It will be a quiet holiday weekend on Thrashers front
Just a quick post before the Memorial Day weekend officially begins. I can tell you that nothing will be resolved on the Thrashers ownership front until at least Tuesday.
I know that’s little news, but the deal continues to be worked on and the holiday weekend will slow the process. I wanted to you have the up-to-date information.
I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday weekend. Remember what we celebrate and who we honor on Monday.
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164 comments Add your comment
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 27th, 2011
6:28 pm
I don’t really get the city bashing that is going on. Am I pissed that the Thrashers are moving to Winnipeg? Yes, but it isn’t there fault. Someone has to be the bigger person and ignore the stupid comments coming from either side, otherwise this whole blog turns into basically a pissing match of cities.
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 27th, 2011
6:32 pm
Ooops there should be their*
Twisted Wrister
May 27th, 2011
6:35 pm
Several sources are now reporting the 60 million dollar “relocation fee” is actually some form of early termination fee assessed the Atlanta Spirit for failing to comply with a ten year agreement with the NHL to operate the Thrashers in Atlanta.
Furthermore, several sources are stating Michael Gearon and Bruce Levenson were able to negotiate to keep $20 million of that penalty for themselves.
So Bettman is “rewarding” Levenson for running the Thrashers into the ground and the citizens of Winnipeg are paying the bill.
The Peggers and True North are getting screwed 60 million by Bettman and the ASG.
The ASG screws everyone, including Winnipeg.
thrasherdawg
May 27th, 2011
6:38 pm
Bettman says the following:
“So I think people need to take a deep breath and pause. There are probably half a dozen places in North America that are interested in NHL hockey. We try to avoid relocation to the extent we can . . . We only move clubs if we find we have no alternative.”
Mr. Bettman, I ask you how do you know there are no alternatives in Atlanta? Because we can’t find a buyer in 2 weeks means there is no alternative?
You, Mr. Bettman, should come to Atlanta and called a press conference and stated the following; Atlanta Thrashers ownership and fans are put on notice…you have one season to either show up to the games or find a buyer for the team.
Mr. Bettman does not seem to understand marketing a product. Moving Atlanta makes the NHL look bad, very bad. Owners need to take some responsibility.
The NHL should tell ownership you better find a buyer to keep team in Atlanta because the team will not be moved period. Force ownership to find a buyer, no matter the sale price, or file bankruptcy if needbe. Then let the NHL sell the team to the highest bidder. The NHL must protect their product at all cost. Thus protecting the fans.
Under the present guidelines ownership has no responsibility to provide a quality product to it’s fans. There are no real consequences for lazy owners because there is always some billionaires who pay to have another toy but only in the “city of their choice”.
In closing, the season ticket holders could ban together and possibly file a class action suit against the NHL for not exhausting all alternatives. The NHL never came to Atlanta and called a news conference. The NHL has not given time for due process to truly seek out an owner. The NHL has done nothing close for Atlanta as to what they’ve done for other clubs. It’s prejudicial.
Did the NHL contact David McDavid would be the first question I would ask. Did the NHL do anything to encourage David McDavid to consider buying the team. The list goes on.
The team has only had clear title for 5 months. The NHL is only been invovled for several weeks, how can they say there are no more alternatives?
There are 2 other alternatives. Wait one season to see what happens in PHX, a buyer in Atlanta, or offer an expansion team to Winnipeg for the following year and collect 90 million. There are plenty of alternatives. One extra year will not make a difference compared to the next 20 years without a team and youth hockey growth in the south.
Bettman has not looked at any other alternatives whatsoever. He has blinders on.
OHL
May 27th, 2011
6:40 pm
Monday is a holiday in the US, so if Bettman doesn’t want the negative US publicity, it will be a good day to do something on a slow news day when fewer are watching. The Stanley Cup Finals starts Friday, so this Monday is the furthest away from a playoff game until after the games are done which would seem too late. It also gives TNSE what they want in that if they announce on a Monday, they have a full business week to ride the buzz versus say announcing on a Friday. Monday just seems to make sense and as stated a million times, they couldn’t do it last Monday because of the holiday in Canada.
cancer
May 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
The ASG is a cancer to our city. Get them out of here!
