Updated: Another suitor for the Thrashers?
In response to a television report that once again named a filmmaker as an interested party in purchasing the Thrashers, team president Don Waddell issued the following statement on Friday afternoon. It indicates that another party this week expressed an interest in the Thrashers to keep the team in Atlanta.
Here is the statement:
“Along with all other groups who have expressed an interest in pursuing an ownership opportunity, which has happened as recently as earlier this week, we have said continuously that ‘until an agreement is signed and approved by the board of governors, it’s never too late but they will have to move very quickly and decisively. Ownership still is committed to selling at a greatly reduced price to anyone committed to Atlanta.’ ”
The potential suitor stepped forward Thursday and would be considered in the preliminary stages of interest. The introduction of the possible suitor to the Spirit may have come from a season-ticket holder. A great deal of work would need to be done, if proven a serious suitor, and time is an issue.
As I reported Friday, negotiations with True North to sell and relocate the Thrashers to Winnipeg continue, but a deal is not done. Should it be completed, it won’t be done before Tuesday following the Memorial Day weekend.
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384 comments Add your comment
ben
May 29th, 2011
5:48 am
there’s hope, afterall
a_ ladd
May 29th, 2011
7:25 am
when we move, the team will be called the nads. GO NADS, GO NADS!!!
G52 is a Mommas Boy
May 29th, 2011
7:41 am
Hey G52 you pimple-faced little coward behind a comp…Get a life and find a girlfriend or go and deliver some pizza peewee… Did I say girlfriend? Sorry best you’ll do is a stuffed white monkey from your crib.
Whatever happens with this hockey saga I just want it over already… Its old and past its prime.
andy
May 29th, 2011
8:21 am
we can hope this is true, but do you reaaly trust Waddell, Levenson, Gearon after all these years? of course they would take less, there is no relo fee and there would be a tenant for the arena. but can you imagine being a tenant of these dirtbags?
I cut the cheese Uh Huh Uh Huh
May 29th, 2011
8:25 am
Again, again.
EA
May 29th, 2011
8:54 am
Chirs-is it possible to block some of these posts? This blog is turning into a real hangout for some crazy people.
KR
May 29th, 2011
8:57 am
This is the right thing to do considering Belkin screwed the fans & the ATL!!!!
tim
May 29th, 2011
8:59 am
Why is Waddell still employed by the Thrashers and why does anyone listen to him. He’s a loser and a lyer.
If the team moves, please be the 1st on the bus.
Malhotra plans for Game 1 ... Wings looking for Dman ... Crosby to be re-evaluated ... Another group interested in Thrashers | My NHL Trade Rumors.com
May 29th, 2011
9:16 am
[...] Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Another group stepped forward with interest in buying the Thrashers and keeping the team in Atlanta. Statement from president Don Waddell. “Along with all other groups who have expressed an interest in pursuing an ownership opportunity, which has happened as recently as earlier this week, we have said continuously that ‘until an agreement is signed and approved by the board of governors, it’s never too late but they will have to move very quickly and decisively. Ownership still is committed to selling at a greatly reduced price to anyone committed to Atlanta.’ ” /* Share and Enjoy: [...]
Winnipeg Jet
May 29th, 2011
9:44 am
Winnipeg Jet flight 2.0….you are cleared for take off.
Hockeyfan
May 29th, 2011
9:47 am
I guess you can use the term “filmmaker” to describe someone that has only made one movie and works as the fry guy at In N Out Burger but you cant use the phrase “potential buyer” to refer to Mr Rollins
OldTimer
May 29th, 2011
10:08 am
If the Thrashers somehow stay, I’ll go see em play next year and I don’t know crap about hockey.
Steve-o
May 29th, 2011
10:13 am
Uggh, it’s hardly encouraging that a filmaker is supposedly interested in purchasing the team. If one of our local mega millionaires, like Arthur Blank or Bernie Marcus, showed interest… now that would be reason to feel a little bit encouraged.This sounds about as credible as the reports about Lil Wayne’s interest (I’m not criticizing Chris’s report, because he needs to keep us up-to-date, but this sounds like yet another tease)
Sammy
May 29th, 2011
10:17 am
Wadell is worried about his job. Winnipeg would not hire him.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. BRING ON THE JETS .!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ATLANTA; Enjoy MLB you have the Braves.
