The Atlanta Spirit – Lies, Lawsuits and Contempt
So…the Atlanta Spirit, LLC lied to us, did they? When asked many times over if they intended to sell the Thrashers organization over the past several years, they denied it…only to reveal in court documents recently that they had indeed looked to do just that. Not only that, but now we’ve learned of yet another lawsuit being entered into by the ownership cluster known as the Atlanta spirit, LLC.
The LLC, it seems, could now stand for Lies, Lawsuits and Contempt for the fans.
Really, no one should be terribly shocked to learn that one of…if not THE…most dysfunctional collection of businessmen ever to own a sports franchise actually dared to speak untruths to their paying population. The Great Octocluster has from day one proved themselves to be unworthy of our unquestioning trust.
One can’t help but wonder how much healthier their NHL team would be if they had invested as much money in it as they have on legal representation over the past six years. But as it stands now, if the Thrashers franchise were children and those who comprise the ownership cluster were the parents, Georgia DFCS would have been called in long ago to rescue them from such abuse and neglect.
I know it, you know it and the Thrasherville people know it.
Even so, hockey fans in Atlanta are indeed justified in being 100%, USDA Grade-A pissed off about being lied to for so long, and the Octocluster is deserving of any backlash they may receive from them. When one’s lies have been found out, that’s to be expected.
And while I join your cries of outrage in the aftermath of this info-bomb that was just detonated over our heads Friday afternoon, there is a big part of me that welcomes this news that the Great Octocluster have looked to sell the Thrashers. Given that those who make up this mess of an ownership have done enough damage to this franchise since acquiring it, the best thing for the franchise and its fans is for them to find a new buyer and stop doing more damage.
I can say this, you see, because I’m not one of those who will automatically jump to the knee-jerk conclusion that any such sale equates to their relocation. Sports franchises are bought and sold all the time and not always are they relocated.
It’s true. Look it up.
Of course, this little fact nugget doesn’t prevent the endless parade of rumor mill fodder created by certain bloggers, both of the domestic variety and north of the border. Of course, most of this drivel is produced in their mother’s basements in a pants-optional environment. Unfortunately, a story like this will only prove to encourage their rumor output even more.
Countering such nonsense, we’ve all read and heard the reasoning of why such relocation stories are simply nonsense. From the naming rights to Philips Arena being tied to having at least two pro sports teams play there… to the agreement with the league by the A.S. LLC when they bought them that they would not relocate them from Atlanta… to the NHL’s stated desire to remain in the Atlanta market as opposed to moving them to a smaller one…there are a host of reasons to support filing these internet rumors in the fiction section.
But even if you don’t fully accept the above as the gospel, there’s still this piece of logic to take under consideration. If YOU owned the Thrashers, Hawks and Philips Arena and YOU were in fact looking to sell off the hockey team, why in the world would you seek to strike a deal with someone intent on taking them out of town? I mean, would you want this future tenant to drive away from the market and depart with all that potential rent money?
No, I would think you would try to do exactly what the spirit Clowns have sought to do and find a local buyer whose aim is to keep them right here in Atlanta.
And if the AS, LLC had indeed sold the Thrashers years ago, they would probably be in much better shape today than they are. True, we’re seeing some serious progress finally…but we would be years further down the road, I truly believe, if the franchise were actually owned and operated by competent, passionate, people who might just have a love for the game.
That, or at least a fundamental understanding and appreciation for it…either would be an improvement.
Now, while some will use the occasion of this mighty revelation to renew calls to boycott going to games, I would instead insist that quite the opposite would be the appropriate response. If you want real, fundamental change to come to this franchise…specifically speaking, new ownership…then you have to give any prospective buyer the reason to make that investment.
And empty seats will not help in bringing about that change.
If, in fact, there is someone or some group out there looking to take our Thrashers off the Octocluster’s hands and do so with the intent of doing whatever it takes to building a winning NHL franchise here in Atlanta, I want them to see that there is a most live and vibrant fan base here and is starving for just such ownership.