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
YOUTH HOCKEY GROWN IN THE SOUTH??? That’s a riot. Where? The closest anyone here ever came to actually skating was the last ice storm, busting their a$$ on the sidewalk. Youth hockey…what a hoot that is. Besides, when are you ever going to be able to pry away the little chubbers away from the Playstation long enough to put on pads. Little wimps, they’d get hit one time against the boards and mom would be calling an accident attorney for damages for hurting the cream puff.
That’s almost as good as the moron who said, let the two cities split the team , half in Atl, the other half in Winnipeg. Big hockey fan there, really has a good grip on how the NHL operates. Must be the guy I told what icing was at the Flyers-Thrashers game last year.
Mark
May 27th, 2011
6:42 pm
At 51 I can tell you I was a Flames fan then and a Thrasheres fan now. It’s a shame we cant even have the backing of our own mayor, Mr. Reed. He made some pretty silly comments that I’m sure would not apply if we were talking about relocating the Hawks. Trouble is the Thrashers would survive just fine will a full arena on the northside on thier own and not having to worry about going in town basically to the west end.[not a good neighborhood] Although not mentioned much, I think thier were plenty of players who never gave Atlanta a chance i.e. Marion Hossa, who could have been a hockey god here, but chose not to get to know Atlanta. What comes to mind here is the great one, who left Edmonton in tears, but embraced L.A. and never cherry picked his way to a stanley cup. Much went wrong here, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that Atlanta fans are no less spirited than Canadien fans, a smaller base yes, but for the last 10 years bored to death with lackluster owners. We will however follow and keep close tabs on the team we are about to say goodbye to and hope for their success all the way to the cup. Winnepeg fans….we hope you think of us and where your future team got its start like Calgary did, always with the bright red A on there jersey, a very nice touch and a good memory for Atlanta fans. I only hope your owner[s] will actually care about the investment and do something to foward it. We never got that here. Good luck and much success Winnepeg!
OHL
May 27th, 2011
6:45 pm
thrasherdawg,
I don’t know how you can say that you only had 2 weeks to look for an owner when the team has been on the selling block for quite a while. Didn’t Anson Carter investigate or put in inquiries over 6 months ago? Tom Glavine was announced to have been interested on a minority level for at least a month or two. So how can you think you’ve only had 2 weeks to look for an owner? If a legit owner wanted to buy the team, they’ve had plenty of time to step up. But no one has. And you can’t blame your reporter for that either.
glovesave29
May 27th, 2011
6:52 pm
Our youth hockey KICKS BUTT down here. I played on the Junior Flames for years. We REGULARLY won tourneys up in Canada. We had ex-NHLers Boom Boom Geoffrion, Ernie Hicke and still-active Dan Bouchard for coaches and we played a tough, hard nosed hockey. While our opponents were busy admiring their skating skills and individual prowess – we acted as a team, hitting anything that moved and wearing them down for the inevitable third period destruction.
G52PIM228
May 27th, 2011
7:28 pm
Still no word from TNSE.. Maybe the province couldn’t, come up with the cash TNSE needed..
Wimps_ca
May 27th, 2011
7:40 pm
As a former season ticket holder for the Jets 72-96 I feel the pain of the Thrasher and Coyote fans. I wish the ‘peg and Quebec City got expansion teams not at the expense of Atlanta or Phoenix fans.
I’m bugged by the Cdn trolls on both Phoenix and Atlanta web sites, GROW UP and show some class.
I don’t trust Butt-man until the ink is dry, these past 2 years of using the ‘peg as a threat has been very hard on the Wpg fans as well. Since this is taking so long I’m beginning to think that Wpg. hearts are about to be ripped out again because Butt-man has something else up his sleeve.
“Butt-man annouces a magical investor for Atlanta like Boots Delbaggio from the slammer”
Stick Together
May 27th, 2011
7:42 pm
Boycott all Phillips Arena events forever.
lordstan57
May 27th, 2011
8:01 pm
Thrashers gone.
NHL gone.
