in the US and the banks are closed I bet a week from now there will still be no deal and Winnipegers have to pass a test of buying season tickets for three years to see if they can support this. I don’t believe it will happen. Here come the Atlanta Thrashers in Phillips arena this fall and letsnotgetexcited71 you are from Canada and there will no NHL in Winnipeg this year.
Kelly
May 26th, 2011
11:08 pm
I’m curious as to why anyone is accusing Winnipeg of ‘poaching’ the Thrashers.
Your owners put up the “for sale” sign and our guys responded. How is that poaching any more than if you listed your house for sale and received offers?
MrBill: I wouldn’t be buying those Thrasher tickets just yet. Word from a number of sources is that none of the issues outstanding are at all deal-breakers, merely details that must be worked out. Your mayor has even read the eulogy already. Sorry, dude. I know it sucks to lose a team.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
12:06 am
If the Thrasher’s are being poached then what Michael Gearon says in this interview done today isn’t representitive of that…read it and weep!
Earlier today, I spent about an hour in a one-on-one conversation with Atlanta Thrashers co-owner, Michael Gearon – getting his side of the story on how exactly we’ve gotten to this point in the whole “Thrashers relocation saga.” It was his side of the story, mind you. But there was no pretending that there was still a chance the team would remain. It’s not going to happen. In fact, he offered that the deal to sell the Thrashers is “about 80-percent complete.” However, an announcement may not come until next week – maybe. Gearon said that there are still mounds of paperwork to take care of.
Mounds of paperwork, but this deal is moving on and will get done. Unless of course they decide to use one idiot’s idea on these boards, and split the season in half with Winnipeg. I’ve never in my life heard anything nearly as stupid as that. But in Atlanta you can’t ever say you’ve heard it all, there’s always some dope who wll top the previous Billy Ray Jim Bob!
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
12:13 am
Winnipeg doesn’t have to pass a test. What’s wrong with you people, can’t you read? Are you really in that much denial? The league will make the announcement, you don’t think for a minute that ASG is going to hold some sort of press conference to tell all of you they sold the team do you? It’s over, a done deal, they’re doing paper work, the team is moving. Get on with your life, you lost another franchise, you won’t be getting another one. Atlanta isn’t a hockey town, this is pretty clear isn’t it? If it was this team wouldn’t be moving. I can’t believe how many of you think there’s going to be some 11th hour heroics, some guy will walk into Thrasher HQ with a check to buy the team and keep them here. Unbelievable!
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
12:14 am
Mr. Bill is obviously one who doesn’t know how to read or doesn’t get out of mommy’s basement much. Test sales? Where do you come up with this crap? READ the interivew on FOX Atlanta you dope with the owner, he said it right there, the sale is 80% done, they’re doing paperwork, the team is leaving town.
The only testing that needs to be done is in your head. What an idiot.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
12:25 am
Here’s the problem you dopes, you’ve sat here and relied on all the news of this sale from a guy who has to find a job since the Thrasher’s are leaving. Why not try moving out of this so-called blog, hit Fox Atlanta or Google and see what else is out there, there’s plenty. If you’d rather hang on to the little bits of info this guy is tossing at you, like he’s got some sort of inside info you’ll be here until next season’s all star break. It’s over, done. CViv is laughing his butt off, he’s been stringing you along, he’s got nothing but second hand news. At least Fox had the berries to knock on the Thrasher’s door and interview someone who knows wtf their talking about…the owner. Here, read it for yourself…it’s more than you’ll get from this moron.
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/atlanta-thrashers-owner-talks-to-fox-5%27s-ken-rodriguez-20110526-tm
Andrew51
May 27th, 2011
12:32 am
@Nathan
An injunction on what grounds?
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
12:48 am
By the way Mr. Bill, I’ll take that $1,000 bet and raise it another $5,000. You on? You that sure they’re staying?
PT Barnum…A sucker born every minute. Now go cash those welfare checks Bill, and I only take cash!
Crazy Diamond
May 27th, 2011
12:49 am
Cooked books? At Atlanta Spirit? Those guys don’t know the recepie for ice cubes! They could spoil a serving of cold cereal. No cooking there.
