Ramsay, coaches wait to hear their future
Craig Ramsay sits and waits.
The Thrashers head coach still doesn’t know if he will be joining his team when it relocates to Winnipeg next season. Other members of the organization have already been told not to pack their bags.
Ramsay finally spoke to a representative of the Winnipeg franchise Thursday evening – 10 days after the deal was announced that the Atlanta Spirit would sell the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment.
Ramsay spoke to new Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, whose hiring was announced Wednesday. Thrashers GM Rick Dudley was told Sunday he would not be retained before the sale is approved later this month and the team relocated to Manitoba.
“It’s very unnerving not knowing what the future holds,” Ramsay told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday.
Ramsay said he was told by Cheveldayoff that a decision has not been made about the coaching staff. The still unnamed Winnipeg organization would meet throughout the weekend before making a final decision, he was told. Associate coach John Torchetti, assistant coach Mike Stothers and video coach Tony Borgford also wait to hear their future.
Several members of the Thrashers support staff have already been told they will not have positions in Winnipeg – including the equipment managers, athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coach. None were considered for positions despite their tenure with the Thrashers. Head equipment manager Bobby Stewart spent all 12 years with the Thrashers and 26 years with the Flames organization in Atlanta and Calgary.
The Thrashers staff was informed of Winnipeg’s decision on Monday by Craig Heisinger, who was named senior vice president and assistant general manager. Heisinger was in Atlanta Monday, two days before being named to his new position, to inventory equipment and other physical assets of the sale.
“It’s awkward,” Ramsay said. “We are hockey people, but we are also people. There are other jobs. … I just asked him to [make a decision] expeditiously.”
Several open positions in hockey, both at the NHL and AHL level, have been filled since the sale and relocation of the Thrashers became imminent.
Ramsay became the fifth head coach in Thrashers history before last season. He concluded his first full season as an NHL head coach with the disappointment of missing the playoffs but was looking forward to continued work in the organization. He may not get that chance.
“I didn’t think it would end like this,” said Ramsay, a long-time assistant who left Boston after the three previous seasons. “I can’t look into the future. I saw what I thought was a good opportunity to work with someone I had known for years (in Dudley). I thought we could improve the team. I’m sorry we didn’t get there.”
Thrashers strength and conditioning coach Barry Brennan said he was told that his position at the NHL level would be filled by the coach who currently holds that position with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. According to the team’s website, Lee Stubbs is listed as Assistant Medical Trainer/Strength and Conditioning for the Moose, which is also owned by True North and play in Winnipeg’s MTS Centre.
“I’m disappointed I won’t be making the transition, but I respect the fact they are being loyal to their guy,” Brennan said.
Brennan has been in Atlanta the past week and has begun work with current players. He worked with Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn Friday.
“They have to be prepared to play in Winnipeg and I’m happy to help them for as long as I’m here,” Brennan said.
Thrashers vice president and assistant general manager Larry Simmons has yet to be informed of his future. President Don Waddell said last week he will not be a part of the Winnipeg franchise.
On a personal note: In case you folks thought I fell off the face of the earth, I was on vacation the past week and a half. I’m back and will stay on top of any other developments including the Board of Govenors meeting on June 21.
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165 comments Add your comment
RS
June 10th, 2011
1:06 pm
Well congratulations Atlanta Spirit. Hope this helps move you to an even hotter spot in hell someday.
News (6/10) you can use: Latest on Return of the NHL to Winnipeg | Illegal Curve Hockey
June 10th, 2011
1:07 pm
[...] Journal Constitution: Thrashers coaches waiting to hear fate. Waiting is never easy. Especially when you are expecting bad [...]
R. Stroz
June 10th, 2011
1:09 pm
GOLD and Welcome Back
Brett
June 10th, 2011
1:10 pm
What about this group that made a $500m deal for all 3 Atlanta spirit properties? Is it too late to be considered as a local buyer for the Thrashers?
Russian
June 10th, 2011
1:17 pm
Chris,
Welcome back! Thank you for updates. Please keep a blog and bring some news about ex-Thrashers.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 10th, 2011
1:34 pm
I hope Ramsey gets a fair shake with the team, being from Winnipeg this would be very important for continuity for the guys coming over, plus I can’t stand Claude Noel. By the way the moose guys were all trained by Heisinger once considered to be the best Equipment manager in the business so you know that those guys from Atlanta would be let go. Chris great job on the reporting of all this kaos as well you were great on H&L back in Winnipeg, Maybe you join the thrashers and come to Winnipeg, we would love to have you in Canada. Trust me Chris nothing against Atlanta I respect every hockey fan there but writing in a hockey mad market would be a blast don’t you think?
Stan Drulia
June 10th, 2011
1:40 pm
Seems like a fitting end to this whole story. I wish all the laid-off employees the best of luck in finding a new job in hockey and thank you for a great 12 year run here in Atlanta. You are probably a lot better off anywhere that isn’t Winnipeg.
Cheveldayoff is comfortable being home on the prairies - Prince Albert Daily Herald
June 10th, 2011
1:43 pm
[...] GazetteAtlanta Thrashers Captain Andrew Ladd Joins In Chorus Calling Out OwnersSB NationAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Fox News -Bleacher Reportall 363 news [...]
2mins
June 10th, 2011
2:04 pm
Relax Stan… this is all business, nothing to do with people. When ever one company takes over the business of another, people lose thier jobs. Happens everyday.
Ramsay, coaches still waiting to hear their future – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) |
June 10th, 2011
2:04 pm
[...] Post By Google News Click Here For The Entire Article June 10th, 2011 | Category: [...]
Reality
June 10th, 2011
2:05 pm
Source: $500 M Spirit Bid ‘Another Crazy Rumor’
http://www.wsbtv.com/sports/28198135/detail.html
Atlanta Flames Fan
June 10th, 2011
2:09 pm
On the $500M offer, on WSBTV.com, Zach Klein’s source says that this is a “totally false rumor”.
However, his source was from ASG, an organization whose business philosophy mandates lying at every opportunity. I would like to hear from Global Wellington Financial Corp. and Oriana Capital Partners.
Theron Sapp
June 10th, 2011
2:11 pm
Sounds like a classy bunch up there. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss….
ATL Observer
June 10th, 2011
2:13 pm
Amazing how many ‘crazy rumors’ add up round here…….also amazing that this ‘crazy rumor’ came out now and didn’t even play up the Thrashers angle.
‘Crazy rumors’ are amazing.
2mins
June 10th, 2011
2:16 pm
The last 3 coaches of the Manitoba Moose have all gone on to coach in the NHL. So historically speaking there is a very good chance that the current Moose coach, Claude Noel, who in his own right is expected to be in the NHL one day, will be kept on. No promises, but a good chance.
East Point Bob
June 10th, 2011
2:19 pm
I hope you were in Winipeg looking for a house, You are not welcome in Atlanta after your selling out the team for your boss ASG !
Darren
June 10th, 2011
2:26 pm
Zach Klein claims his source is someone close to ASG. Of course ASG is going to deny this. I highly doubt the USA Today would print this if it were untrue, especially with Kevin Allen working there.
Columbus
June 10th, 2011
2:37 pm
Well how about the offer reported in USAToday from the minority group to buy the Thrashers, Hawks and Philips rights that the NHL nor ASG told anyone about and stated that there was no offers to keep the Thrashers in ATL? What is their comment on that? Just want to get hockey in Winnepeg asap to start the season and screw any offers that might keep the team in ATL? Winnepeg has waited this long one more year would not have hurt them. I guess it seems that it iwas kept quiet and I feel like I was lied to and misled and would like to hear comments from the ones who have the power and the money and made the decisions and the decision to not take the offer seriously. Was it because they are racists in the NHL? Was it because they did not take the offer seriously? $500,000,000 seems serious to me and it is still on the table…..! What’s up NHL? Timeout to consider at least if not OK but why?
Columbus
June 10th, 2011
2:42 pm
BTW I will not listen to ANYTHING ASG says because they LIED for years about even TRYING to sell the team! They want their cash and they want it now and anything that would slow down that process they would definately dismiss as RUMOR!….I think they just LIED again when they said that the offer was a RUMOR….Time will tell if they are STILL doing the same thing AGAIN…..LIEING….I hope they do sell the Hawks. I for one will NEVER attend ANY event at Philips. BOYCOTT Philips to get ASG OUT!
Red Light
June 10th, 2011
2:51 pm
Shall we all look back to a post on May 18 by Renee…
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-thrashers-blog/2011/05/16/spirit-true-north-have-begun-talks/?cp=2
Reality
June 10th, 2011
3:03 pm
So if you were selling your car and someone offered $20,000 for it, and you accepted it, yet the next day someone came buy and offered $30,000…. would you reneg on the original buyer that you had an agreement with?
Its too late in the game for any mythical deal to get done that would save the Thrashers.
steve
June 10th, 2011
3:14 pm
Welcome back Chris…. I was worried about ya!!
Whom do you think is going to win the cup?
Come up to iceforum, and watch some kids play hockey!!
Stu
June 10th, 2011
3:18 pm
Wouldn’t be surprised if they gave the job to Noel. The Moose had a very good track record in selecting and developing coaches (their last three have all gone onto head coaching in the NHL with one winning the stanley cup and another in the cup finals right now) so I think they would be pretty comfortable going that route.
ASG are liars
June 10th, 2011
3:20 pm
Bottom line here is the only thing ASG ever wanted was the Hawks. They took the Thrashers because it was a package deal with the arena rights. Their plan from the beginning was to unload the Thrashers at the first oppurtunity. Then the idiots get into a squabble with the guy they selected to be the NBA governor for the Hawks. (Over something he turned out to be right about) Started a lawsuit to force him out and held up their ability to even sell the team with a clear title to any prospective buyer for 5 years while they fought in the court.
Once they finally have a free and clear title they had already turned away and turned off any prospective buyers that wanted to keep the team local. No one in there right minds would want to enter into partnership with this group of smucks. Not only that, they wouldn’t want to buy a team and have to deal with them on a lease to play in their building.
The only way anyone would put their money in the Thrashers is if they got the Hawks, and arena rights at the same time. Putting your money into a partnership with these clowns will only insure that you lose large sums of money.
Here we are now. The ASG have what they wanted all along and to hell with anyone that doesn’t like it. They will continue to run the Hawks like the rank amateurs they’ve proven to be, and the Hawks will continue to be a decent team.
I myself will make sure I never spend a dime on anything these idiots have their money invested in, and hope that everyone else in Atlanta does the same until we force them to sale the Hawks at 1/3 of their initial investment. Everyone of them should be left completely broke, because that’s exactly how they’ve left half of Atlanta’s professional sports landscape.
Alan R.