Hindu Elvis Pimp
May 29th, 2011
10:27 am
Forget you
sportsman
May 29th, 2011
11:36 am
The new owner rummer could be true but the breaking point isn’t the price of the team . It’s the cost of leasing arena from guess who.
fair and balanced
May 29th, 2011
11:39 am
glavine, rollins, the balkan. . …
thanks for reporting nothing fox 5.
winnipeg thrashers to the ice in 2011.
foothills
May 29th, 2011
11:41 am
Funny that they would move the team to a city whose Jets avg. less attendance in their final year than the Thrashers did this year. Memo to potential new ownership-Give me a product worth seeing & I’ll be back.
Blue Line
May 29th, 2011
11:59 am
Frankly, who cares? It’s ice hockey.
Jon Peters
May 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
Filmmakers are great at losing money and love doing it so sounds like a perfect fit for Thrashers.
Rob
May 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
BIG news…As of this morning the group led by TT and TG have secured the rights to the Thrasher’s ,terms/amount not disclosed ,but looks like good news for ATL and bad news for Winney..no more re-alignment issues…wahoo!
The worst part..
May 29th, 2011
12:07 pm
about this is that the team is actually headed in the right direction from gm thru coach & players, they’re a team on the rise no matter where they play.
hbtdawgs
May 29th, 2011
12:37 pm
didn’t the article say a filmmaker couldn’t that be Tyler perry?
Pegger8
May 29th, 2011
1:04 pm
I don’t mind looking at blogs occasionally and there can be some interesting arguments, and points of view especially from people on the “other side of the fence on an issue”. But this forum has become a complete joke. It has become a forum for cowards that hide behind their anonymity and their screens to say things they would NEVER say face to face. I never used to be a fan of “moderators” on these forums but now I fully understand why they exist on some, and would strongly suggest AJC invest a little $$$ in hiring one or just pull this thing altogether.
Unfortunate because its the perspective of people of Atlanta that I want to hear, and there have been some good honest viewpoints that provide some perspective. To the other 80% on here GET A LIFE, the amount of time you spend in this and other forums is laughable. Absolutely every word written by most can’t be taken the least bit seriously as soon as you look at the source. Or don’t get a life for that matter and continue, cause this is no longer a place I can find credible opinions from Thrasher fans which should comprise 80% of this forum. I’m done wasting my time with it, hope others follow suit and not continue to give these losers the attention they are so starved for.
Sorry to Atlanta hockey fans if you do lose your team (IMO its a foregone conclusion), most Winnipeggers wish we could get a team a different way. So long…
NLJ
May 29th, 2011
1:05 pm
Rob- Please supply a “source” for your Big News comments…
kovy
May 29th, 2011
1:17 pm
this is exactly what fans mean by asg double talk – all week when fans are pi$$ing and moaning about moving the thrashers, the asg is talking to a local bunch about the purchase. never believe anything this bunch says and doubt what you see them do.
TheAntiMe
May 29th, 2011
1:44 pm
A filmmaker huh? Well, that’s pretty cool. Thanks, Snoop, you’re my favorite Dogg! And might I add that I like your films quite a lot, sir.
Kurt
May 29th, 2011
2:08 pm
Nobody cares or goes to the games anyways. If someone wants to buy something that looses $40 million a year and keep them in ATL they’re stupid. Its all over
Mat"T"
May 29th, 2011
2:28 pm
Common ATL! Let’s pull off the 3rd period upset, like we did at PHILLY against the Flyers!
REasonable Doubt
May 29th, 2011
2:28 pm
There’s a reason why Ted Turner got OUT of the Thrashers’ ownership…so, even with a former Braves All Star, why would he want to get back in?
REasonable Doubt
May 29th, 2011
2:29 pm
…and, oh yeah, the South will never rise again.
Mat"T"
May 29th, 2011
2:30 pm
Wanna keep the team here? BUY SEASON TICKETS NOW! How would they let a team that has sold out its season tickets move???????? Common ATL! Get with it. There is probably not going to be any football this fall so what else are you gonna do. Time to put up and shut up.
litz
May 29th, 2011
2:41 pm
Tyler Perry has net worth of $350mil, with a projected 2011 paycheck of $130mil (on top of the existing $350mil). That’s probably enough to go it alone, if necessary.
