Bettman wants Thrashers’ owners to get their act together
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman still believes in Atlanta as a hockey market, but the Thrashers have been hurt by ownership squabbles.
Smart, objective businessmen know that when a company goes belly-up, it’s probably not the fault of the minimum-wage schlepp on the assembly line. So it follows that when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked about the myriad problems the league’s Atlanta franchise is having, he didn’t point to an underachieving goalie or a failed intern in marketing.
It starts at the top. It always starts at the top.
“Ultimately, the ownership situation has to be straightened out,” Bettman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s difficult to operate a franchise when owners aren’t getting along. It’s even more difficult in a recession climate. A team has to be at its very best. Issues have to be resolved and everybody has to be together so they can interact with fans. But that’s difficult when the owners aren’t together.”
The Atlanta Spirit owners want you to believe all is well. But now somebody above them is saying the same thing as everybody below them.
The Spirit long has been defensive about how their structure and courtroom battles have affected their tenure. They’re currently enjoying success with the Hawks. But basketball always has been a higher priority. The group’s lack of commitment to doing what it takes to build a winning hockey franchise – and their seeming indifference to the problems – have worn on Thrashers’ fans and, to a degree, players. There were several points in negotiations with Ilya Kovalchuk when he and agent Jay Grossman were getting mixed signals from owner Bruce Levenson.
The franchise struggles are not going over well with Bettman. He views hockey’s success in Atlanta as an important part of the big picture in the NHL.
The Thrashers are failing on several fronts. They’re 28th in the league in attendance, averaging 4,000 fans fewer per game in season 10 (13,204, according to inflated announced figures) than in year one (17,205). They have failed to cultivate new fans. They’ve burned bridges with old ones. General manager Don Waddell, the only constant from day one, acknowledges the team will fail to meet financial mandates from the league, which means it will be docked a portion of its take from the NHL’s revenue sharing program.
On the ice, it’s no better. If the playoffs opened today, the Thrashers would be on the outside for the ninth time in 10 seasons. They also just traded the face of the franchise, Kovalchuk, to New Jersey, which leaves the team lacking a marketable star.
Rumors of the franchise being sold and moved are constant. The Spirit have acknowledged only that they have sought to bring in new investors, especially following the expected exit of partner Steve Belkin. The uncertainty has made for an unstable atmosphere.
Spirit owners have long claimed their litigation has had no effect on the teams. Bettman isn’t convinced.
“Let’s put it this way,” he said. “We can always agree to disagree on how much it hurts. But it certainly doesn’t help.”
Bettman remains confident in the Atlanta market, saying: “Ultimately, I believe when this all gets sorted out, the franchise will be in a better place.”
He then stopped and laughed, realizing it was a poor choice of words, given rumors of a move.
“Can I change that? What I mean is the franchise will be in a better situation.”
He would not discuss whether owners have shopped the Thrashers: “Whether a club is or isn’t on the market, unless the club makes an announcement, we don’t discuss those things publicly. It’s just a policy of mine.”
But he did reaffirm that the NHL is “committed” to Atlanta.
“We think it’s very important [for the league] and we believe that whatever issues the franchise has, they can be overcome, and ultimately the franchise can be successful,” he said. “We have a strong track record of addressing franchise problems and not abandoning cities. Look at Phoenix. [The Coyotes went into bankruptcy and were taken over by the league, which is looking for new owners.] I don’t think you need to go much farther down the road than that. But look at Buffalo, Ottawa, Pittsburgh. All three have had problems at some point, but they’ve all been successful.
“When the ownership situation is resolved, we believe the franchise will be able to move forward. We’re committed to the market. Our track record indicates we do everything we can do to avoid relocation.”
Atlanta lost the Flames to Calgary in 1980. When the league awarded a franchise to the city again in June of 1997, it expected to capitalize on the growth of the market and hockey’s expansion in the Sunbelt.
The problem in the NHL’s second incarnation, however, hasn’t been the sport itself. Attendance in early years and during the playoff season proved that. The problem has been the mismanagement of the franchise, on and off the ice.
Is Bettman disappointed?
“I don’t think it’s ever fair to use a blanket characterization like that,” he said.