June 10th, 2011
3:32 pm
“Reality” – Technically, the door is open to any and all offers until the Board of Governors vote to approve TNSE as owners and relocate the team commences.
icy nards
June 10th, 2011
3:34 pm
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-06-09-insider-atlanta-hawks_n.htm
Holy cow, they’re black! Kasim Reed, where are you now???
@Alan R.
June 10th, 2011
3:49 pm
“Technically” …they’ll build a Vatican in Vegas before the BOG denies the approval of TNSE as owners.
13,000 SEASON tickets sold in 2 minutes? Please. The BOG couldn’t be more happy to see this team go North.
Alan R.
June 10th, 2011
3:56 pm
You obviously missed the point.
Also, your car analogy makes absolutely no sense when it relates to the sale of a sports franchise.
Go play in traffic.
Jerry Landfill
June 10th, 2011
4:00 pm
Well, now that the league has played the new city/owners for suckers, we will see how they feel in 5 years.
ATL Observer
June 10th, 2011
4:08 pm
@Reality, a) the sale is technically not final, though the agreement in principle is, b) even if it is, guess what? Some of us still care! Based on your logic, if your mother dies, no point in investigating it, she’s dead already! Investigating it won’t bring her back to life so let’s all do nothing about it!
Bottom line is, a lot of Atlanta residents feel very much lied to by both the ASG and NHL and would like full disclosure on how all of this went down.
Joe
June 10th, 2011
4:15 pm
From the wsb story:
When asked if ASG planned on selling the Hawks and Philips Arena outright, Michael Gearon, ASG co-owner, told Klein on May 31. “No. I have no interest in selling my ownership.”
Really? Then why did you grant exclusive negotiating rights for the Hawks to the owner from San Diego? That’s the thing about lying every time you open your mouth. Sooner or later you lose track of them.
Ward
June 10th, 2011
4:20 pm
Welcome back..regardless of the news…Atlanta fans truly got screwed not only by NHL but the “owners” calling themselves ASG. True,the only desire they ever had was Hawks and Philips..thus the hockey folks became extra baggage and were treated to this status by Waddell the baggage handler of choice by the whole eleven years of non-hockey owners. They not only lacked passion for the sport(so truly important as any Thrasher fan realizes) but they lacked integrity. The Ted Turner spawned ASG, loaded with his relatives and cronies, gave our locale the shaft. Waddell merely took their money and kept “court” over the liefeless leadership. It will take a long time to get over this community “hit”. Add Bettman to the total mix as he kept more than his word with Phoenix and then kept much less of any word with our community and fans. Calculate our support with the three years of a down-economy and the last three years won/loss records.it wasn’t the fans!!!
PMC
June 10th, 2011
4:21 pm
Good on you Rich Peverley. That was awesome!
Stan Drulia
June 10th, 2011
4:30 pm
2mins – You’re right, business is business – that makes it all ok. Thanks for setting me straight you canadian rube.
Anyone hear any rumors about a minor league team pouncing on the Atlanta fanbase???? Man, if I had the money to do it I would surely thing that this market would totally devour an AHL or ECHL team.
Stan Drulia
June 10th, 2011
4:31 pm
2mins – I guess that makes it all ok.. Thanks for straight you canadian rube.
Time Out
June 10th, 2011
4:36 pm
Reality: BOG could deny the request. You need a reality check, fool.
Bill
June 10th, 2011
4:37 pm
ASG LIED!!!! ASG LIED!!!!!! HERE IS SOMEONE TRYING TO KEEP THE THRASHERS AND HAWKS IN ATLANTA!!!!!!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-06-09-insider-atlanta-hawks_n.htm#uslPageReturn
Vitamin Z
June 10th, 2011
4:42 pm
They lied!? You don’t say.
Time Out
June 10th, 2011
4:42 pm
WELCOME BACK THRASHERS. WE KNEW YOU WOULD COME HOME.
Time Out
June 10th, 2011
4:51 pm
Come home to some Home Cookin and a warm house unlike the freezing blizzards of the wasteland and trash dump
Reality
June 10th, 2011
4:54 pm
OK.
If the NHL BoG says NO to TNSE, I will fly down and buy the Thrashers myself and keep them in Atlanta forever.
Since I’m 100 % sure they will be saying YES, I won’t be buying airline tickets.
Lee
June 10th, 2011
4:55 pm
Folks, don’t ever, EVER, set foot it Philips again….these ASG criminals need to bleed and suffer. Hopefully, in about 5 years….if Betteman is no longer the weasle commissioner, we will have another NHL team. This time up in Gwinnett
hockeymom92
June 10th, 2011
4:57 pm
I feel especially upset that they would not take Bobby Stewart to Winnepeg considering how long he has been in the NHL. His wife teaches at my children’s school and we have met Bobby on several occasions at the school – a wonderful person who was always available to discuss all things hockey. At least they will not have to suffer through those ungodly winters and hopefully we get to keep an awesome teacher. Also why would you not want to keep a few folks around that already know the players – seems to me if you ditch everyone you are just asking for another “x” number of years’ learning curve.
Matt from MN
June 10th, 2011
5:07 pm
“Weiner-peg” wants to make a clean sweep and wipe out the years of bad Thrashers karma. Can’t say that I blame them for that.
Burn in Hell, ASG.
Responsible Journalist
June 10th, 2011
5:30 pm
I feel terrible for Dudley and the rest of the staff who are casualties in this along with the fans. The ASG and NHL doesn’t care at all that lives are affected by this. We never had more than one good season of hockey, last season was a glimmer of hope..it’s just not fair. The BOG isn’t gonna veto this, the troll Betteman was on tv, this isn’t Arizona, we aren’t having our team saved, they made zero effort for Atlanta and it was already in the works for a long time. the BOG meeting is a formality, we lost.
Talk about it
June 10th, 2011
5:39 pm
What about Kamal and the TV crew? Are they out too?
Steve
June 10th, 2011
5:50 pm
After many years of suffering through the Waddell version of water boarding, I wish nothing but the best for the franchise in Manitoba.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 10th, 2011
6:00 pm
This is obviously a hot topic first, TNSE has a organization in place so you know that they are going to be loyal to their people. Second, I to like Rick Dudley and Graig Ramsey, but TSNE owes them nothing so while I feel sorry for both that is the nature of the business. Thirdly reading the SB nation blog and them pushing the Dan Snyder number retirement thing, while I do believe that no player should ever where that number out of respect for Dan Snyder and his family, this should be done in Winnipeg buy the ASG group or the Thrasher fan club becuase this means more to the great fans of Atlanta. I hope the Atlanta Thrasher fans get a hold of TNSE and ask if this is possible, because unlike ASG these guys are great guys to deal with and they don’t lie they would definitely listen to you.
Lee
June 10th, 2011
6:16 pm
Don’t give a rat’s tail about the Thrashers anymore….they’re no longer “my” team. Burn in hell ASG and Betteman…may the rest of your miserable lives be filled with pain and regret!
In about a year or so, we need to start a grass roots movement to bring hockey back, this time the right way in Gwinnett
clark kent
June 10th, 2011
6:24 pm
Awww poor Chrissy, I bet you thought you didn’t have to report on the Thrashers anymore didn’t you?
And when I say “report”, I mean simply repeat what’s given to you.
Keep up the good work lapdog.
We were bamboozled.....
June 10th, 2011
6:30 pm
Considering that Atlanta Spirit still owns the team, is it a slight bit presumptuous on the part of True North to essentially fire people that are still employees of Atlanta Spirit until this deal is approved? Naming a GM for a team that does not technically exist (this isn’t like it is with an expansion team) until the deal closes is in some ways putting the cart before the horse. While the chances of this deal not being approved look to be slim, stranger things have happened. The BoG could still veto the relocation at least for one season so they can do a realignment of the conferences and divisions. If that were to occur, wouldn’t it make sense to use the folks already in place here in Atlanta instead of hiring your own group of folks that would have to relocate to Atlanta and then to Winnipeg the following season?
Not retaining Dudley is mistake #1 for True North. Not retaining Rammer and his staff would be mistake #2.
Ramsay, coaches still waiting to hear their fate | SweetLittleAss.com
June 10th, 2011
6:31 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-thrashers-blog/2011/06/10/ramsay-coaches-still-waiting-to-hear-their-fa... [...]
John Cantcade
June 10th, 2011
6:47 pm
Alan R………..I offered to buy Mike Vick’s house for $10 million dollars. The problem was I didn’t have a down payment plus I couldn’t secure financing. Now do you understand?
ashtray
June 10th, 2011
7:09 pm
They have already refunded downpayments for 2011-12 season tix. It’s done, Gearon has already run to Asia to avoid any dealings with anyone. I’m betting he’ll be back on June 22.
Kelly
June 10th, 2011
7:30 pm
Gary Bettman knows which way the wind blows with the governors. If there was even the remotest possibility this sale would be turned down, he would not have granted TNSE permission to negotiate with ASG. Indeed, he would not have picked up the phone and ASKED TNSE to negotiate with Atlanta…
Nor would Bill Daly have spent the last couple of days in Winnipeg working through relocation details and NHL regulations with TNSE.
There would be NOTHING compelling ASG to resume operation of the Thrashers if the NHL said no to TNSE. My guess is they would throw the team into bankruptcy.
HotRod Hockey
June 10th, 2011
8:21 pm
Well great job by the Atlanta Spirit. Alot of people are lost jobs because of you guys “ASG”. They never cared about hockey and never will. Well I am laughing because when there is no basketball in the arena this year that won’t be making anything. What a great idea to get rid of the hockey team Doochbags. If you would have keep the team for one more year someone have stepped up and buy the team. I am not a basketball guy but I can’t wait for July 1 to come and the lockout starts in basketball.
Puck Like A Porn Star
June 10th, 2011
9:00 pm
I was looking forward to the Atlanta Dream season (at least they get to the Finals), but now I won’t be going to any of their game either, thanks to ASG. Collateral damage. Great job, Mr. Crocodile Tears.
Curly
June 10th, 2011
10:45 pm
“They have already refunded downpayments for 2011-12 season tix.” – WRONG!
Refunds will not be issued until after June 21st, when the deal is finally done.
It’s a done deal, but the ASG will not refund our money any sooner than they have to.
Tim
June 10th, 2011
10:51 pm
Hey Curly, actually ASG has began refunding down payments on season tickets, CONFIRMED information.
Tim
June 10th, 2011
10:54 pm
Also, True North is officially the owners of this team. Do you not understand what rubber stamp means? To formally approve something that has already been agreed/approved upon. Please let the Thrashers die in peace for god’s sake it has been over since May 31st. NHL allowing sanctioned press conferences, buyout of Rick Dudley, hiring of GM. It is completely official. The BOG meeting on the 21st is to welcome the new owners to the club to everybody. Do you honestly think the NHL would be allowing these press conferences if it wasn’t official?
R. Stroz
June 10th, 2011
11:15 pm
Sam Crenshaw with 11Alive just reported the same info in the USA article. Sam said that they had contacted USA Today to confirm the validity of the information.