Besides… I love the experience of live NHL hockey games, the greatest sporting event in the world, in my most humble of opinion. And after all…true, sincere, passionate, genuine NHL hockey fans are at games if and when they have the ability.
So while some may profess the correct path is to sit idly by and not attend games, I will instead continue to whip out my wallet and buy my way into Philips Arena to watch these Thrashers. I’ll continue to go, whether it’s just me, with a friend or with my family.
Of course, some may accuse me of subsidizing an incompetent ownership or supporting failure. But that insistence would only have merit if I were doing so to keep the current cast of clowns in charge of this organization.
If I’m “subsidizing” anything, it’s an investment in the future of hockey in this city. And for it to survive here, the A.S., LLC must finally get their wish and sell them to someone who is in fact buying them.
If you care to join me in ‘subsidizing the future” for this franchise by attending games, you know I’ve already got the tools in place to help you out. Simply click –>HERE<– and use promo code RAWHIDE to get deals on the remaining games in January.
Also, for the February 13 games against Carolina you can get seats in 203-204 and a replica Thrashers jersey for just $26. Simply call Karin at 404-878-3781 or e-mail her at Karin.Beckman@atlantaspirit.com.
By: Bill Tiller – AJC.com Thrashers Fan Blog
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137 comments Add your comment
Tom
January 22nd, 2011
11:59 am
Let’s face it, this ownership group got the team because of who they knew, not what the have done. If you need further proof, check out the payout by Turner Broadcasting to David McDavid.
Can we say 281 million to keep the kids at the Piedmont Driving Club happy?
That was the first clue that incompetence would rule the day. These guys have made their money not off their own back but their connections.
Now they are losing their asses on the team due to their incompetence and it is someone else’s fault. It really is that simple.
The best thing for the franchise is that it goes into receivership by the league and the Eeyore like cloud that hangs over our heads is lifted.
We are like the first wife with these guys. They do not want us around but they do not have enough money to pay us alimony. So they give the very least they possible can to just kill some time.
And a final thought. We wondered for years why Waddell stuck around. Now we know, he is the keeper of the big lie. He has sold his soul to keep his job with the Thrashers and spent every day lying to the fans and the press since 2005. I wonder if he will retire now that he can not hold this over the owners heads…
We knew the owners were incompetent spoiled brats. We now truly know Waddell is a dirtbag lier.
lilibeter
January 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm
I hope that Coach Ramsey ended this morning’s skate with a team-mandatory viewing of the movie “Major League”.
michael
January 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm
At least we can take solace in the fact that they have never profitted from our money. I’ll continue to go to games as money allows because this is my sport and my team. The NHL should do something similar to what they did in tampa bay.
FormerIslesFan
January 22nd, 2011
12:04 pm
Stroz: Nit necessarily. I think the driving force behind it may be that the damages are finally known and so they now just want to start down the road to get their money back. The sooner they get started, the sooner they may think they have a chance to make a recovery. Just speculation on my part, but certainly plausible based on the little I know at this point.
BG33Brown
January 22nd, 2011
12:06 pm
As I said previously, my goal is hockey in Atlanta. PERIOD. Does that mean doing business with the Seven Dwarfs, unfortunately yes.
Hypothetical question for those of you who don’t agree with my statement above. When/if at some point in the future when we are fighting for our hockey lives, will you regret your decision? I’m not trying to be a smartass, I am truly curious, which do you think is worse. No hockey team in Atlanta or doing business with the 7 A** hats.
rob
January 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm
ASG + Dumbwad = ANTIHOCKEY
I DARE any of the ASG to show up and get their pic up on the Jumbotron…..DOUBLE DARE them.
THRASHERS ROCK…Owners SUCK!!!
Where is Bettman? Timing on this whole thing, just as the All Star break is approaching….the league has to stop giving these morons time to make more people look at this team as a joke. This market is too big not to take advantage of by getting competent owners in place ASAP, while we have players here who could be built on to make this team formidable down the road!
Thrashy Thrashy
January 22nd, 2011
12:19 pm
ASG bought these teams for two reasons: 1) An ego boost. 2) To make money.