Interestingly enough, that’s not even enough to make Forbes … the top 400 bottom out at $1bil … http://www.forbes.com/wealth/forbes-400#p_1_s_arank_-1_
There are only 5 members in Georgia : Anne Cox Chambers and Jim Kennedy (both Cox Enterprises), S. Truett Cathy (Chick Fil-A), and Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank (Home Depot)
Getthepuckouttahere
May 29th, 2011
3:24 pm
Keepp pumping the sunshine up the butts of these Thrashers fans CViv…with this Winnipeg deal at the 80% mark completed, I’m sure that this group, who will have to basically go through just preliminary stages to prove they even have a serious group of investors to be considered (if hey even exist) will sure outweight the weeks of actual financial verification, the city that has the ability to provide a venue for a team, a multi-billionaire with more than enough cash to front this deal, yet in the last second you’ve placed in your blog that there’s help on the way. I’ll bet you the salary you’ve got left coming in from AJC, that this post is nothing more that your attempt to keep these dolts hanging on your every word. Michael Gearon, owner must not know nearly what he’s talking about compared to this blogger. CViv’s sources are just so much mroe reliable than the guys who actaully cut the checks. Yeah, they’re staying, there’a local investor and I see finallly the hair beginning to grow on my palms.
Copy/past, copy/paste. Nothing new here, no new owners, just a writer who has got you all so duped on his every word that I can’t wait to see what excuses of those of us that realists he uses when it comes to fruition he’s totally full of it! I’ts over, but if your Viv, what’s left to hold onto but nameless local interet that in reaality is non-existent! If they’re out there, mention some names…you can’t you don’t have any.
Getthepuckouttahere
May 29th, 2011
3:42 pm
I never feel stupid, I’ve never been used. I’m trying to find the simplest way to convince the largest group of people I’ve ever seen assebled, led by a blogger who couldn’t get a job wiritng in most community college newsletters that regardless of what tidbit, regurgitated sound byte he throws around, it’s over. That’s why he’s a cheerleader for the AG brass. Watch and see where he goes when this team is sold. He’ll probably be offered a PR job within thier orginization. Most writers/bloggers who kiss butt in these suituations always end up working for those they refuse to call on the carpet. Or as I like to call him a YES MAN!
Getthepuckouttahere
May 29th, 2011
3:45 pm
For the south to RISE AGAIn it would havee had to been on top at some point. Since it hasn’tt it eamins in the bowels of the universe, whre it will remain…y’all! Kee fighting that virtual Civial War…in a video game u might just have a shot at a raw, but you’lll bever win.
Russ
May 29th, 2011
4:03 pm
Do you people actually believe that they might stay there? The deal is done. The (soon to be ex) owners are just yanking your chain.
2010-2011 NHL Thread
May 29th, 2011
4:11 pm
[...] 2010-2011 NHL Thread Good news YS: Still interest in keeping Thrashers in Atlanta | Atlanta Thrashers In response to a television report that once again named a filmmaker as an interested party in [...]
ThrashersFan2040
May 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
They are going to Winnipeg.
Give up already guys, lets just go watch WNBA
sportsman
May 29th, 2011
4:57 pm
Nothings over till the fat lady sings.
Acer
May 29th, 2011
5:14 pm
Russ, I expect that the last idiots will understand the message of Kane & Buff wearing Winnipeg/ Manitoba color in an actual NHL game.
G52PlM228© snow monkeys don't deserve the NHL..
May 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
I swallowed a lot of semen last night
I apologize for my earlier comments
TheAntiMe
May 29th, 2011
5:51 pm
I hear ya !! then again I was with ya !!
good times
G52PlM228© snow monkeys don't deserve the NHL..
May 29th, 2011
6:05 pm
i’ve had it with this crap
Fu.ck loserpeg
Fu.ck Atlanta
Bart
May 29th, 2011
6:16 pm
ThrashersFan2040: I’d go watch the WNBA…except that the Dream play in Philips. Until/unless the Thrashers are confirmed to stay, I won’t set foot in the building again. If/when the Thrashers do get relocated out of town, then I’m done with that arena for good…no more of my money in ASG pockets if there’s no hockey team here (spoken as a since-day-one-continuing-season-ticket-holder who still keeps pouring more good money into the Thrashers mismanaged product).
G52PlM228© snow monkeys don't deserve the NHL..
May 29th, 2011
7:08 pm
changed my mind again
fu.ck atlanta
cory
May 29th, 2011
7:32 pm
go jets go canada rocks
G52PlM228© snow monkeys don't deserve the NHL..
May 29th, 2011
7:44 pm
congratulations Winnipeg !!
welcome back to the NHL
G52PlM228© snow monkeys don't deserve the NHL..ATLANTA THRASHERS FOREVER!!
May 29th, 2011
7:45 pm
yup !! Congrats to the ‘peg
G52PlM228© snow monkeys don't deserve the NHL..ATLANTA THRASHERS FOREVER!!
May 29th, 2011
7:52 pm
I wish someone would show interest in owning my team in Gongdale.. We are the NHL Welfare Coyotes..