We NEED some real digging into this situation and that doesn’t mean merely passing on info from the ASG.
Brendan
June 11th, 2011
12:38 am
In retrospect, I think the owners always intended for the Thrashers to be relocated, not just sold. Certainly, they could have put a package deal together, for all three entities. But no, they wanted to keep the NBA here, and ditch the NHL product. Well, who could possibly buy the Thrashers, without getting operating rights, or at least a percentage of them, to offset the operating losses? That’s right. No one can, or would. The Thrashers are a money pit, without venue revenues. And every year someone owns them, they’d just be getting deeper and deeper in debt.
Don Waddell, today, might not be known as the man who helped drive hockey out of Atlanta, if he’d just resigned after 2007. And who would have replaced him? Answer: The AHL affiliate GM, Kevin Chevaldayoff, of the Chicago Wolves. Ahh, the moves NOT made!!!!
So, who’s the new Sheriff in Manitoba? Kevin Chevaldayoff. Brilliant. It’s painful to know … that we had that guy, all along, right in our system. And he was choc-blocked by Waddell, whom the organization needed as its public patsy. I have no doubt, none whatsoever, that Waddell REALLY believed that he was going to get the Thrashers into the playoffs, each and every year. William Hung thinks he’s a great singer. It’s up to the producers of American Idol to decide if William Hung will bring in the viewership, or if his offkey caterwauling will drive them all away. Do you see it? Do you see how USEFUL Don Waddell was to them? When it came time for performance review, every offseason, it was an exercise in patheticness. Waddell would waddle in with his laundry list of excuses, and how “close, real close” the team is to making the playoffs. And the owners, like disingenuous carnies at the $1 ‘ring toss’ event, smiled and provided encouragement, “Ooooh, you were so close that time. A $1 buys three more tries, Don! Give it a whirl! You’re sure to get in THIISSS time.” The worst of it, truly, is the utter, utter disregard of the season ticket holder, who begged and pleaded with the franchise to fire Waddell. STH’s are the lifeblood of a franchise. They were utterly disregarded by this ownership. There was only so many times that an STH can be spat upon, before he waits for his same seat to be discounted by 50-percent in November. We call that “learned behavior.” And, in the end, the fan just stops coming.
In Canada, in losing seasons, the arena is soldout, but THERE ARE CHANGES MADE the next season. They don’t have to endure a decade’s worth of Don Waddell. But, I’d kinda like to watch Canada endure a decade of Don Waddell, and to watch the arena empty out, just as EXPECTED. I’d be the first to say, “This isn’t about losses or record. This is about owner apathy. That team’s ownership just isn’t trying anymore. You can’t blame fans for staying home.”
Brendan
June 11th, 2011
1:04 am
By the way, Craig Ramsay on John Torchetti deserve a chance in Winnipeg, since they certainly didn’t get a fair shake here.
So, let’s start the countdown to Don Waddell unemployment. Isn’t that a silver lining, of sorts? Actually, I wouldn’t put it past the AS, LLC to retain him, in some capacity. Team accountant??
Les Habitants
June 11th, 2011
1:12 am
If one still thinks that the NHL BoG may possibly deny the sale of the team from ASG to TNSE, one is possibly naive or gullible. After the “Drive to 13000″ event, there is no way the BoG thinks that Atlanta has better hockey business than Winnipeg. Look, the new Winnipeg team is GUARANTEED to be profitable for at least 3 years while the Thrashers are PROVEN to be not profitable.
And so, looking at the business angle, what may possibly compel any member of the BoG to vote no?
Responsible Journalist
June 11th, 2011
3:59 am
Like I said the BOG is a formality, otherwise..why would Winnipeg be making personnel moves before this is even approved? Seems fraudulent if you ask me. Bettman, the NHL, ASG and TNSE all bent the rules and nothing can be done about it.
Puck Like A Porn Star
June 11th, 2011
6:56 am
I’ve already gotten my season ticket deposit refunded as well. We, along with the Thrashers sales reps are still waiting for news on June 21, but many refunds have already been received.
Of course, if the impossible happens, I’ll be back on the phone with my ticket rep, but clearly the fix is in, right, Mr. Crocodile Tears?
hockeymom92
June 11th, 2011
8:26 am
I believe the fix was in as early as February with the only hold up being what would happen with Phoenix.I heard too much from people closely related to the situation to think differently. Because no one connected with this charade understands the meaning of the words transparency and honesty we, the fans and most likely all the team itself, will never know the truth. I am not one who normally thinks cover up every time something odd happens, but this deal surely does not pass the stink test.
hucha
June 11th, 2011
8:54 am
Ramsay’s cancerous presence is not welcome in Winnipeg. Dont want him or need him. From the GM to the equipment manager, from the coach to the stick boy STAY IN ATLANTA!!!! as you all have said-its warmer there and its a bigger market -oh, and there’s no poverty either. There’s also no NHL team.
GatorFan
June 11th, 2011
9:11 am
Read This.
Daly was on Winnipeg radio and it was in the newspaper too.
ON THE AGENDA: The league sent out a report on the Winnipeg franchise to its governors this week, preparing them for the June 21 meeting at which they’ll vote on the Thrashers sale and relocation.
Daly predicts a slam dunk.
“I have no reason to believe it won’t be unanimous,” he said. “All the factors would indicate this is something that’s in the best interest of the league to approve this relocation and approve the transfer of ownership.”
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/06/09/true-north-wouldnt-own-jets-team-history
Doesn’t look good in Atlanta.
Kelly
June 11th, 2011
9:24 am
What rules did anyone bend? Please, point me to a clause and verse.
Your owners hung a for sale sign on the team, which is the right of ANY business owner in the U.S.
Nobody from Atlanta stepped up. (And don’t give me this crap about more time, more time. If someone in Atlanta wanted to own the Thrashers, they could have kicked the tires the second the suit with Belkin was resolved.)
All of your clamouring for an investigation forget one thing: even if there was skullduggery, it’s entirely IRRELEVANT! ASG was within its rights to sell to whomever it damn well pleased. There is no law against private negotiations! There’s no law against backroom dealing between private enterprises! Do you think Coca-Cola conducted its negotiations for Minute Maid or Fuze in public? Did Delta Airlines consult with all its customers and share every detail of negotiations to buy Northwest?
ASG screwed Altanta, first by not committing to the Thrashers and secondly by refusing to heed Gary Bettman’s advice about becoming profitable. But sadly for fans, none of that invalidates ASG’s right to sell its business.
R. Stroz
June 11th, 2011
10:58 am
Kelly – Read some by-laws:
http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2011/5/26/2190276/atlanta-thrashers-sale-nhl-bylaws-news
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 11th, 2011
12:24 pm
Winnipeg’s reaction to receiving the Thrashers confirms the fact that it really is a place that offers very few reasons for someone to want to live there. Atlanta’s overall apathetic reaction to losing the Thrashers shows that we have so much going on as far as entertainment and sports are concerned that losing this habitually incompetent organization and team isn’t even a blip on our radar screen. If anyone ever wants to build an arena on the north side of ATL with an NHL team and competent management, I’ll be there. In the meantime, ho hum. At least the people of Winnipeg will have something to do other than pushing a snowblower from October through May.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 11th, 2011
1:10 pm
R. Stroz sb Nation missed one point as per Gary Bettman in Winnipeg by Goveners Decree if they believe the francise can not sustain itself in the market and no serious buyer makes a serious offer then they can put to effect a automatic relocation of a franchise between seasons. As for Thrasher/relocationist use your head this is why the world hates Americans, stupid off the wall commits about things and places that they don’t understand or have never been. If it is not the way it is where you live then it is wrong, sort of like healthcare. Say hey wish I was in DIXIE then I would know what it is like to live in perfection. Atlanta is a great city go there for my work all the time, but please don’t make fun of other places to make your place better. They are both great cities.
Joe
June 11th, 2011
1:15 pm
Dear Thrashered/Relocationist
You are a brain dead imbecile with your head stuck up your ass
Hazard
June 11th, 2011
1:59 pm
As a season ticket holder, I received an email from the Thrashers saying I would not get a refund until *after* the June 21 vote. So as far as I can tell, no refunds yet. I am not sure how some folks on here are able to report there have been refunds. If someone actually got a refund (and not second hand information), please explain how you got your refund since the ASG told me no refund until after 06/21.
Uncle Milty
June 11th, 2011
3:19 pm
@Thrashered/Relocationist
Quote: “At least the people of Winnipeg will have something to do other than pushing a snowblower from October through May.”
I feel a need to correct your perception of the city now housing your former team. Many, many people in Winnipeg spend the winter months playing hockey, actually. Both indoor and outdoor. That could be one reason why your team was relocated there; it is referred to as marketing to the base. Enjoy your myriad of other sports options though; we in Canada mainly just care solely about hockey by and large.
Acerman
June 11th, 2011
4:12 pm
Call the new team Winnipeg/ Manitoba Broom Sticks. It’s a fitting name for the actions of TNSE, so far. Oh, I expect that Ramsay will become another victim of the Broom Sticks.
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 11th, 2011
4:27 pm
Yes, the free agents are already lining up to sign with a Winnipeg based team. Give it five years, a weakened Canadian dollar and the team will again be poached by an American businessman. A lot of us have been to Winnipeg. That’s why we find it so amusing that a free agent would want to play there. Winnipeg has all of the appeal of, what’s that town on ‘Deadliest Catch’? Oh, yes Dutch Harbor, Alaska. That’s it, Dutch Harbor with a NHL franchise. If all it takes is a rich owner to get a NHL team for a backwater town, I’m surprised the Walton family didn’t get one for Bentonville, Arkansas.
Acerman
June 11th, 2011
4:50 pm
What’s the appeal of Detroit? Somehow FA don’t have a problem to sign with the Wings.
SouthernFriedHockey
June 11th, 2011
4:56 pm
The jig was up when Phoenix paid the NHL’s extortion fee. Didnt matter if there was a group willing to purchase all three or not. ASG didnt want to sell Hawks or Philips rights. NHL promised a team to Winnepeg and they got a team. We just all thought it would be Phoenix, not the Thrash.
This is yet another step in the decline of Atlanta. Maybe the copper thieves and the drug cartels could have combined resources and bought them.
Rich Lapin
June 11th, 2011
5:48 pm
Saw Chris’s article in today’s AJC about Craig Ramsay being in limbo about whether he’ll be asked to go to Winnipeg to resume his role there. Short bit of advice: don’t pack for Winnipeg. Instead update your resume and start circulating it.
Your GM was not asked to join the team and you can take your cue from that. By the way, your record this year was basically as non-competitive as John Anderson’s was. He got fired. Your clueless owners did not make your job easy but you didn’t make a case for yourself either.