Being fools, they are not making money from their operation. I can’t speak for their egos because, well, egos can be quite tricky to understand.
I do think the Philips Arena arrangement makes it less likely that this team would leave under new ownership. However, a new owner would have to be willing to convince these guys to give him a cut of the arena’s profits. Is it possible that such a deal could be done? Sure. Unfortunately, given the idiocy of the guys who own the Thrashers, it seems like it would take multiple years and lawsuits to sort anything out.
I know the world of business is filled with people who don’t know their a**holes from holes in the ground, but it’s really annoying when you have something invested (financially and/or emotionally) in a business run by people like that.
You know, there will always be sheep who feel that an organization’s ownership, management, and foot soldiers will find a way to improve things. There will always be people who never believe a word said organization utters. There will always be people who are a little more rational and end up somewhere in the middle. That is truth; and that truth is prevalent in any organization of people.
I am foolish enough to believe that most Thrashers fans are fans because they love hockey. They love it being played in their town. Some care more about winning than others, but I like to think that the enjoyment of having an NHL team here in Atlanta is enough to create a consensus for doing what we can to keep the team here. My best guess is that we can never make this team profitable enough for those idiots to want to keep ownership of this team. They really want to flip it to someone else and make some cash. I also think they really want to keep the team in Atlanta because it benefits them more. As incompetent and incoherent as they are, they’re trying to look out for themselves. Let’s hope they can rid themselves of us and find someone who is competent and passionate about perpetuating a winning product here in Atlanta. That would be the best of both worlds.
Twisted Wrister
January 22nd, 2011
12:20 pm
Coach Ramsay should sit the team down today and make them watch “Major League.” Afterward, he should pull out a stand up figure of Laura Turner Seydel and reward the players by taking off the pieces after each win.
lilibeter
January 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
@Twisted Wrister: I’m a chick so the hated-but-naked-chick motivation factor escaped me.
bartdunwoody
January 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
Let’s hope that Duds the coaches and players know that the fans appreciate them and support the effort that they are putting into this season. Maybe that will help keep them going.
It must be very disappointing to learn that you work for such a miserable organization as the ASG.
Please keep playing for us, the fans, and not the sorry SOB’s that sign your check.
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2011
12:43 pm
“Who exactly wants to buy a hockey team that’s allegedly lost $130M over five years when you won’t control the arena you’re going to have to play your games in?
“Who exactly wants to pay a $70 million premium (plus whatever the league tacks on) to pay your way out of the naming rights deal and relocate the team if you move it to some small-market in Canada?”
Phil – great post, hits the nail right on the head. I asked SOB basically the same questions and he could do nothing other than call me a foolish sheep for subsidizing incompetence. He won’t answer these questions because it undermines everything he is about. Now he’s complimenting Rawhide for his “eloquent and thoughtful” arguments even know many of us have been saying the same thing for months and years. He’s nothing but an a$$kissing jackwagon. As if simply boycotting is going to solve everything magically. Until Bettman intervenes and sets change for the better in motion, the only thing a boycott will do is severely undermine our city’s chances of keeping hockey long-term. I don’t advocate making any season-long ticket commitments, but the players do not deserve this and there’s no reason to desert them when tickets are so affordable and easy to get. If the boys go on a tear in February, I reckon the casual fans in this city who love a winner will find their way to the Arena and further dispel any mythical notion that Atlanta can’t support hockey. I just wonder how long Bettman will go before turning his attention to this mess. I suppose he will shift his focus to ATL once the sale in PHX to Hulsizer is finally closed.
wvubru
January 22nd, 2011
12:43 pm
Your best blog ever and I couldn’t say it better myself.
These same people saying they will stay home instead of rooting for their nhl team will be the same ones belly-aching the most about the city not having a team if they ever leave.
Fans are fans and owners are owners. Fans are not necessarily entitled to know all of ownerships dealings. Get over it the emotion and lets enjoy some good Thrasher hockey from a very entertaining team.