Its been prooven twice – NHL in Atlanta is a loser. No need to cook the books.
Andrew51
May 27th, 2011
12:57 am
@MrBill
Denial – it’s not just a river in Egypt anymore huh?
What the majority of people don’t realize is that sources have confirmed that this deal has been in place for months and all things hockey are already in the process of transition North. Sorry. They are ready to go in Winnipeg.
letsnotgetexcited71
May 27th, 2011
10:24 am
Sorry I took so long to answer doing a little work but taking a break. Mr Bill I mean no disrespect to anybody in the Atlanta market as we in Winnipeg can tell you this sucks and everybody on both sides of the ledger feel the strain. The fact is all the wishing and hoping isn’t going to change the fact that this is taking time and when it is done then it is done. I don’t disagree with you on the fact that I think this announcement will run on NHL time maybe Tuesday or early Wednesday next week because I believe game 1 starts Wednesday and Winnipeg is only a 3 hour flight from Vancouver so Mr Bettman could make this. Plus this would probably not take anything away from the Stanley cup finals anyway just maybe in Winnipeg. Guys never let this get personnel it’s just two business entities doing a deal, it just happens to effect people who I believe on both sides to be passionate hockey fans.
Nathan
May 27th, 2011
12:37 pm
@Andrews 51,
Just thinking out loud based on the previously posted NHL bylaws link. And trust me injunctions have been granted on a great deal less than this.
@All Winnipeg Supporters
Guys, I sincerely hope that you don’t think my negativity or anyone elses is directed at you bc its not. If I was a winnipeg native I’d be hoping, praying, scratching, and clawing for a team and I’m glad you are getting one, I just wish it wasn’t mine. The bottom line is that Atlanta has gotten the shaft since day 1 because we were never truly given an honest shot to compete with this ownership. We have literally been lied to, me personally as I have had actual face to face contact with one of the ASG and it was nothing short of someone literally talking to me like I was mentally handicapped. It is unfortunate how insulting this whole process has been.
letsnotgetexcited71
May 27th, 2011
1:39 pm
Nathan
I think being from Winnipeg we do forget what is happening in this process considering it happened to us not so long ago. Looking at the Atlanta Thrashers from afar I believe ownership was a problem, but management was more the culprit, Don Wadell is a idiot. I never blame people who live in a non traditional market to not show up if the team doesn’t look like it is trying to get better from a management position. It’s tougher now because this team does look like it is close to being a winner, so to the fans of Atlanta and I’m seriuos when I write this I truly do feel for you. Guys it truly looks like there is some passion for hockey down there and this canadian respects the hell out of you for that.
Stan Drulia
May 27th, 2011
4:44 pm
Hahaha! Getthepuckouttahere tells us to get out of this chat and read somthing else… this as he posts four lengthy posts at once and for days has posted things proving what a stupid canadian rube he is. Good show aye?!?! I’m going swimming this weekend at a cookout… I guess you will be digging your driveway out of snow. Canadian idiot.
MrBill
May 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
Stanley Cup Finals begin wed june 1st with the Canucks and Bruins,Winnipegers will be caught in that since the Moose is the farm team of the Canucks and Bettman and the league of Governors will all caught in that. If a deal is not annouced on Tuesday than I think time will run out for the completion of this deal and True North still has to see how Winnipeg will support this team with Test ticket drive to see if the can sell 3 yrs of season tickets, Gary Bettman doesn’t want distractions during this time he will be busy going back and forth from Vancouver and Boston opposite ends of the country. Alot of things have to be done to get a team in place in Winnipeg for next season like a team name, uniforms, advertisers, a staff, sales people and a whole lot more. I don’t think this will happen. The Last thing Bettman wants is to put a team in Winnipeg that is completely disorganized with a couple of months to go for traning camps set to open and also a draft coming up Winnipeg has nothing in place and they haven’t been scouting out players. It would be very chaotic I’m sure. Just think for an expansion it takes a couple of years to get things in place before they even start to play. So hold on Atlanta time may just save us.