A.S., LLC. gone. Hoo-efn-rah!!!!!!
NHL Hockey????
DEAD TO ME NOW.
Will rejoice in ALL of their failures from here on out.
This collection of back-ass backwards, in-bred, good Ol’ boys are
a disgrace to the sport. They talk a good game….. of tradition, sportsmanship,
love of the game, for the good of the game…yada, yada.
ESPECIALLY a goodly number of Canadians….. F.O.S.!
I wash my hands of you….
#37
thrasherdawg
May 27th, 2011
8:13 pm
OHL
The NHL did not get involved till several weeks ago. I wasn’t referring to the ASG.
It’s the NHL by-laws, not the ASG by-laws. The NHL hasn’t been involved, there in lies the problem.
There has only been a clear title for 5 months regardless. That’s alot less time than the years the NHL has given and helped other organizations.
Getthepuckouttahere… obviously you have no knowledge of youth hockey in Georgia. There is so much demand for ice time that two more rinks were recently built and there was plans for two more within the next year. Currently there is not enough ice for the demand.
MrBill
May 27th, 2011
8:16 pm
Stanley Cup parade will happen on Peachtree ST sooner or later I have bought my season tickets and I know we will have exciting Hockey this season I recieved a message from an Angel.
Puck Headlines: Kings GM’s softball threat to Penner; Bruins rap | | sportsport
May 27th, 2011
8:17 pm
[...] • No Thrashers move announcement before Tuesday, per the AJC. [AJC] [...]
G52PlM228
May 27th, 2011
8:31 pm
Did not know Canadians were so racist…interesting. You learn something new every day.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
10:03 pm
Youth hockey in Georgia…funny, I played my whole life, lived here for 6 years and this is the first I’ve heard of this mysterious Youth hockey Juggernaut. Whatever it is you’re smoking, reduce it to half. Go to the northeast, play the likes of Watertown Mass. Merose, Wakefield and Saugus. Your whole team will be crying for their Wii’s. Personally I think you’re talking out you a$$. Give me some links to these so-called talents and scores and when and where they played if you’re so sure of yourself. I have yet to find anyhting about this fantastic group that skates circles around Canadian teams. When I went to the Juiors in Quebec 4 years ago, Sweden, Mass, Germany, Conn, Finland were represented well, I never saw a Georgia team anywhere. I want proof wth pictures of squads and trophies.
Mr Bill, I want my money within 24 hours of the league announcing the Thrashers are packing the truck… THS SEASON! Loser.
Fan of old
May 27th, 2011
10:25 pm
I would like to know why the city of Atlanta can subsidize the Hawks with bonds and they cannot do the same for the Thrashers seems kinda one sided to me if you get my drift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The team should not be in downtown, they should be playing in duluth where the fans would actually feel safe goingto a game. I am a Flames/Thrasher fan and it is sickening that a city this size cannot support a hockey team. The people that run this city have no interest in hockey therfore they will offer no help. The mayor in Winnepeg said the mayor did little to help the Thrashers.
Duke
May 27th, 2011
10:33 pm
Lets head to Minesota and let them hear from The Thrasher Fans at The Draft! One last chance people! Road Trip…Gaaaarrrryyyyy….You…..
Fan of old
May 27th, 2011
10:34 pm
Why dont we get rid of the Hawks as well I do not like that thug sport anyway! Sounds harsh don’t it. That is the way Thrasher fans feel with the mayor not willing to help. Back in 1980 when the Flames left the owners at the time were in talks with actor Glenn Ford, he was going to keep the team here but the deal fell through thus went the Flames to Calgary. Deja Vu has set in and it is 31 years ago all over.
Thomas
May 27th, 2011
10:35 pm
Going from an arena that holds 18,545 people to an arena that only holds 15,000 people makes no sense at all , and the city and metro area of atlanta is way larger than the winnipeg area, if the thrashers move it will just be a matter of time before the winnipeg team moves again please don’t move our team I will probably pay little attention to the NHL anymore and just focus on minor league hockey. Not only will you lose this thrashers fan but also an nhl fan ASG sucks!