SomaAtl95
January 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm
Rawhide, with this post you have managed to do the impossible – you got your anger out in a thoughtful and succinct manner and managed to address comments that you knew were coming, to the point a certain poster that has the ability to rile us all up actually left a post that was not only on topic, but made suggestions, added to the conversation and managed to not insult anyone in the room. I am in awe of you sir. Thanks for being the mouthpiece for the way that most of the rational fans in the area (and throughout the country as I know there are Thrashers fans peppered everywhere) feel about this situation.
We need to have a “Broadway Beat-down” so our boys can go off to Tampa with a W since we know tomorrow they will be playing 3 teams – The Bolts, The Refs and Stamkos.
I want to remind everyone what LLC actually stands for, Limited Liability Company. We all know just how “limited” the ASG has been throughout their ownership stint. I think as fans we should start a serious online petition to the NHL asking for their help to get the city of Atlanta out of this mess. If done successfully it would show the NHL (and those people who covet our team) that there is fan support through thick and thin here in Atlanta and after all of this the poop can’t get much thicker. In the 90’s we stopped talking about Ted Turner and talked about the Braves. This past decade we talked about how much we hated the Smith Family and then there has been nothing but love for Arthur Blank, and the only time his name came up was when a certain “Dog Lover” got into trouble. Let this be the year we finally stop talking about ownership of the Thrashers and start talking about long term Stanley Cup aspirations! Right now that equated to winning in spite of ownership, a la “Major League” as many of you have referenced.
I am 100% serious about an online petition to the NHL. Since I’m not 100% sure on where to begin if anyone would like to chat about it, let me know.
I want Hockey to stay and I want us to capture what the Flames had before the left town. Atlanta is different 40 years later and can support Hockey, there just needs to be a reason to draw the casual fan in – when Joe Blow sees that there is constant infighting and that ownership doesn’t care, they want to spend their dollar on something slightly more stable, like a 5 minute table dance and one of the areas finer “Adult Establishments” – once that same Joe Blow finds out how exciting good hockey can be the only stripping they will see is when the gloves are dropped and the fighting on the ice starts.
Thank you Rawhide as well as all the people posting today. This has been one interesting read from you all and it is a pleasure to share this space with such a diverse group of people who all love the same thing, our Thrashers.
Anyone near section 213, row D, seat 14, drop by and say hi. I’ll be the dude in a yellow #33 Practice Jersey, shaved head and glasses. Pretty hard to miss
Maybe we should bring our mason jars tonight so they can capture Marteen St. Loueeeeee.
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2011
12:59 pm
soma – I really admire your passion and creativity…never thought anyone would liken fighting in hockey to stripping by attention-starved trollops!
ThrasherTim
January 22nd, 2011
1:00 pm
Rawhide – Quite a well written blog. Thank you for your voice of reason.
Rawhide
January 22nd, 2011
1:04 pm
BTW gang…In case you missed this…the Islanders claimed Nabokov on waivers.
Phil Foley – Excellent post and good points!
R. Stroz – Same to you.
RAWHIDE….I have a serious inquiry – Just how much $$$ do you truly believe it would take to buy the Thrashers and how would a potential new owner “have-to-have” their rights to arena revenues from hockey games be a part of the equation, more specifically,in terms of dollars and cents, what would that entail ???
Buff-n-Stuff – Great question. Right off the top of my head…shrugs…I dunno. I’ll see what I might dig up though.
Btw, anything can be done if there’s enough money involved. The author states team won’t be moved, or Philips will not give up naming rights…put $100,000,000 in front of anyone and see what they’d do. Heck I’d do near anything for $150 or so
Ilan The Amazing – Yeah…I don’t even wanna go there, dude.
SomaAtl95 – I’ll try to swing by and say HI tonight, dude.
ThrasherTim – “Voice of reason”? Oh, I slipped that line on the Divine Mrs. R when I read that…she told me to tell you…”HAR-HAR-HARDY-HA-HA!”