If I’m wrong, you’ll be the luckiest coach in the NHL for at least part of the 2011-12 season. Rest assured, Winnipegers will cut you only so much slack before they start asking for results.
Get The Puck Out
June 11th, 2011
6:25 pm
Us Thrashers fans have been asking for results from slackness for many, many years and it fell on deaf ears. Hope you have better results.
Get The Puck Out
June 11th, 2011
6:25 pm
By the way, what is a relocation fee?
Brendan
June 11th, 2011
6:51 pm
At least, in Winnipeg, when you ask for results, you might actually get them. In fact, you’ll probably get them. Atlanta STH’s were spat upon, and lectured about ‘how well respected Don Waddell is in NHL circles.’ We sat back, STUNNED, declaring, “The Emperor isn’t wearing any clothes. Do you NOT see that?”
In the end, the STH’s concluded that the owners were either uncaring or incompetent. They withdrew their financial support of this team because of that. And clearly, as Kelly states, the owners have the right to ditch their asset. But it’s a litle bit disingenuous for them to say ‘they exhausted all sales opportunities’ to keep the team here, when the fact is … they didn’t want the “new, local” Atlanta owner to use their facility, called Philips Arena, for hockey games. I suspect they wanted to book concert events or conventions, instead. If they ‘truly were concerned’ about keeping the Thrashers in Atlanta, they would have offered up all THREE ENTITIES for sale: The Hawks, the Thrashers, and the operating rights to the venue. Clearly, they SEPARATED those assets, making it IMPOSSIBLE to find an ownership willing to lose $30 million, annually, on the Thrashers, with no venue proceeds to OFFSET those losses.
Let me make this clearer. Trying to sell the Thrashers, to keep them locally, without including proceeds from the venue … is like trying to sell swampland in Jersey. You’re just … not … going … to find … a buyer. So any ‘claims’ of TRYING to keep them local …. were LIES. The AS, LLC has the right to LIE to anyone who’ll listen. Just ask Kelly. It’s their business to sell. They can sell it … however they jolly well want. But it’s very clear that Jeff Schultz’ article was correct: Atlanta was NEVER given a chance. Lying owners, in concert with weasel Commissioner, and a ‘paper thin’ commitment to a covenant with fans. That’s the whole story. Not much else to tell, really.
Sincerely, I hope this never happens to a franchise up in Canada. As far as I can tell, all the Canadian franchises are owned by an entity that cares ENOUGH to make changes at the GM position, after a few seasons of failure. Even the Leafs! Is John Ferguson, Jr. still running the Leafs? Nope. They made changes. In Atlanta, changes never got made. Again. And again. And again. And again. It was “Waddell FOREVER!!”
Sage of Bluesland
June 11th, 2011
7:40 pm
Atlanta hockey-fans have had to endure the unendurable with Don Waddell at the helm for the entire existence of the team. That is truly remarkable and almost unbelievable. The lisping, blustering, little fraud of a GM managed to keep his job only because he met the budget and never contradicted ownership publicly.
What an accomplishment. A “Yes”-man for all ages.
I hope some of you sheep are happy to have filled his pockets for so long, despite the obvious staring you in the face…despite the pleadings of numerous to stop the subsidization of the incompetence…
Ugh
June 11th, 2011
8:06 pm
@Thrasher/Relocationist,your snice remarks about Winnipeg show your ignorance and makes you look dumb from where i sit. You know nothing of Wpg and your perception as mentioned is based on your uneducated ignorance. For you information, every Thrasher to a man has stated to being very happy to come to Wpg. We had Ladd here the last few days and he was blown away by our city and fans. You can read all bout it in our newspaper online. Byfuglien likes it here, dirtto Mason. As well, when we had the Jets, we had no issues in attracting and keeping players. I happen to know a lot of americans who have visited our city and like it here so until you know what the F you are talking about please shut up. Thank you, moron
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 11th, 2011
8:22 pm
So, what are the Thrasher (Jet) players going tp say ? I hate all of those world class golf courses where we can play year round? I couldn’t stand all of those beautiful southern women? It was so terrible not to have to shovel my driveway in May? I miss all that a city of 750,000 farmers has to offer and would welcome a transfer to Manitoba? Remember, Jet fans. You are the only city that wanted this team. There were no other offers on the table, or even near the table, for this franchise and your genius ownership group paid Bentley prices for a Kia. Thanks for sending $110,000,000 back to Georgia. Now, could we interest you in a WNBA team? Then Winnipeg could really consider itself validated as a major metropolis.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 11th, 2011
8:40 pm
God bless America, land that I love. Thrashered/Relocationist, keep throwing those insults baby but I would bet you my Passport is worth more than yours in the world you redneck. Last time I checked our women were damn fine and as for the players missing the all year round world class golf courses, baby they get payed to play hockey, and they will be treated like gods here. As for there families let me tell you they won’t know what to do with themselves because in our country we can leave our doors open and our kids can walk outside without fear knowing that some redneck nutjob isn’t going to shoot them. TRUE, NORTH, STRONG, AND FREE
Brendan
June 11th, 2011
8:43 pm
I hope the moderator will take that remark about Craig Ramsay having cancer and edit it. That was truly tasteless. Per that poster, nobody better suffer that affliction in perfectly healthy Winnipeg, where people suchly afflicted are not welcome.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 11th, 2011
8:44 pm
to the fine people of Atlanta I apoligize for the last comment I know that Southerners are good people but that kind of verbal garbage pisses off Canadians, I know that kind of stuff would piss you off to. I feel for thrasher fans and promise we will take good care of them.
Brendan
June 11th, 2011
8:47 pm
Any Thrasher player who has arrived in Winnipeg, to express disdain for playing there … ought to expect to be traded. That’s not a proper thing to do, anymore than criticizing the ownership, the Head Coach, or GM. It simply isn’t done. A player expresses himself on unrestricted free agent day, by signing elsewhere. That’s the proper thing to do.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 11th, 2011
8:48 pm
Brendan I agree with you, nobody in Winnipeg would think or say that about Ramsey that is truely tasteless. I for one hope that Ramsey is the coach he deserves to finish what he started.
Brendan
June 11th, 2011
8:54 pm
Exactly. And if Ramsay fails, well … then … he had his chance. Giving the man an opportunity is all he can ask. The thing that surprised me during his brief time here in Atlanta … was not emparting the things that made him a Selke Trophy winner. When we heard Ramsay would be Coaching, we all got giddy, thinking that the Thrashers would, at long last, learn how to play defense. And that solid ‘two-way’ play would now be required of just about everyone, under Ramsay’s tutoring. Not so. The Thrashers gave up plenty of goals and were weak defensively. Under Waddell, the goal was to fill the opponent’s net with goals, and not worry about the defensive aspects of the game. Gee, that strategy worked well! Zero playoff wins. One playoff berth.
Not that Atlanta needed to make changes at the GM position.
HookyBob
June 11th, 2011
8:58 pm
Am I right that Rawhide’s blog is history? If so, I guess this is where we gather to chat / vent ,etc.
It would be my one of my fondest hopes that Brendan is also posting on the Winnipeg Free Press hockey blogs (and national Canadian hockey sites as well). His post on Rawhide’s final blog that listed many of the mgmt/ownership screw-ups and blamed them on fictional characters ought to be mandatory reading for anyone who wonders why the fans gave up on the franchise.
Perhaps it is too late,…but I would like to nominate that post as “blog of the year”,…and perhaps “all-time blog of the Atlanta Thrashers” (at least on Rawhide’s blog).
Brendan’s post here that references John Ferguson jr is another classic.
It would also be good to get Bouchard’s interview (or link to it)in one of the WFP’s blogs.
Back to blog topic: I doubt Ramsay will be the coach of the new Winnipeg _______ NHL team. Duds gave us more size and Rammer didn’t use it to any physical advantage. Western Canada loves rough and tough hockey. Will be interesting to see who the new coach is. I might also be a bit chagrinned to see the relocated team do much better this coming year. There is soooo much potential with this team. Two or three key players (not to mention committed ownership) and they could go deep into the play-offs. Methinks Winnipeg got a really good deal.
R. Stroz (and others),…if we had a bumper sticker that read something like “ASG = Dirtbags” would you put on your vehicle? The message as to why this team no longer calls Atlanta home needs to be out there and visible everyday. How about one that reads “How do you know when the ASG partners are lying?” Answer: Their lips are moving.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 11th, 2011
9:03 pm
Playing in the NHL is a privelage not a right and as a player you play where you get payed. I get the value of playing in places like Atlanta and Tampa, Los angelas and such, year round weather, quality of life a little easier. As a hockey player it is a choice, play in a Hockey climate where hockey is 24/7 always on the bubble and demands are high, or play in a southern market where hockey might be 6th or 7th on the depth chart maybe lower and no pressure is put on you from the outside. Both sides are valid but at the end of the day both sides are attractive if you have one thing. strong ownership and leadership. Unfortunatly Atlanta has ASG they were idiots, TNSE are staight up and will make this an attractive place to play. I know it was only the AHL but every hockey player in the Minors wanted to play in the Peg because you were treated with respect and professionalism just like in the NHL.
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 11th, 2011
9:24 pm
Yep. I was in the Atlanta airport (busiest in the world) and the 20 non- stop flights per day to Winnipeg were all full. People are flocking to the Peg. 750,000 today, 752,000 within the next decade. If the Braves aren’t playing, or the Falcons, or the Hawks, or the Bulldogs, or the Yellow Jackets, or if a big PGA tour event isn’t in town, or we don’t have to rearrange our sock drawer, then we’ll miss the Thrasher organization and the NHL. Winnipeg….’Gateway to Saskatoon’.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 11th, 2011
9:36 pm
Thrashered/Relocationist you should really get that anger of yours checked. Tell you what sit down have a Bud relax and enjoy all that great stuff you got going on there and we will enjoy the little piece of Dixie that you gave us. Great chatting with you, buy the way did you pull Saskatoon out of an Atlas or was straight from Google earth, oh well say hi to both Bo and Luke Duke for us.
Brian powdertown
June 11th, 2011
10:38 pm
would love to see headline asg members bus rolls off a cliff
Kelly
June 12th, 2011
12:24 am
R.Stroz: OK, I read your link. I don’t see anything in there that puts the NHL, TNSE or ASG offside. Each clause has outs. The last rule, with the many subsections, says that the NHL will consider the different subsections. It doesn’t say that any one MUST be followed. As for the Jan. 1 deadline, it also has an out that says “unless approved by a majority of clubs” (or words to that effect).
In other words, the NHL’s bylaws have been followed.
Andrew Ladd visits Winnipeg in preparation for free agency | ProHockeyTalk
June 12th, 2011
12:24 am
[...] are a ton of items on the docket for True North and new Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. From possibly putting together a new staff to finally coming up with a name for the team, everyone involved will undoubtedly have their hands [...]
thrasherdawg
June 12th, 2011
12:30 am
Here’s the DEAL.