G52PIM228
May 28th, 2011
3:11 pm
I just really love penis. Thought everyone should know that. Plus Atlanta can lick the underside of my sweaty, hairy, and wrinkly nut-sack.
G52PIM228
May 28th, 2011
3:14 pm
Wow, what are the dozens of hockey fans in Atlanta going to do now without an NHL team. Probably have sex with their cousins I presume. Bunch of inbred hicks.
Jets4ever
May 28th, 2011
3:17 pm
Tells you all you need to know about the difference in the fan base. Atlanta is on the verge of losing their team and a hundred or so show up for a small “rally”. A premature report in the evening from the Globe and Mail and a thousand people flock to the streets of Winnipeg for an impromptu street hockey game and celebration. Go Jets Go!!!!!!
Jets4ever
May 28th, 2011
3:26 pm
Wow, Atlanta fans have been clinging to hope that a retired MLB or NHL player may buy the thrashers. They were even hoping a two-bit rapper may buy the team. How much are they willing to sell the team for to keep it in Atlanta???? $8,000????? What’s next, a retired janitor from the ajc is going to come forward?????? Brutal!!!!! Go Jets Go!!!!!
Jetsrock
May 28th, 2011
3:33 pm
Sorry mr bill you are mistaken. Winnipeg will retain the services of the current staff including the gm and scouts and will be fully prepared for the draft and training camp. And true north will already have ideas for a team name and jerseys prepared. No concern there. A ticket drive is not a necessity for the NHL to approve the sale and the owners have already tested the market and are satisfied it will work or they wouldn’t have gone this far. Thomson isn’t a billionaire 25 times over because he makes stupid business decisions. This is happening. deal with it. Go Jets Go!!!!!
MrBill
May 29th, 2011
11:22 pm
Mr Bill
May 29th, 2011
11:10 pm
To late for Thrashers to move if you think about it, just think of everything that has to go on in Winnipeg to get ready for season thats only a few months away. Training camp starts in September, they have to get a team name uniforms but before that you have free agency and Atlanta has some free agents also you have a draft coming up plus they have to get a staff in place looks like they won’t keep Dudley or Ramsey also a test ticket drive has to be done to see if Winnipegers will committ to three years of Season Tickets also the NHL needs to consider they have an arena that will hold 15000 and we averaged just over 13000 this season. Just think they are trying to fill up about 1500-2000 more seats not that big of a deal. They need an Arena that will hold atleast 18000 or 19000, also lets say you have 15000 a game that is still average and its not a sell out compared to other arenas. Even if you get 15000 a game and there are another 3-4000 who want to get in well they won’t be able to. That means they lose money. If I were True North I would seriously consider walking away from this because they won’t be able to get good quality players and the end result they will be left out in the cold a financial melt down. If I were them I would have that arena expanded so it could sit more people because its the NHL and not the AHL and right now its not NHL ready, I don’t care what they say.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 30th, 2011
10:21 pm
A letter to the Thrasher Fans posted on my website – Yougabsports.com.
Read it and enjoy…it puts in perspectiv what Thrasher fasn are…dreamers!!!!
http://yougabsports.com/pt/A-Letter-To-Thrasher-Fans/blog.htm
Getthepuckouttahere
May 30th, 2011
10:22 pm
A letter to the Thrasher Fans posted on my website – Yougabsports.com.
Read it and enjoy…it puts in perspective what Thrasher fans are…dreamers!!!!
http://yougabsports.com/pt/A-Letter-To-Thrasher-Fans/blog.htm
YOUGABSPORTS.COM
May 30th, 2011
11:21 pm
Wow CViv…you really keep going out on a limb ith these updates don’t you?
A letter to the Thrasher Fans posted on my website – Yougabsports.com.
Read it and enjoy…it puts in perspectiv what Thrasher fasn are…dreamers!!!!
http://yougabsports.com/pt/A-Letter-To-Thrasher-Fans/blog.htm
Ray Ferraro's Bobble Head Doll
May 31st, 2011
7:36 am
2 pm presser in Winnipeg?