She knows better…but thanks anyway
SomaAtl95
January 22nd, 2011
1:06 pm
Given the amount of those clubs in Atlanta its logical – there wouldn’t be so many of them if they didn’t attract “Casual Fans” to their establishment. That being said I have been only one time, to the Oasis, for a bachelor party for one of my best friends. As much as I adore beautiful women I’m old fashioned when it comes to looking – I’m uncomfortable at Hooters. We win in spite of ownership and those fans (and probably the strippers too) will start coming to the games. I wholeheartedly believe that.
World Be Free
January 22nd, 2011
1:09 pm
There is one positive here-
Maybe people outside of Atlanta can now understand why fans have been so turned off with the Thrashers. In a town that started off so promising as a hockey town could be so jaded with the ownership and management that they stay away from Philips Arena in large numbers.
It’s not just Atlanta-look at what happened for YEARS in Chicago, until Bill Witrz was finally out of the picture. Get us some real owners, please.
And the Hawks aren’t packing them in either-look at their performance last night!
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm
Take it with a grain of salt, comments from Gearon in the Associated Press piece summarizing the lawsuit and its genesis:
“The team’s remaining owners contend that the dispute would have ended in August 2005 if the Atlanta law firm King & Spalding hadn’t negotiated a “fatally flawed contract.” The suit claims the firm’s attorneys doled out advice that was “poorly considered, self-interested, and, in many cases, blatantly wrong.”
“It’s the latest round of courtroom wrangling involving the Atlanta Spirit, the seven-man group that owns the Thrashers, the Hawks and the operating rights to the Philips Arena where the two teams play. Co-owner Michael Gearon said in a statement that the lawsuit will have no effect on either of the teams.
“My partners and I regret having to file a lawsuit,” Gearon said. “But King & Spalding made egregious errors that caused us to be tied up in litigation for five years and cost us an enormous amount of money, time and anguish.”
More of the article:
“The owners have repeatedly denied any plans to sell or move the team, instead trying for the past two years to find investors who want to keep the team in Atlanta. So far, no one has stepped forward.
“The lawsuit reveals Atlanta Spirit’s intent to sell the hockey team shortly after it completed a $250 million deal for the Thrashers, the Hawks and arena operating rights, capitalizing on a new labor agreement that was reached after the NHL suspended the 2004-05 season.
“Plaintiffs expected that once the new labor agreement was finalized there would be substantial interest from potential buyers and that they would be able to sell the franchise,” the suit says. “As plaintiffs anticipated, the value of smaller market franchises increased and potential buyers came forward.”
“The suit points to the sale of three franchises: the St. Louis Blues for $150 million in 2006, the Nashville Predators for $172 million in 2007, and the Tampa Bay Lightning for $204 million in 2008. But the owners of the Thrashers said they couldn’t sell because of the dispute with Belkin.
“Regardless of the lawsuit that has been filed, we have always been committed to finding solutions that keep the Thrashers here in Atlanta,” Gearen insisted in his statement.
“The NHL clearly wants the Thrashers to stay put in one of the biggest U.S. television markets, but acknowledges that it might have to look at other options if the team’s financial situation does not improve.” (referring to Bill Daly’s misguided comments to Canadian press)
SomaAtl95
January 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm
WDF, Irony would be if the ASG sheds the Thrashers and then the Hawks become the “Clippers East”. Would be fitting, wouldn’t it?
SomaAtl95
January 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm
WBF, my bad… not WDF. Stupid keyboard…
sisu
January 22nd, 2011
1:13 pm
Go Thrashers, let’s beat the Rags! I will continue to support the team no matter who owns them. The ASG has mistreated the season ticket holders for a long time, this is nothing new. I am relieved that the octocluster will sell the team hopefully soon!!!
CrazyDiamond
January 22nd, 2011
1:15 pm
We are so screwed!
Clueless owners who don’t know how to run a team.
Clueless owners wo don’t know how to sell a team.
Clueless owners who don’t know how to read a contract.
Rawhide
January 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm
Hmmm…the Spirit Clowns are a “seven-man” operation now. Hmmm…this means I may have to re-think referring to them as The Great Octocluster.
Maybe…The Sucknificent Seven?