All Bettman had to do was to show his face in Atlanta, call apress conference, and tell the people of Atlanta to buy 13,000 season tickets and the team will stay.
Why wouldn’t he do this? I’ll tell you why because the Atlanta fans would have bought 13,000 season tickets and he would be out 60,000,000 dollars.
Bettman could have wipped his hands clean of the whole deal if he would have just given the Atlanta fans the option. He was just to scared to see what might happen.
He leasder would have gaven the fans the options. Told them the rules to play buy and how to win or lose the game.
No Bettman was in the corner with his hands over his ears with his eyes closed. No one would hire this man to run a popsicle stand…all the while he is ruining the NHL..
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
12:47 am
HookyBob, and I left a ton out! I could three chapters on what happened between 2004 and the Fall of 2006, when play resumed. Do you remember, for instance, how Bruce Levenson and Co. got fined $250,000 by the NHL by suggesting that if play hadn’t resumed by the 2006 season, that “scab” players would be used. Really. They said that. And the Commish smacked ‘em back, for it. Gee, I’d say … hmmn … that a “solid foundation” for relations had been established, EARLY ON, between the Atlanta Spirit, LLC and the league office.
Yet, no ‘red flags’ went up, on the part of Gary Bettman? Can we say, “Asleep at the wheel?”
HookyBob, do you remember what Don Waddell did during the lockout? Answer: He sat on the “Rules Committee” that helped shaped the “new” NHL. You’d think, with that kind of input and insight, that his vantage point would position the Thrashers to be AHEAD of the learning curve when play resumed. Instead, he fielded the 2nd oldest roster in the NHL, in a league that now emphasized YOUTH and SPEED. And what was his very first order of business??
Anyone? Anyone at all? C’mon. You know this one. Wait, let’s back up a moment. The franchise had suffered a tremendous loss in September of 2003, when Dany Heatley wraped his black Ferrari around an iron fence, ultimately resulting in Dan Snyder’s death. Movin’ on. Isn’t it “fair to say” … that a GM’s first priority is to understand the dynamics of his team? (Don’t be bashful, now. The answer is “yes.”)
Wouldn’t any other GM, besides Waddell, figure out that Ilya Kovalchuk, a healthy, non-damaged player, represented priority # 1 for the Thrashers, post-lockout, as a pending RFA???? Alrighteee, then. So, what’s Waddell’s first move? That’s right, the franchise-crippling 3-year/$12.75 million deal for 35-year old, on his last legs, back nine, aging yesteryear star … named Bobby Holik. Remember, the cap coming out of the lockout was $39 million. How do you think Kovalchuk felt? Does his phone ring? Nope. He watches the Draft pass. He watches free agency arrive, without a contract in hand. He watches Bobby Holik get signed. Then Waddell targeted Peter Bondra, another late 30-something year old, yesteryear star. He can’t initially land Bondra, so … he turns his attention to Dany Heatley. Heatley says, “It’s too painful to play in Atlanta, with too many memories of Dan Snyder. Release me.” Not trade me. RELEASE ME!! Waddell refuses the RELEASE, in favor of finding a salary cap-strapped team called the Ottawa Senators. In the exchange, Atlanta get D-man Greg deVries and power forward, Marian Hossa. Does Waddell re-sign Kovalchuk?? Nope. He once again goes after Bondra. And this time, he gets him. But the bonuses in his contract hit the Thrashers next season’s cap, and hurt the team. After being nickel-n-dimed by Waddell’s offers, which probably included a couple of T-shirts and some season tickets, Kovalchuk holds out for the remainder of Atlanta’s salary cap room, utterly offended by the GM’s lack of vision, prioritization, and overall plan for running the Thrashers. Kovalchuk, instead of signing 5-years/$25 million, Kovy gets 5-years/$32.5 million. And because of his ‘holdout,’ Kovalchuk misses training camp, too. Gee, wonder which direction a player’s salary goes, when you don’t lock him up during the year, or at least before July 1? Bygones. Kovalchuk refused to sacrifice any of his UFA years with that contract.
That year, the Thrashers lost Lehtonen, Dunham, Shields, and Michael Garnett to groin injuries. Pasi Nurminen blew out his knee during the offseason, playing for his Finnish National team. As a result, the Thrashers missed the playoffs, and Marc Savard, was lost to free agency, unable to be locked up by Waddell at any point after the lockout ended. The next season, none of the Thrashers training staff was fired, as a result of all those conditioning-related groin injuries. Accountability?? Nope. Not here. Dan Marr, still head of scouting? Yep, and still is, to this very day. It’s unimagineable that this sort of thing could happen in Canada. But this is “friendly” Atlanta, and not really the HOMETOWN team for most hockey fans, so … Waddell is given a perennial pass.
Puck Like A Porn Star
June 12th, 2011
12:59 am
@Hazard: I called my ticket rep, who gave me the option to apply the season ticket funds to Hawks tickets or other Philips Arena events, or have my card credited. I opted for a full refund, and my card was credited the full amount the very next day.
I expect that if you don’t call them, they’ll wait it out until June 21, and then give you the same options.
Of course, if there’s some miracle, at least I know which seats to ask for.
In other news, I wonder if they’ll report how many governors voted for and against relocation. It would be interesting to see how the Sunbelt governors vote on this, especially Nashville, Florida, and, of course, Phoenix.
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
1:37 am
HookyBob, this is the post.
http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2011/06/03/what-will-you-remember-about-the-thrashers/?cp=all#comment-60184
Les Habitants
June 12th, 2011
2:16 am
thrasherdawg,
Bettman did not need to do anything. He had a buyer waiting, he just needed to get the deal through. The burden was actually on YOU, the fans. You saw the writing on the wall. You knew that someone was interested in buying the team. When the time came, what did you do? Only 200 of you cared to show up. Had the fans really wanted the team to stay, they would have purchased all the available season tickets when they knew that there was a chance that the team would go.
Bottom line, the business owner may or may not run his business properly. But once he sees that his clients no longer support his business, why would he not sell it to whoever interested and ready to pay?
Les Habitants
June 12th, 2011
2:29 am
Thrashered/Relocationist,
“That’s it, Dutch Harbor with a NHL franchise. If all it takes is a rich owner to get a NHL team for a backwater town, I’m surprised the Walton family didn’t get one for Bentonville, Arkansas.”
“So, what are the Thrasher (Jet) players going tp say ? I hate all of those world class golf courses where we can play year round?”
With your kind of logic, do you care enough to explain why a player of Aaron Rodgers’s caliber chooses to play in Green Bay, Wisconsin? That city is even smaller than Winnipeg, you know. As well, how is it that the team of that city is much more successful than many other teams like, let us say, Atlanta Falcons?
cadreamin24
June 12th, 2011
2:31 am
Les habitants, as you say, “the writing was on the wall” It wouldn’t have mattered whether 200 or 20000 fans showed up. This deal was in the making long before it hit the mainstream, and no amount of fan pressure or interested local buyers was going to stop it and everybody here knew it due to previous experience w/ an ownership group whose priorities didn’t include the team or fans. Sometimes you just get tired of bashing your head against a wall.
Jimbo
June 12th, 2011
8:49 am
Forget all this baloney about another suitor with an offer on the table. Contracts have been signed, people laid off and hired, etc. The owners will of course vote to let the deal go through. They want the same option should things go south with their franchise. In addition to the lying ASG and totally incompetent DW, Gary Bettman has done a horse—t job of developing hockey in the US in major markets. He has let them slip away and now a major US TV deal takes another hit with the loss of another major market. He is a worthless figure head.
John Cantcade
June 12th, 2011
9:00 am
Enter your comments here
John Cantcade
June 12th, 2011
9:01 am
“because the Atlanta fans would have bought 13,000 season tickets”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Red Light
June 12th, 2011
9:33 am
“I’m surprised the Walton family didn’t get one for Bentonville, Arkansas.”
Well, two from the Walton family (Bill and Nancy Walton Laurie) did own the Blues from 1999 to 2006 before deciding that hockey ownership wasn’t for them.
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
10:07 am
I think there’s a misperception about the “Fan Club Event,” arranged within 24 hours, for members to voice their displeasure at the situation, and to say “goodbye” to the Thrashers. I attended that event. My photos adorned the AJC.com Fan Blogger site, from that event.
Had it been a (pay close attention) “Rally to Save the Thrashers,” it would have been planned weeks in advance, and put on by the City, on the steps of the Capital Building, on Martin Luther King Blvd. But alas, our city Mayor and Governor saw no problem with the loss of $30 million in Georgia State income tax revenue, brought in by the other 29 NHL clubs, visiting Philips Arena. They saw no problem with the job losses that created, and they certainly gave no regard to the image of the City of Atlanta as a major U.S. city losing its standing as a city housing all four major pro sports: MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL.
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
10:17 am
I think most rational people knew … that the deal was DONE. Had 20,000 fans showed up, how is that going to persuade a buyer of a franchise that loses $20 to $30 million annually to buy the franchise, when, again, and I can’t stress this enough, the prospective buyer won’t be able to tap into the proceeds generated from the venue called Philips Arena? Unless your thought is … well, if this entity bought the team, and raised ticket prices by 40%, and 13,000 fans in Atlanta agreed to pay that increase, maybe that could work.
Who … in their right mind … would buy a team … without proceeds from the venue and having the lease situation squared away? Hockey teams bleed money. Successful arenas, like Philips, 4th best in the nation, tend to make money. That money offsets the travel budget, admin staffers, marketing, advertising, program and other give-a-way costs, not to mention the PAYROLL!! I don’t know anyone, who isn’t drunk at the time, that would agree to take on an asset like an NHL franchise, without other assets to offset those financial liabilities. Even the revenue-sharing dollars won’t be enough to break-even, UNLESS the team payroll is set at the FLOOR of the salary cap.
Gee, that kinda sounds familiar! Doesn’t it?
Wienerpeg Trolls
June 12th, 2011
10:39 am
Wow, Thrashered/Relocationist might have some schizo issues going on. This is the same guy who for months has been advocating moving the team to Canada and constantly dogging Thrasher fans, all the while claiming to live here. Go back and read the blogs.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 12th, 2011
10:39 am
Brenden, you’re right without a owner who owns the whole infrastructure of the team etc… arena, practice facility, parking and concessions in todays NHL it is a non starter. In Winnipeg TNSE owns everything including everything around the MTS centre which is the 9th busiest building in North American and that was without hockey. Buildings, Restaurants, they own a plane for the team which they lease and get money from private charters, all this revenue will help the team spend to the cap when they need to. You’re right Brenden they were not planning to sell the Thrashers locally, they wanted to keep everything else and they knew no one would buy the one entity.