But then he pretty much said as much: “I don’t think things have gone quite as well as anybody might’ve hoped. But in sports, things can change, as we experienced in Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Ottawa. Maybe right now the franchise is not going as well as hoped. But we take a longer-term view of things.”
He said the fact the team “made a $100 million commitment [to Kovalchuk] can’t be minimized.”
But he chose to reserve judgment on the impact of the Kovalchuk trade. “That’s something we can talk about intellectually in a year or two.”
It has been 30 years since the Flames moved to Calgary. The scary comparison there: They actually made the playoffs in six of their eight seasons in Atlanta. Foreshadowing? Bettman says no.
“We believe Atlanta is a good sports town and a good hockey town,” he said. “We believe once issues are resolved, the team can move forward and ultimately the fans will respond.”
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190 comments Add your comment
Empty Netter Assists - 02-08-10 - Empty Netters - post-gazette.com
February 8th, 2010
11:29 am
[...] -Considering you can probably walk into the NHL's offices with a garbage bag full of Monopoly money and own a team, it's pretty bad when Gary Bettman calls out an ownership group. That's what he did with the Thrashers owners. [...]
CrazyDiamond
February 8th, 2010
11:32 am
We are so screwed. The NHL business model will not work in Atlanta. Not enough money from Sponsorships, local TV or radio, ticket sales and so on to allow any owner to spend to the salary cap. There is not enough money to support a NHL team in Atlanta and it has been prooven twice. Sooner or later the team will move to a more hockey friendly city.
No taxpayer money is involved with these teams. The Thrashers do not play in the Georgia Dome which is owned by the State of Georgia. That would be the Falcons. No local sales tax supports Philips Arena. Philips Arena has not cost the taxpayers one cent. The city and state benefit from the tax collected on ticket sales, concessions etc, though.
As far as the Commissioner stepping in to appoint a GM – there are a few other teams with as sorry a record picking players and judging talent as the Thrashers. The list does not start and end with ASG.
We are so screwed.
Brian Rudisel
February 8th, 2010
12:22 pm
Jeff, I can’t for the life of me understand these comments about “another negative Thrashers piece by Jeff Schultz.” This is the exact opposite end of the spectrum and should be great news for hockey fans in Atlanta. Commissioner Bettman is incredibly devoted to non traditional markets and I trust him when he calls out our ownership like that.
For those that blame solely Waddell and give A$ a free pass, think again. It starts at the top. Ownership must be really ignorant to what’s going on with the team and they’re the ones responsible for paying a GM to put a winning team on the ice/court. If basketball is their priority, they’re not going to care of Waddell or Mr. Magoo is GM. They’re responsible for firing Waddell or giving him a job, and obviously they’ve failed to do the former because they simply have bigger concerns not involving hockey (be it basketball, court settlements, etc.).
Ownership is a mess, our GM is incapable of bringing real talent to the team or conducting reasonable trades, our coach runs an AHL system which at the NHL level allows too many goals than our offense can make up for. Everything about the franchise is a mess and I wish Bettman would go beyond his words and just step in now instead of giving A$ the chance. They’ve had their chance and blew it.
I would like Kovalchuk to come back to a Thrashers team with a secure future. In other words, as long as Atlanta $pirit is in charge, Don Waddell is general manager, the team is not signifying change for the better.
Carl Arnason
February 8th, 2010
12:27 pm
It is unforunate that NHL hockey in Atlanta was not given a true chance. Because of the ownership structure it almost seems impossible to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. The NHL has been very quiet about this problem. Anyone wonder why?
Thrashville
February 8th, 2010
12:57 pm
Brendan,
I’ll give you that … i’m not blaming the owners for what they inherited in Waddell … i do believe the owners want competitive teams on both sides (why buy the teams if that’s not the case). Maybe Dudley will just step in and take over (can only hope). I’m still going to support the teams though. Even though i want the playoffs, i’d much rather them keep and develop our younger players this time around. We’ve given away too many in the past. Last thing i want is no more hockey in Atlanta …
J
February 8th, 2010
1:03 pm
http://www.birdwatchersanonymous.com/2010/2/7/1299185/thrashers-travel-travails-team
In case anyone wants to know what was said at the Town Hall, this is almost dead on
Tweets that mention Bettman wants Thrashers' owners to get their act together | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
February 8th, 2010
2:18 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc sports editor, Sports Fanatic, 7thWoman, ice_hockey, Lauren Robb and others. Lauren Robb said: Bettman wants Thrashers’ owners to get their act together (AJC) – http://tinyurl.com/y984g6t [...]