World Be Free
January 22nd, 2011
1:18 pm
Being from Buffalo, I can rem,ember when the Clippers, then the Buffalo Braves were a good team. Last happened in the early stages of the Jimmy Carter Administration. You know you are bad as a team when your last good times were several presidents ago!
Nate
January 22nd, 2011
1:39 pm
Well said, Rawhide. Well said.
SomaAtl95
January 22nd, 2011
1:48 pm
Could always refer to them as the “Seven Sages of Incompetence”, with no disrespect to our sage. Yes, you all read that correctly.
Dana Blankenhorn
January 22nd, 2011
2:04 pm
I’d be willing to wager that NHL commissioner Bettman would let the Thrashers relocate to the Gwinnett Arena. A new owner would then have a high card to play in order to reduce the rent.
Also, look at where that $130 m comes from. Wasn’t some of the loss incurred before the lockout? And wouldn’t it include the losses from the time of the lockout? So the figure, by itself, doesn’t really tell us about the true viability of the team, in Atlanta.
I point this out because whoever buys the team must be in a position to turn a profit, or at least break even so that the equity becomes increasingly valuable. If the current numbers can be made to work, in other words, Arthur Blank might buy them. So might others who made their fortunes in the last 20 years, either through locating a major corporation here or in the dot-boom.
SomaAtl95
January 22nd, 2011
2:21 pm
Interesting point Dana, plus lets not forget that Blank did own the GA Force, which played in the Gwinnett Arena, so he may well be aware of what it would take to rent the facility. Is the Gwinnett Arena NHL Size/Caliber though? Last thing we would want is an area like Winnipeg saying that our arena is way to small…
LAC
January 22nd, 2011
2:31 pm
Also let’s least forget that LYING SOB DUMBE AS HELL don waddell. This Goof has lier his A$$ off to us for years as well, all part of the plan. He is as worthless as used toiletpaper !
It’s over and I sincerely hope these LYING owners LOSE in court as I believe their “lawsuit” will go as far as a car on four flat tires, NOT !!!! I hope they LOSE MORE AND MORE Money.
Where are you LIAR bruce ?, Bring Pig Nosed ed with you I will take you worries away from you forever !!!!!! You guys are Cowards and will not face your accusers !!!!!!!!
That’s right “ed” you have a BIG PIG NOSE and look more stupid than a Dead Fish !!!!!!!!!
Uncle Milty
January 22nd, 2011
3:13 pm
Dear “Ice Man”,
Could it be the Mayflower trucks ARE coming after all?
Sound familiar?
Rawhide
January 22nd, 2011
3:15 pm
Uncle Milty – As I believe I pointed out…I highly doubt it.
Uncle Milty
January 22nd, 2011
3:21 pm
You guys are likely in for a very big surprise soon then if your opinion is indeed the prevailing wisdom down there in Blueland.
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2011
3:21 pm
The days of flipping franchises are over as the market for pro sports is over-saturated and the economy may not fully rebound from the speculative real estate and “free credit” craze for another 5 to 10 years. That’s why Bettman needs to step in at the right time to force the ASG to sell to the NHL at MV regardless of losses they incurred so the franchise may be sold to a committed ownership group that wants to see not only the Thrashers grow and flourish but also hockey grow in popularity throughout the metro area. You can’t have a successful sports team nowadays unless the owner has a passion for the sport and is in it for the long-haul. There is too much competition for entertainment dollars and consumers are too savvy to keep paying for season tkts year after year without committed ownership.
Adam
January 22nd, 2011
3:23 pm
I just don’t see how this team can be sold with out the new owner getting a major, if not majority, stake in the gate revenue or it’s own venue. For the latter a new arena would need to be built which would be a huge turn off for a perspective buyer with out financial help from the city/county. Gwinnett Arena is way to small to house an AHL team let alone an NHL franchise so that is out of the question.
Without a near 100% stake in the gate dollars there is no way the team could even break even let alone make money. With an average ticket price of $65 and attendance of 17000 per game you just barely make it over the salary floor for the league. Now add personnel, equipment, travel (which includes housing & hotel fees) and the rental and/or ownership of the practice/training facilities… you get the picture. The owner would be in the hole in year one not even spending half way to the cap. The television income just isn’t there to support the investment without those gate $$$ now add to that the down economy.