Uncle Milty
June 12th, 2011
1:00 pm
@Thrashered/Relocationist,
you still sound bitter given your continued shots at Winnipeg. You claim Winnipeg won’t garner any name free agents yet you fail to acknowledge that the vast majority of NHL players were born and raised in the exact sort of cold weather environment that you claim they’ll now shun. Regarding the free agency advantages that you seem to feel Atlanta possesses over Winnipeg as an NHL market, please share with us the wealth of big name free agents that the Thrashers signed over their history as a franchise. It shouldn’t take long.
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 12th, 2011
1:16 pm
I have no problem with moving the team to Winnipeg. None what so ever. But comparing Winnipeg to the tradition of football in Green Bay is rather ignorant. Green Bay is a one of a kind situation. The Winnipeg/NHL situation has already proven more like the Jacksonville/NHL story. Small town, massive enthusiasm up front but can’t support a major league team in the long run. As for me, I’m happy that someone was dumb enough to send $110,000,000 to Georgia for a franchise with a track record of over a decade of failure. Sure, the Thrasher players must be just ecstatic about relocating from Atlanta to Winnipeg. Like they would say anything other than they are happy to be in that god forsaken one horse prairie town. Name one NHL city that anyone in their right mind would least like to play in than Winnipeg? That’s what I thought. There isn’t one. By the way, there’s enough money in Atlanta that if we really wanted the team back, we could buy the team and the entire metropolis of 750,000 and still have money left over. One last thing. There’s been a noticeable increase in the difficulty in going to any Canadian internet forum and saying anything bad about Winnipeg or the Thrashers move. I guess in a third world country you control thought a little more closely than we do here in the USA. So, feel free to take time from celebrating in the streets your $170 mill purchase of an AHL caliber team and post here as ofter as you like. Maybe we can discuss how the hotbed of hockey, the world capital of hockey, has already lost 2 NHL teams. But I’m sure all is well in the Peg this time and things will be different. Ditto for Quebec City. But don’t worry, we’ll have enough money to take the NHL back in a few years when it shows up at our door again looking for an American market after the Jets fail again in your little prairie town.
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 12th, 2011
1:20 pm
By the way, the Thrasher fans who think an NHL team can survive at the Phillips arena location are as wrong as the Winnipeg fans who think a team can survive long term in that town. Both situations are losers.
Sage of Bluesland
June 12th, 2011
2:30 pm
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/12/sports/sp-jock-tax12/3
Brendan, I don’t think the tax revenues based on players is as much as y
“…Then there are the tax credits players receive if they’re required to pay taxes to two or more states for the same game — for example: their state of residence, the state where their team is based and the state where the game was played….In many cases it’s a wash. You don’t end up paying all that much more,” says William Ahern, communications director for the Tax Foundation. But you just file a lot more paperwork….”
Sage of Bluesland
June 12th, 2011
2:42 pm
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/12/sports/sp-jock-tax12/3
“…Then there are the tax credits players receive if they’re required to pay taxes to two or more states for the same game — for example: their state of residence, the state where their team is based and the state where the game was played….In many cases it’s a wash. You don’t end up paying all that much more,” says William Ahern, communications director for the Tax Foundation. “But you just file a lot more paperwork….”
Brendan–I don’t think the tax revenues “lost” are based on players’ salaries (as the state of Georgia will have to credit the Thrashers’ players for the taxes they have to pay to other states, thus generally lowering whatever Georgia gained by taxing visiting teams/players). Now, as far as employees or those whose jobs are lost as a result, absolutely.
I would have thought that taxes were only paid in the state of either residence or in the state of the organization–and these road trips being considered mere “business trips”.
Oh well, learn something new every day…It will be interesting to see if studies will be put out showing how much economic impact is felt with the red-headed stepchild (hockey) leaving.
As with the showing of 300 +/- fans, I don’t think it will be all that much, in the big picture (as with the anemic television ratings for the sport both nationally and locally). If it were, I’m sure the politicians would have clamored tooth-and-nail….
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
2:59 pm
Thrashered, at least Philips Arena was centrally located to the 22 county metropolitan area. That’s a fact. Now, I’ll listen to your argument that 75% of the hockey fans of Atlanta live above I-20, which cuts the city in half. In that regard, putting an arena in Alpharetta, or Sandy Springs, or Marietta, or Duluth … makes some sense. But the idea is … to energize the whole region about hockey, and draw from that southern crescent of the city, as well. I personally know several Thrasher fans in Coweta, Henry, Fayette, Newton, Butts, and Spalding counties. For them, the drive up to Alpharetta, Woodstock, Acworth, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Duluth, or wherever up north, reflects a long trip for a game. I, personally, would make it. But a casual fan, on the south side, probably thinks, “I’d go, but it’s so far away.”
I know can hear the Canadian hockey fans snickering up in Canada, all the way down in Georgia. You guys would make a 2 hour trip for a Flames, Oilers, Canucks game, and not think twice about it. Hockey is definitely 4th, 5th or 6th in the pecking order of sports in Atlanta. But, that shouldn’t be where it is/was, had somebody competent run this show, from Day One.
Atlanta did set an NHL attendance record in 1999-2000, for an expansion team. That didn’t happen because no one was interested in hockey, in Atlanta. But, until your father grew up here, you grew up here, and your kids grew up here, it’s still to transient of a city for most folks. Many people come to Atlanta for promotion, then leave for another. There’s plenty of evidence to show that northerners come to Atlanta and decide to stay. That’s been the trend since about 1990. Folks realize that they can triple the size of their house at half the cost, at a huuuuuuge tax savings. Folks from NY and Pennsylvania move here and say, “I tripled my house, and I pay one-third of the taxes I did back home. And now, I don’t have to shovel.” That’s the trend, in Atlanta. And Greenville, SC. And Charlotte, NC. And Raleigh, NC. And Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA, etc.
Now, as for hockey, I think Commissioner Bettman had to know … HAD to KNOW … that the product here would have to be a success. Instead, what happened … was the equivalent to allowing MEEEEE, an anonymous poster on a blog, to run the team. For I offer you to consider the following. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that I’m an idiot.
Still with me? I’m some random moron on a blog. The owners put meeee, an idiot, a moron, with no experience, in charge. What do you think will happen? Raise your hand … if you said that I’d take Patrick Stefan, 1st overall, and that he’d never leave the 3rd line as a Center. And that, ultimately, I’d give him away in a trade to Dallas, for another 3rd line player (Niko Kapanen). Check. Suppose, that I opened the morning paper on Draft Day 2000, and came up with Dany Heatley as the best possible choice, assuming the NY Islanders pass on him. Check. Am I brilliant for the Heatley selection? Or can I merely READ a scouting report, to take a CONSENSUS pick? On Draft Day 2001, am I genius to come up with Ilya Kovalchuk, at 1st overall? Not really, no. Pretty obvious stuff, there. How ’bout 2002, with a 2nd overall pick? What do you think I do, as a moron, as an idiot, as someone easily fleeced? Don’t I just take whomever Florida doesn’t between Bouwmeester and Rick Nash, with that 2nd overall pick? Probably. That’d be some “basic, common” thinking. Waddell agrees to letting his pal Rick Dudley (Florida GM) talk him into passing on Bouwmeester, for the 30th overall pick (Jim Slater) as inducement. The Thrashers take Lehtonen, a Finnish goalie. Let’s forget about that, for the moment, and assume, as a moron on a blog, that I actually wanted Lehtonen, all along. And that he’d take 5 years to develop, they way that goaltenders normally do. Pretty weak move, huh? Even for a moron poster, on a blog. By the 2003 Draft, I still haven’t put my team into the playoffs, despite owning two 1st overall picks and two 2nd overalls. But, what’d'ya expect? I’m an idiot on a blog. I pass on Dion Phaneuf at 8th overall in 2003, in favor of Braydon Coburn. But instead of developing Coburn, my coach plays him 6 minutes a game, and I’m ultimately forced to trade him, in a FLEECING by the Flyers, for 35-year old Alexei Zhitnik, to attempt to salvage the 1st ever playoff berth, in 2007. Not surprising, for an idiot on a blog. In 2004, knowing a lockout is looming, and rule changes are forthcoming, I maintain my “dinosaur” way of thinking … to select Boris Valabik, 6′7″, at 10th overall, thinking him to be the “Second coming of Chara.” Six years later, Valabik can’t qualify as the 7th ranked blueliner in the depth chart of one of the worst franchises in the league.
Moving right along. Now, it’s 2005. I’m still a dufous on a blog, and still in charge of the Thrashers, still without a playoff berth. I luck my way into an 8th overall pick, but for some reason, I don’t like Devin Setoguchi, Anze Kopitar, or Marc Staal at that spot, and decide to move back to # 12 overall, to pick up selection # 41, which I’d use to select D-man Chad Denny, who has never set foot in the NHL. Okay, but I don’t stop there. I decide that I don’t like the view at # 12, or Marc Staal, and decide to move back to # 16 to select Alex Bourret, to pick up selection # 49, to go land Czech Republic goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. Fiiine. Goood. Except that Alex Bourret has likewise … never set foot in the NHL, aside from some preseason games. Now 2006 rolls around. I’m still not in the playoffs, as a random poster on a blog, in charge of the Thrashers. And my team is completely outdated for the needs and system of the “new” NHL. With pick # 12, I select Bryan Little. I’m actually starting to learn, as Little is the right pick, for that spot in the draft. By the trade deadline of 2007, my team is tanking fast, and I cannot hide that I am, in fact, a moron who doesn’t know what he’s doing. I decide to give up a 1st and 3rd pick in the 2007 draft, along with a “conditional” 1st rounder in 2008, plus a 2nd rounder in 2008, ANNNNNNNND Center Glen Metropolit, to the St. Louis Blues for the services of the aging Keith Tkachuk. But I’m not done. I also trade my prized 8th overall pick from 2003, Braydon Coburn, for 35-year old Alexei Zhitnik, to stabilize my blueline and quarterback my powerplay. I trade D-man Ivan Vishnevsky, whom I sacrificed a 2nd round pick in 2007 to obtain in the first place, to Nashville, for forward Eric Belanger, formerly of the division rival Carolina Hurricanes. Belanger isn’t exactly thrilled to be in Atlanta, and walks as a UFA in the offseason. But I’ve got yet another trade deadline move. After selecting Alex Bourret at # 16, back in 2005, I decide to trade him for 3rd line forward Pascal Dupuis, along with the NY Rangers’ 3rd round pick. I use that 3rd round pick to trade for 4th line forward, Chris Thorburn, from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dupuis is traded away, along with Hossa, at the 2008 trade deadline, because Hossa, Savard, Kaberle, and Kovalchuk all see the SS Titanic for what it is, a ship about to sink.