Let NONE In
May 27th, 2011
10:53 pm
“One sign that the deal is close is an announcement that the Winnipeg police have drawn up plans to deal with the celebration that will follow the return of NHL hockey. Police say they’ll turn a blind eye to violations of the city’s open container laws but won’t tolerate any disorderly drunks.”
Conclusive proof here…LOL. You Canadians suck as journalists and life in general.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Misinformation+surrounds+Thrashers+move/4854057/story.html#ixzz1NbzaSDPq
@Thomas
May 27th, 2011
10:55 pm
If the size of an arena dictates the success or lack of success of a team then why don’t you just move the Thrashers to wherever the Falcons play? 3000 seats isn’t going to make a difference when you don’t sell out what you have anyway – especially when your seats sell for less. Can’t anybody in Atlanta do any simple math? I guess not, with public education at levels lower than 3rd world countries. But I guess you really don’t want to go to school because that’s where you get shot or hooked on crack or sucked into prostitution or porn.
@Let none
May 27th, 2011
10:58 pm
Police will turn a blind eye to open containers during the celebration in Winnipeg but that’s a one time thing at a once in a century event. What excuse do you have for your police for not enforcing ANYTHING – EVER ! We’re talking open containers of beer but in Atlanta its open containers, dirty needles, baggies of crack that get a blind eye turned to. Smoke up Thrashers fan!
braveslose
May 27th, 2011
11:01 pm
I am so disgusted right now I cannot stand it! The Tampa Bay Lightning choked big time. Know Boston Beaners will gag against Vancouver Canucks. Possibly be swept in four. Know TB would have wiped up ice with those pretenders from Vancouver. Lightning picked wrong time to go bellyup. What putzes! Best to all. Be looking to watch Winnipeg Wussies ice capades later this year. Cha cha cha.
Trevor
May 27th, 2011
11:01 pm
Hi Thrasher Fans , i really feel for you Thrasher fans , i know the feeling , i am from Winnipeg and i tell you it has lots to do with Betman , i remember in 1996 when we had an Owner that could not give a hoots about the Jets any more and i remember watching him just to find a buyer
its sad when ownership do’s not give a care about a team you love 
, we waited 15 years to have the NHL back and to us this is a long time , in Winnipeg we eat breath and live Hockey this is a Hardcore hockey town , heck i lived in Toronto Ontario and they got the Leafs and let me tell you Winnipeg is a way more Hockey hungry city then Toronto, but when the Jets Left Betman could not give a care when they left but when it came to Glendale they did lots but with Atlanta they did nothing , to me this makes no sense , you guys are good fans all away around , but i am pumped on geting a NHL team and now in Winnipeg we got the right people hear for the team so it all fits , but there is always the AHL its good hockey look into that League its good hockey .
samsonwpg
May 27th, 2011
11:02 pm
I lost the Jets in ‘96 and people don’t actually remember that they were not any good. I was sad but now I love to go down to Phoenix to see them play. I will pay to see them down there as a treat but not here as salaries have skyrocketed. I feel for all of Atlanta because I know what it feels like. I was a diehard NHL fan but not anymore but I am sure that means nothing to the real Thrasher fans. I feel for you people and your kids who embraced this great sport. I look forward to visiting Georgia one day as I have not ever heard a negative thing about your beautiful state!
braveslose
May 27th, 2011
11:03 pm
Hi Trevor. The old Knights would have waxed the Thrashers nine out of 10 times! You guys ARE getting an AHL team. That is being kind!
endurableconcei
May 27th, 2011
11:04 pm
I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, http://GoGetBids.com
@endurableconcei
May 27th, 2011
11:06 pm
Thanks for the info, go sell some Thrashers season tix so we can keep the team here.