Teams in these markets absolutely need post season play to make money. You get additional home games along with concession & merchandise dollars. So in a nutshell with AS getting anything from the gate and retaining all of the naming revenue for the Bulb along with all of the other event income and you have a deal breaker before negotiations even get started.
The Donald
January 22nd, 2011
3:24 pm
First of all everything is always for sell even reporters and bloggers. If you don’t believe that then you are as naive as a newborn. For the right price the Thrashers, the Hawks and yes even Phillips is for sale. Maybe all you sheep should actually read the documents filled before you bah bah bah and follow the doom sayers. You like hockey go to the flamin games! The boys are playing their hearts out most every night. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM! If they are sold and moved there is not a damn thing any of us can do. So go enjoy a game. You can see the Rangers and Thrashers tonight! Hopefully the refs didn’t ride in with the Rangers.
Rawhide
January 22nd, 2011
3:26 pm
Uncle Milty – I tell ya what then. You just come on back here this time next winter when the Thrashers still haven’t moved to [insert name of Canadian city her] and discuss it a little more. OK?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take off and get down to Philips so I can watch our NHL team play. Good luck with whatever you’re doing tonight.
Uncle Milty
January 22nd, 2011
3:38 pm
Have fun at the game, “Ice Man”.
FYI, TNSE (the group that will eventually be locating an NHL team in Winnipeg) was shown the Thrashers’ books at the all-star game held in Dallas a few years ago. It has been common knowledge to most actually involved in the sport that your team has been for sale as a portable asset for several years now. I guess that comes as a surprise to you though, basis your previous Mayflower Truck blog of a week or two ago. The only glitch in the process was the partner’s lawsuit, and that has now been settled and has also nicely cleared a path for the fat lady truck driver to sing her tune, again, FYI.
Talk to you next winter!
A27
January 22nd, 2011
3:56 pm
NHL team in Winnipeg? BWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Keep drinking that Koolaid ” Uncle Milty”. Hartford will get a NHL team before Winnipeg. Sorry…but your a minor league city and you sit in the middle of nowhere. Winnipeg? HAHAHA… really…Winnipeg? Can’t wait to talk to you next winter… ahhhh… Winnipeg lol!! Your funny “Uncle Milty”.
TrueBlue
January 22nd, 2011
4:02 pm
Hey, Snoopy, there is no such thing as DFACS…It’s DFCS….Don’t call out the blogger if you can’t spell things correctly.
BG33Brown
January 22nd, 2011
4:12 pm
Sorry guys but Gwinett Place arena only has a 13000 capacity for hockey games. No way the NHL would let that fly.
Uncle Milty
January 22nd, 2011
4:47 pm
A27, you may laugh at Winnipeg all you wish should it make you feel better about your own lot in life. FYI, One half of the TNSE ownership group that will eventually locate an NHL team back in Winnipeg just happens to be ranked as the 20th richest man in the world. Google search “David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet” and then read his wiki page. He is one of the reasons that Winnipeg will be getting an NHL team eventually. What is the current wealth situation of the entire ASG group combined, so we may compare? Just asking. The reason I ask is because the NHL showed the Thrashers books to TNSE during the All Star Game in Dallas a few years ago. Surely even you are capable of putting two and two together, no?
Talk to you soon!
Midfield
January 22nd, 2011
5:07 pm
Many people have suspected this for a long time anyway. My question is what on earth Bettman is doing with all this? Isn’t he the league market developing master? I don’t believe for a second that he was unaware of this situation. And if he was not, what was he doing all this time?
glovesave29
January 22nd, 2011
5:17 pm
First of all – the ASG is suing one of the largest firms in the SE? They have UNLIMITED resources to fight the suit. K&S will BURY them in paperwork, forcing them to spend untold millions having their attorneys fight each and every filing. It is going to bleed the ASG dry.