George
February 8th, 2010
2:48 pm
This team will be moved within the next few yrs, guaranteed! Why do you think Kovy left, he knew it too.
john
February 8th, 2010
4:30 pm
I am from the North, so natuarally I’m a huge Hockey Fan. I’m too young to remember the ATL Flames, but when ATL was awarded a hockey franchise in ‘97, I was excited. My parents bought season tickets for 10 years, but the Thrashers front office and ownership ruined that. I still root for the Thrashers but my family and I refuse to spend money on such a weak product. Now I sit from afar and root for them on TV and wonder when the last game will be played in ATL.
An easy step for Hockey to survive in Atlanta? Fire Waddell and sale the team ASG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Midield
February 8th, 2010
4:47 pm
Jeff, next time you communicate to Bettman, please let him know that if he rid us from ASG (and their aid), we will even forget him making Sindy Crosby the face of the NHL.
Domino
February 8th, 2010
5:00 pm
Wow, glad my buddy forwarded this blog. The fact Bettman is now publicly acknowledging this is a huge statement on the future of hockey in Atlanta. Here is thing…if this spirit group did want to sell the team who would buy it and keep it in Atlanta? The only way the team can survive is by actually owning the arena. Would someone buy the team and then pay rent? I highly doubt it. This whole thing is a mess! Wow,wow,wow……
Tom
February 8th, 2010
5:01 pm
The confidence factor is higher that the Thrashers will remain in Atlanta longer than the AJC will be able to support all of the columnists they have on staff or a full time reporter for the Thrashers.
This is fairly self evident when a fan blogger like Rawhide can dominate the coverage and scoop the paid professionals.
JPM
February 8th, 2010
5:25 pm
I always get a kick out of late arriving folks from “up north” who declare the demise of the Thrashers and impart their wisdom on the rest of us about how Atlanta is not a hockey town, and how Atlanta sucks, and yada, yada, yada. (Yeah, I watched Seinfeld too.)
I’ve lived in Atlanta since the early ’80’s. I arrived from “up north” too, NY/NJ to be exact. Born in Philly, big Flyers fan. Interested in hockey from about the time I was 10 years old, or so.
Atlanta is as good a hockey town as anywhere else. Perhaps more so if the Thrashers were any good. Why? Because since I’ve been here, the ATL population has gone from 1.5M to approx 5m people, with nearly all that growth from folks from “up north.” Folks who grew up with hockey. Blackhawks fans, Red Wing fans, Ranger fans, Penguin fans, Flyer fans, and particularly our adopted pre-Thrasher home town team, the Boston Bruins.
These fans all came together in the beginning of the Thrashers, and they backed this team for a very long stretch of “not particularly very good.” And they still do, for the most part, or would should one very prominent GM pack his bags and leave. So, to all you self-annointed “experts” declaring ATL a non-hockey town, I say you are dead wrong.
At the beginning, Philips Arena was packed with excited hockey fans, and remained that way for many years. We all came with one of two jerseys — Thrasher jersey’s, and our original hometown jerseys. We wear our original hometown jerseys for one or two games a year, but we wear our Thrashers jerseys, with pride, for all the rest of the time. We love hockey, and want to see it do well in the ATL.
And on the TWO occasions we got to see playoff hockey in Philips, we absolutely blew out our lungs rooting FOR THE THRASHERS, and we will absolutely do it again given the chance.
And if you don’t like living here, or you think ATL is not a hockey town, or you think we don’t deserve a team, nothing is keeping you from leaving. Because at the end of the day, I’m with the GA natives, and say we don’t care about how you did it “up north.”