So, these four (4) trade deadline moves better result in something tangible, huh? I’ve already lost my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks for 2007, and conditionally promised my 1st rounder, depending on if I re-sign Keith Tkachuk, and 2nd rounder to the Blues. The results? Well, when you put a random idiot from a blog in charge of the Thrashers, you don’t get success. The Thrashers are swept by the Rangers in their only playoff appearance. Changes made???? Nope!!!! Not gonna make any changes!!!!!!!!! I’m sooooo respected in NHL circles, that I simply CANNOT be fired. I’m the “chosen” fan poster on a blog!! Look at my fabulous track record!! Zero playoff wins, after 5 Top 10 overall picks with which to build the franchise.
In the end, I wind up with nine (9) top 10 overall picks to get my Thrashers deep into the playoffs. Two 1st overalls, two second overalls, a 3rd overall, a 4th overall, a pair of 8th overalls, and a 10th overall. I don’t so much as win a playoff game. But hockey fans in Atlanta claim … I’m hamstrung by the owners, with no budget. And that, really, nothing is my fault. I shouldn’t be fired. And am, in fact, a great hockey mind. I run the team so well … that interest in hockey actually DECREASES within the region, and I ultimately run the franchise into the ground, resulting in a relocation to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
So, let me ask you something … how do you all feel about being TIED WITH WADDELL for playoff victories?? That’s a fact, you know. What’s the difference … if the ownership picked some random idiot on a blog … or kept Don Waddell? Answer: There isn’t one. There is … no … difference. The results are the same, and equally PATHETIC.
But you lousy fans in Atlanta … should have showed up to support your idiot fan blogger, in running the ship into the rocky shoreline, putting all the crew on board … out of a job. Oh wait, Ramsay hasn’t been fired yet, right? Sorry. I jumped the gun on that one. Sorry.
NHL in Atlanta
June 12th, 2011
3:04 pm
Thrashered/Relocationist
Honestly I think your the only looser on this board.
You know what your from Phoniex…that would explain why you are being such a friiggggin turd. Be happy
NHL in Atlanta
June 12th, 2011
3:08 pm
@Thrashed…..oh I think I’ll kill a few minutes and find your location, should be funny when WE all find out where your from…HAHAHAH.. Stay tuned.
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
3:16 pm
Sage of Bluesland, our city, our state, and our owners … sold us down the river. Plain and simple.
Sage of Bluesland
June 12th, 2011
7:53 pm
I think Brendan brings up a great point–in that any one of us “ignorant” bloggers could have amassed the same number of playoff wins, at worst, as Don Waddell has.
It’s why I always laughed at the sheep who kept defending the indefensible–and especially those who kept wanting “specifics” (i.e., who would you sign; who would you trade; and all of the other pipe-dreams from such faux-intelligentsia clowns like Ranallo, GaVa, and Smoothie). I can assure you that I would field a team–and that team could have had just as many playoff wins.
Interesting thought, isn’t it? There was real “magic” in the drafting of Heatley and Kovalchuk, wasn’t there? I’ve never complained about Stefan as the Sedin twins would only play with each other–and it’s not like we passed on a Heatley-calibre player to take Stefan.
However, from such projects as Lehtonen is where the streak of bad high-first round picks began….and I wanted Rick Nash or Bouwmeester with that 2nd pick. Florida only moved out of the top spot when given assurance by brilliant Donny that we wouldn’t take Bouwmeester. Of course, Donny would rather be liked among the group as opposed to doing what’s in the best interest of the Atlanta Thrashers….thus, we were stuck with a glass-groined wunderkind who dyed his hair blue and flamed out….after providing YEARS of excuses of “Just wait until this guy makes it to the parent club!”.
(The key word there being “wait”….Sheep, will you ever learn? I learned on draft-day 2002 that it was all a fantasy…and subsequently stopped subsidizing the incompetence…)
Not Blind
June 12th, 2011
8:12 pm
Here is your assignment for the night: Come up with a slogan based off Winston Churchill’s Battle of Britain speech “…so much owed…. so few.”
I’ll do the first.
Never have so many been taken for granted by so few
Not Blind
June 12th, 2011
8:13 pm
We also need some”‘Boycott Phillips Arena” bumper stickers.
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
8:14 pm
Sage, thank you for “getting it” these many years. Budgets only hamstring the GM so much. No Spirit Group owner ever said, “Draft Devin Setoguchi over my DEAD BODY!,” back in 2005. No Spirit Group owner ever said, “If you don’t move back to #16 from # 8 in the 2005, to stockpile 2nd rounders, you’re fired!!!” No member of Time-Warner said to Waddell, back in 2002, “Pick Lehtonen or pack your bags.” None of those things happened. I’ll agree that budget, or a lack thereof, makes it difficult to retain players. Certainly, I’ll agree with that. But the way the NHL works is … you draft a player … and unless they’re going to holdout or opt to play in Europe instead, you own their rights for 8 long years before the player can escaped to unrestricted free agency. And if, during that time, an RFA offersheet appears, you have the option of matching it, which is IDEAL, since the player wouldn’t otherwise re-sign here for UFA years, or you accept the draft pick compensation for that player’s loss, as an RFA. Plus, the league mandates a FLOOR for spending. So, like it or not, you must spend within $16 million of the cap limit.
In short, there’s only so much ownership can truly hamper a GM who knows what he’s doing. Owners don’t meddle in trades, either. Especially in a sport they know nothing about. And on and on it goes. Yet, the willingness for some to defend Don Waddell, through these years, is astonishing. Just astonishing. It’s indefensible.
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
8:19 pm
Not Blind, I’ll take my slogan from “Saving Private Ryan.” Thrasher fans: “Never before has such a tremendous sacrifice been put before the altar of futility. Don Waddell thanks for your donations.”
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
8:22 pm
That should read, “Don Waddell thanks you for your donations” (towards the futility).
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 12th, 2011
8:40 pm
Okay, I’ve had fun the past several weeks poking holes in about every premise used in arguements put forth by the Thrasher fan base and the fine citizens of Winnipeg to justify why their respective locations should have an NHL franchise. It’s like this, there’s probably only two markets in North America that currently could support an NHL franchise (or an additional franchise). One is the Hamilton and/or Toronto market(s)and the other is the north metro Atlanta market. Others have tried to explain why an NHL franchise won’t work when it’s based at Phillips arena in downtown Atlanta. The comments from those in Winnipeg demonstrate they don’t understand the dempgraphics/geography of a large metro area like Atlanta (population over 5,000,000) where a team could thrive on the north side of the area while failing miserably in the downtown area. Their paradigm is based on living in small town of 750,000. Fine. As for Winnipeg, they failed once with an NHL franchise and will fail again once the novelty wears off. Bottom line: There simply aren’t enough martkets in North America to support 30 NHL teams. NY has one too many teams, Florida is a failure, Phoenix is a failure. And the jury is probably still out on the long term viability of the NHL in places like Dallas, Nashville and Columbus. Winnipeg, enjoy your team while you have it. The NHL, in trying to keep 30 franchises, is doomed to a future with 4 or 5 franchises being nothing more than transients in temporary markets.
Thrashered/Relocationist
June 12th, 2011
8:54 pm
One clarification, I think there is currently only one market without a franchise that could support one (north ATL) and one current market with a franchise (Toronto or Hamilton) that could support another team or give up part of its current market area. I gorup the last two together because any move to Hamilton would infringe on the Leaf’s fan base.
Secondly, forget hockey fans south of I-20 in ATL. For every one you lose south of I-20 when you put the arena on or north of I-285,
you gain 5 or 6 with higher incomes in Gwinnett, North Fulton and Cobb counties. Sorry, that’s just the way it is. ATL south of I-20 already has what meets the needs of its residents–the NASCAR track.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 12th, 2011
9:23 pm
first of all thrasher/relocationist it is not about understanding the demographics/geography of a city of 5 million, we get the idea, travel, areas of demographics, what type of people watch hockey. You like to throw the 750,000 number around like that is the number, but in the capital region there is 1 million people, number 2 people will drive to Winnipeg to watch hockey from 3 hours away meaning we would draw from another 250,000 people including the states of North Dakota and Minnesota. We lost the Jets not because of fan base but because the old owners owned just the jets not the arena or anything else. these owners expect to make at least 110 to 120 mil a year because they own everything and the team is just a part of the business. So please this team will be here for the long run we do not get tired of hockey it is our sport. But I do agree with you we will see more non traditional markets fall and that sucks. Buy the way last time I checked 21 billion dollars is alot of money which our owner has.
jen
June 12th, 2011
10:31 pm
Good posts Brendan….
I just got back on here, not because I carry any false hope nor do I feel I can continue to relive the inane awfulness that was the giant cluster created by the schmucks in the offices. I do however feel that as a native of this city and a hockey fan we are entitled to the truth about the situation, not “crazy rumors” and not mouthpieces of lying thug loving businessmen and certainly not borderline dwarfs who make “covenents with fans” they have no intention of keeping. The whole deal smells like two day old bait that’s been left out in the sun. Personally, and I’ve said this elsewhere, if this deal doesn’t go down, the NHL would have been running 2 teams and not just one and one where the city had no intention (and rightly so) of bankrolling it. Chris, Jeff, Mark, someone, there is a story here, there is truth here somewhere, and Atlanta needs to hear it.
I want one of those boycott phillips areana/ASG bumber stickers btw…
Brendan
June 12th, 2011
11:22 pm
Jen, welcome back. And thank you. And I agree … there’s a story in here. Will it ever get told? Craig Custance, a former beat writer here, knows our story. Maybe one day, a book will come out. At a minimum, the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, laid out a ‘blueprint’ for what NOT to do with an expansion franchise.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 12th, 2011
11:35 pm
brendan, well i am extremely happy we are getting a team, the one thing that has always bothered me is this, in my opinion pheonix was always in worse shape so i wonder was gary bettmans ego involved with them staying in glendale, because he put there. Were you guys used as a out because yes crowds were bad, or was it a issue between the league and the ASG that may never be found out. Tell you what they will be successful in Winnipeg and one day i hope you get another team, but i think 2 strikes and your out, and in Atlanta’s case that is to bad.
Brendan
June 13th, 2011
12:28 am
Oh well, I tried twice, letsnotgetexcited71, but my post got eaten by SPAM filters. Basically, the poor relations between the Atlanta Spirit, LLC and the Commissioner’s office had longreaching tentacles, all the way back to 2004-05. And things never really got repaired.
Stan Drulia
June 13th, 2011
8:56 am
Signing off Thrashers’ fans… been nice reading and commenting on all of your posts. Sage – keep on hatin’. Brendan – dude, go outside and take a walk or something… the length of your posts is just retarded! You gotta get up from your computer and go live a life man.
I have officially become a Predators fan now and hope to see some of you there! Thanks a lot ASG!!! You are the worst!
Dwayne
June 13th, 2011
10:09 am
Go Flyers!!!! My original home team. After that, It’s the Bolts!!!!