Pam – thought the same as you. I’ve been looking for a jersey for my 7 year old daughter and there are none to be found.
Stroz – the league can surely come back to the ASG and tell them that was HARDLY an honest effort.
Milty – and what proof do you have to support this claim that the books were opened to possible investors at the Dallas ASG? If Thomson is so ready to pull the trigger…why did he not back then? This is sensitive information that was supposedly shared…how do you know about it – unless you were part of the negotiation, and if so you’ve just violated a non-disclosure agreement that ANYONE with knowledge of this would have been FORCED to sign.
Not gonna trash Winnipeg. Played up there as a kid. It’s not a bad town. But IT IS just that – a TOWN. If the economics of the NHL would not allow them to keep a team in that city despite excellent attendance – then today’s model is even more detrimental for smaller market teams. I have absolutely no problem at all with Winnipeg or Quebec City getting teams…just not at the expense of a current market. The glitter is coming off of the KHL – fewer and fewer NHLers will consider it as a viable alternative. More lower level stars fringe players will stay in North America for less money – thus giving the NHL the ability to expand and add two more Canadian teams. The NHLPA must back down on the insistance that players be paid in US$. They should be paid in the currency in which the market they play in is located. If the Canadian dollar every goes back down to the 71% of the USD range…ALL teams up there are in REAL trouble.
Buff-n-stuff
January 22nd, 2011
5:34 pm
RAWHIDE _ thanks, I understand determining an acceptable (to the ASG) may be difficult to determine. I would venture to say, that the actual current mrket value is far less than what they would accept, but let”s say that someone offered $100M for the team, and agreed to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta, what would the “buyer” need, as it relates to the Philips Arena, and from the ASG, to make a deal work for the “New buyer”????
Uncle Milty
January 22nd, 2011
5:38 pm
That True North was given access to the books of two NHL teams during the All Star game in Dallas was reported in Canada at that time. The reason they didn’t pull the trigger at that time was solely because the team was still tied up in the ASG partnership suit, at that time, and now it isn’t. Regarding forward dollar risk, TNSE can easily hedge any future currency risk should it occur. Mark Chipman (the other half of TNSE) said on TSN (which happens to be owned by… David Thomson) that in their view the largest nearby currency risk will be during the purchase of a team, and the Canadian dollar just happens to be worth more than the USD at the moment. Seems like an ideal time for them to buy. League-wide revenue sharing now in place also lessens the risk you imply, somewhat. Hey they may not buy the Thrash, QC might? perhaps a local owner will fall from the sky and keep it there. This is a fluid situation.
glovesave29
January 22nd, 2011
5:51 pm
“That True North was given access to the books of two NHL teams during the All Star game in Dallas was reported in Canada at that time.” – rumors and innuendo. Sorry – that it was reported in the media doesn’t make it true. Far from it. Give me solid proof. Too many errors reported by the media to even account for. I know you know that this is true too.
No one will dare touch any investment that 30% is taken right off the top. Billionaire or not – he’s a businessman first and foremost. Your assertion of the currency situation is inaccurate – the CAD is 99 cents on the dollar to our currency. At that rate, the difference is a non issue…or is it? At just 1% at a salary cap of $62M – that’s $620K. Our economy is unstable right now, but Canada’s is more so. I do business there every day. I am very aware of the long range currency fluctuations and trends. NHLPA knows this too – which is why its in the SPC.
Iron Lumber 13
January 22nd, 2011
6:31 pm
Drivel…Mother’s basement…pants-optional environment…GOLDEN!!! Well, the pants-optional part’s true (too much info, I know). At least it’s not my Mother’s basement, so I’m only half-way lame so far as that’s concerned. Geez, I need to get back in the field, anyways, great article, Mr. Rawhide.
Hockey Biltong
January 22nd, 2011
6:33 pm
Keep your mitts off of My Team!
You want to dream of having a team? Fine. Grow your own.
We are waiting patiently for things to get better.
Tony C
January 22nd, 2011
7:06 pm
Anybody else having trouble with the atdhe.net feed? I keep getting the test pattern =(