Wow, new kind of troll. Terd.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
11:09 pm
To that redneck that told me the southern team was giving the Bruins a BEATDOWN the other night in a 5-4 loss, and the Southern team was going to knock them out…Got news for you…TB is on their way to the golf course, MY Bruins..on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals after tIm Thomas shut the Lightning out for the second time. What’s your team doing, LEAVING for the second time! Stick that one in your pipe and smoke it Jim Bob! Boston, soldout, almost 18,000 people. That’s supporting a hockey team, even during the bad. This is why this city sucks when it comes to sports team support. You don’t deserve a hockey team!!! SEE Ya! Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
11:12 pm
Braveslose…ya they choked…they got shutout for the 2nd time. Whose bitter…all the Thrasher fans as reality sets in the team is gone and it’s their own fault. Look at Boston, going to the Cup, look at Atlanta, packing their cup!
illputitoncspan
May 27th, 2011
11:13 pm
Everyone relax! The Thrashers are not moving. I just talked to Kincade and Jay Cleamons. There is a buyer who is going to keep the team in Atlanta. They say his name is the Condor. Everything is going to be okay folks. No need to be alarmed. Kincade says everything is going to work out. “The Condor has landed!” Un-freakin’-believable!!!
Getthepuckouttahere
May 27th, 2011
11:13 pm
Btw, where’s ThrasherDawg with answers to my questions about these Ga. Youth hockey superstars that skated around the likes of Canadian teams? He doesn’t have it because I was at the Juniors in Quebec and there wasn’t any Georgia team the 2 weeks I was there. There certainly wasn”t any little rednecks outskating the northern kids or Finns, or Germans when I was in town. What were they, an exhibition on how not to play the game? Give me a break. I’m still waiting for links to these teams from Ga, their pics, their stats, their results. Another one who talks out their a$$.
joman
May 27th, 2011
11:14 pm
I think that everyone should quit bashing each others cities, it is a hard call on everyone. Yes we in Winnipg would like to get an NHL team and you guys are sad to be losing yours. That is the story not picking apart the crime in each city. Every city has crime that’s not the issue, the issue is you guys losing your team and us hopefully gaining one.
illputitoncspan
May 27th, 2011
11:17 pm
Did Thrasher fans call Philips Arena “The Bulb”? They should have called it “The Erector Set”. That place is a dump!
Big Wally
May 27th, 2011
11:26 pm
I’ve yet to figure out why scumbags like “get the puck” continually come on here to bash the Thrasher fans. Is your life that pathetic that you have to kick fans when they are down and about to lose their team? Does this give you a sense of superiority to compensate for obvious other shortcomings in your life? What will you do for entertainment when the Thrashers leave, go to funerals and mock the family members of the departed?
G52PlM228
May 27th, 2011
11:32 pm
Get off your high horse wally
Big Wally
May 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
Speaking of head cases…………….
G52PlM228
May 27th, 2011
11:35 pm
f’n whiner
Big Wally
May 27th, 2011
11:43 pm
Brilliant retort. I take it English is your second language.
G52PlM228
May 27th, 2011
11:47 pm
don’t take anything wally, you can’t afford it
Kelly
May 27th, 2011
11:48 pm
It’s too bad that guys like Real Hockey Fan have to come on here and spout invectives at Atlanta hockey fans. It’s even worse that anyone has to rebut his childish banter with equally childish and moronic behaviour.
It was not lack of fan support that killed Atlanta. Does that matter? No. Unfortunately, the only fact that does matter is this: the people who own the Thrashers no longer wish to and they have not been able to find someone to buy and keep them in Atlanta.
It was also not lack of fan support that killed the Jets. Bettman gave Winnipeg two years to find local owners and the last-ditch bid didn’t work. Not even Bettman can force someone to continue owning something they don’t wish to own any more.
Sorry that ASG turned out to be a bunch of clowns. But none of this is Winnipeg’s fault. Your guys hung out a ‘for sale’ sign and Winnipeg’s guys responded.
Big Wally
May 27th, 2011
11:52 pm
That’s what she said.
G52PlM228
May 27th, 2011
11:55 pm
Wally stop being a douche
G52PIM228
May 27th, 2011
11:55 pm
Really, you are impersonating me to say stuff like that.. Dog, you are SUPER WEIRD..
G52PIM228
May 27th, 2011
11:56 pm
You guessed my impostors flaw there Wally, they are poorly educated..
Big Wally
May 27th, 2011
11:58 pm
At least you got it. Time to go, now that I made my Michael Scott reference for the night.