Not Blind
June 13th, 2011
10:12 am
Here is my question – What did the season tickets sell for in Whinipeg and what did a comparable Phillips seat sell for ? What I am wanting to know is did Mr. Deeppockets sell the season ticket packages real cheap ?
I am laughing at you
June 13th, 2011
10:25 am
I love how all you delusional idiots think that there is a chance that the Thrashers aren’t going to move. Wow I knew people in Atlanta were stupid but not this stupid. Its done the team is gone and now get over it, you didn’t support them and now they are in a place where they will play in front of sold out crowds every night and be followed by people with actual hockey knowledge. The BOG will unanimously agree on the move, Bettman and Daly have already said as much, but you morons can hold on to your fruitless dreams and still think they will be staying. Of course the majority of the city won’t even notice they are gone anyways, so you can always just pretend they are still there because nobody would be going to the games anyways, so things will be almost the same for you losers.
I am laughing at you
June 13th, 2011
10:30 am
@notblind actually dumbass the season ticket prices in Winnipeg are 3rd highest average in the league and we as a city had no problem buying them all up in a matter of minutes and with multiple year commitments. Not to mention the thousands and thousands of others who have already place a deposit to be on the waiting list to purchase season tickets.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 13th, 2011
10:39 am
Not blind, FYI the ticket prices in Winnipeg on average is 82.00/seat making them the fifth highest in the league , $129.00-39.00 dollars for season ticket holders. guarantee of 54mil a season just on tickets does not include boxes. single seats on game day will be sold as high as 30% higher as per what team comes in. Is that close to what Atlanta was doing?
letsnotgetexcited71
June 13th, 2011
10:42 am
Not Blind I,m Sorry it is third highest in league I am Laughing at you is Right,
Not Blind
June 13th, 2011
10:45 am
Here is what I want to know now – How much are whinipeg game day seats down on the lower level ? I know that my wife and I paid app $220 EACH back in the pre ASG years.
@I am laughing at you – didn’t I see you on a bait car episode ???
letsnotgetexcited71
June 13th, 2011
10:53 am
Not blind you and your wife got ripped off the people in Toronto on a front end seat go for about 175.00 a piece and that is the highend in winnipeg it is 129.00 season ticket holder, game day buy on average would be about 150.00. Toronto game day would be 200 or more
I am laughing at you
June 13th, 2011
11:00 am
@ Not Blind – Yes you did see me on that show, it was the episode where you were getting arrested and I was the guy on the sidewalk pointing and laughing at you. I can’t believe that in all the commotion of you getting arrested you took the time to notice me, well done! Also with the demand being so high for tickets in Winnipeg you’ll be lucky to get an upper level seat for the price you paid because with all the season tickets being sold they only kept a few hundred for each game for walkups. So to clear this up we will be paying far more than you guys ever did in Atlanta and will be sold out every night, which clearly shows this was not only a smart move putting this team in a actual hockey market but it will also be making money every year unlike in Atlanta where they lost over 20 million a season each and every single year they were there. Now go back to watching your nascar and smacking your wife around.
I am laughing at you
June 13th, 2011
11:04 am
@ Letsnotgetexcited – Actually the mark up is a minimum of 40% so p1 seats will be a minimum of 180 for walkups and you also forgot to mention that True North said the walkup tickets will be subjected to dynamic pricing, so when Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, Pittsburgh, or any other popular team comes they will be even higher and no doubt we in Winnipeg will gladly pay whatever they charge.
letsnotgetexcited71
June 13th, 2011
11:31 am
you are correct, and yes we will have no problem paying these prices
DWTOO
June 13th, 2011
11:42 am
We’re laughing at you – willing pay anything they charge. Then you’re the fool and deserve to pay the 3rd highest prices. And working at McDonald’s how can you afford a ticket? Now go away and retreat to your local paper. We’ve had enough jerks like you on our blog.
I am laughing at you
June 13th, 2011
11:49 am
@DWTOO just because you lack an education and are forced to resort to working at dead end minimum wage jobs doesn’t mean the rest of us do. I would be willing to bet anything that my yearly income is at least double what you make in a year, and for the record I purchased 2 season tickets in the p3 area at a cost of almost 34K for 4 years, an amount I would bet anything you could never afford, but nice try junior and keep being bitter about the loss of yet another NHL team in Atlanta. LOL
R. Stroz
June 13th, 2011
1:11 pm
DWTOO – Take his bet and then compare your W-2 vs. whatever the Canadian equivalent to a W-2 is. He wiil not be laughing very much longer will he?
Kelly
June 13th, 2011
1:17 pm
Thrashered/Relocationist (and anyone else who thinks Winnipeg couldn’t support the Jets): Fan support had NOTHING to do with the Jets leaving. It wouldn’t have mattered if the Jets sold out: they STILL wouldn’t have generated enough revenue to stay. Why? Because the Jets’ had a WORSE arena deal than the Thrashers did. Every Thrasher fan on here blames the Philips Arena lease as a major drag on Thrasher revenue, so it’s not much of a stretch for you to believe me on this.
Winnipeg had excellent fan support. Your Rick Dudley, who played the final 30 games of his career in a Jets uniform, even said so. Everything that conspired to cost Winnipeg the Jets has been fixed: there’s now at least a little sanity in player compensation, there’s now revenue sharing (although Winnipeg returns to the NHL as a contributor TO revenue sharing — not a recipient of it), there’s a new arena with not a bad seat in the house, the team owns the arena and every cent of revenue it earns, the owner has more money than shiekhs and the city is thriving.
Tell me again why this won’t work?
Kelly
June 13th, 2011
1:35 pm
Let’s not get excited: Gary Bettman isn’t in love with Glendale. His hand was forced by Moyes putting the team into bankruptcy. He either had to buy the team or let Judge Redfield T. Baum sell it to Balsillie. He couldn’t let that happen, because Balsillie would have moved the team to Hamilton and fired the first shot in a legal war between Buffalo and Toronto vs. the NHL. Considering that the Maple Leafs could buy the NHL with its pocket change, that’s a legal fight that would have bankrupted the NHL. Then you add in Atlanta and some of the other U.S. teams teetering on a financial precipice. Bettman needed stability in Phoenix because he knew there was only one buyer for two troubled teams. So he pursued the only other potential buyer (Hulsizer, who doesn’t have nearly the amount of wealth needed to carry a team like Phoenix) as vigourously as he could, convinced the Glendalians that a deal was imminent if they’d just cover a season of losses (now, two, it turns out) and ran head-first into the Goldwater Institute.
It will be interesting to see how Pheonix plays out. I suspect that Hulsizer will tire of the whole charade and turn his attention to a team closer to his Chicago home and see what kind of sweetheart no-money-down deal he can get out of St. Louis. I suspect Glendale will have to cut bait on an NHL team next season. Where it goes from there, nobody knows.
DWTOO
June 13th, 2011
1:38 pm
Hey Strozer – You’re probably right. I can go toe to toe with just about anyone. And Laughing I do have a college degree with dual majors from a Big Ten school. And I could match your season ticket purchase and have had a Thrasher season ticket package from about day one.
R.Stroz – I did violate one of my rules by rising to the bait of a foreign troll. I don’t understand the need of some to venture on what’s an ATLANTA blog to toss grabage in our faces. JUST GO AWAY TROLLS. You have our team – leave us alone.
I am laughing at you
June 13th, 2011
1:53 pm
Actually DWTOO they are OUR team, and now maybe you can grab a notepad and pen and take notes on how a REAL hockey market supports a team.
Not Blind
June 13th, 2011
1:54 pm
Lessee, The USA as a soverign nation is how old ??? And Canada as a soverign nation is how old ? And the peoples of the USA fought for their independence while Canadians did not ??? And a large segment of the country actually celebrates their French heritage ????
Riiiigght. I’m really feeling inferior to Canadians today :rolleyes:
letsnotgetexcited71
June 13th, 2011
2:00 pm
DWTOO, I think your right we do not have a right to be on your blogs but I think most people use this as a way to find out the feeling in a area. I for one am ashamed at some of the bloggers that post here including myself on occasion. I think for myself I still can’t believe we got the team and I always look back to make sure nothing is going to take that away from us. I to have a degree from the University of Manitoba, and would never insult your intelligence, about who can afford what as far as season tickets. Again I feel sorry for all the fans of the Thrashers, we in Winnipeg know what you are going through having gone through it ourselves back in 96. Take care guys the NHL will be back because I have seen first hand the passion of your fans at a thrasher game while I was there for business. Thank you for allowing me to blog here but I guess I will stop because it does look like we are gloating.
I am laughing at you
June 13th, 2011
2:10 pm
@Not Blind you’re forgetting the fact how the Americans tried to take over Canada on more than one occasion and us Canucks sent them home with their tail between their legs and the rest in body bags. So your feelings of inferiority are warranted.
@letsnotgetexcited – First off us in Winnnopeg have no idea what the people in Atlanta are going through. We supported our Jets and were passionate about them. Where in Atlanta they didn’t support a team and lost it. The majority of people in Atlanta aren’t even going to notice they are gone, hell they probably didn’t even know they were there in the first place. Which would explain their crappy crappy attendance.
DWTOO
June 13th, 2011
2:12 pm
Thanks Letsnot – There’s been much venom here on both sides – Atlanta and Winnipeg people. Would like to think I’ve stayed above the criticism of the cities and countries. But, Trolls are fair game.
One thing many need to remember is that we’re all hockey fans here and why take personal shots at each other and their locations.
Keep the talk to the game.
Ox Baker
June 13th, 2011
3:03 pm
A heart punch to all of you haters. It is done. Move on. Hope that the team thrives in WPG. The opportunity to play in the NHL is fleeting at best.Support the players you loved.
Give Waddell a raspberry, for trying to make diamonds out of dust. He misled himself.
I will go to Glad and Pred and maybe Hurricane games…I happen to love the sport.
Sage of Bluesland
June 13th, 2011
4:13 pm
Typical Canadian trolls….When we want your opinion, as a country, we’ll give it to you….Now go back to your little provincial sport and be a good little lapdog…Don’t worry, we’ve noted the abundance of natural resources you’re sitting on and will take it when we so desire.
I can promise you on that one.
The greatest sport in the world, football, rules all in the greatest country in the world.
Brendan
June 13th, 2011
6:33 pm
I’m going to buy Center Ice again next year. And I will watch to see what becomes of the Thrashers in Winnipeg. I can’t say that I’ll definitely get to Manitoba for a game, but when the team comes to Raleigh or Tampa, or Nashville, I probably will go see them.
Sage beater
June 14th, 2011
11:59 am
Hey Sage of Bluesland. Any time you feel froggy you go ahead and jump. We will shove that falg of yours up your ass and send you waddling back home. American idiot.
East Point Bob
June 16th, 2011
12:29 pm
Hey canada poor loser whiner fans who burn their town down, Who has NO class now ??,
I am so glad I live in the USA, Not the 51st state, aka, The Northern Wasteland !