Regards, JM
Brendan
February 8th, 2010
6:18 pm
Thrashville, your 12:57PM post is a very good one. I’d support the naming of Dudley as GM, so long as he wants the post. If he doesn’t, then … they should actively be looking for a new GM candidate. Now, I hear ya. “Wouldn’t the BEST GM CANDIDATE emerge during the offseason?” Well, I think that’s true, generally-speaking. But I also believe this: If the Atlanta Thrashers saw an Assistant GM or Associate GM somewhere in the league … and asked permission to speak with them, I don’t think that it would be met with scorn and anger. Sometimes, an organization will let you talk to an underling, so long as you ask permission first. If that organization had “no plans whatsoever” of promoting that person within their own ranks, they’d probably let you sign him. Then that organization would issue a statement like, “We didn’t want to hold “Phil,” (let’s just say,) back from an opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream of one day being an NHL GM. We wish him the best of luck with the Thrashers.” That’d be a classy move on their part.
But, like I said, maybe the best pool of candidates will be after the playoffs end. Heck, Bob Gainey just became available, I believe. Doug Risebrough is out there. Neil Smith, Cup winner in 1994, is out there. Jay Feaster, lead Tampa Bay to their only Cup, is out there. Doug Armstrong is out there. Mike Keenan is out there. Steve Yzerman might consider a GM position with Atlanta. Is Joe Sakic interested in GM duties?? If Darryl Sutter gets fired in Calgary, at the end of the year, would he be a good choice? Is John Muckler available?
Hockey Time
February 8th, 2010
8:02 pm
I gave up my thrashers season tickets when they stopped putting a competitive product on the ice. Maybe one day, they’ll get new owners and decide to focus on quality. The current ownership group is totally clueless about running a hockey franchise.
Brendan
February 8th, 2010
9:04 pm
Hockey Time, you’d think these owners would “get it,” but they don’t. Remember, we’re all “idiots on a blog,” but Bruce Levenson is a “genius,” and Don Waddell is an elite GM. Don’t believe me? Well, “ask ‘em.”
… Annnnnd that’s where we are right now. The Season Ticket Holders were given a chance to UNLOAD on them. With few exceptions, they were … “polite.” I understand that they wanted to back the organization in what “appeared” to be “player greed” with the loss of Kovalchuk. To listen to their explanation, Kovalchuk is a ‘turn-coat, of unimagineable greed and self-aggrandizement.” When the truth is … he just didn’t want to sign here due to a lack of confidence in the organization, but he couldn’t just ‘blurt that out,’ especially with a pregnant wife with two small children in the house, while he wanted to be near them. And not say … banished to the HINTERLANDS of the FROZEN WASTELAND of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for the best return the Thrashers could muster, back in August of 2009. I can’t say as I blame him. Who wants to do a YEAR AWAY FROM HOME, God knows WHERE, before he can honestly hit the open market and pick his next team. Where, I’ll add, he’ll take significantly less. Maybe even $40 million LESS than what Atlanta was offering ($101 million).
And when that day arrives, more than likely, on July 1, 2010, the faces of the ownership group will turn to alabaster, and perhaps, JUST PERHAPS, they’ll have their long overdue EPIPHANY … that you can’t send a GM that players want fired … to renegotiate their contracts. You wouldn’t hire a priest to run abortion clinic, either. One fine day … the Atlanta Spirit will realize that the score reads:
Pending Unrestricted Free Agents 6, Waddell 0 … in terms of player retention. The players have voted. And it’s unanimous. None of them think that the Atlanta Thrashers are the pony to bet on … during their Prime Years. But in the minds of the Atlanta Spirit, “I think we know how to sign free agents.” Really, what did Manny Malhotra say? He said, “no.” What did Brian Campbell say? He said, “no.” It’s a pretty common theme. But to hear Levenson talk, “Well, Ron Hainsey agreed to 5 years.” Yeah, and was Ron Hainsey the most coveted blueliner to hit the market? Or, and let’s be honest, was he an unclaimed ‘consolation prize?’ And overpaid at $4.5 million-per-season.
Want My Floor Seats?
February 8th, 2010
11:22 pm
WOW…Same $heet, different day. You get a 15-yd penalty Schultz for piling on. While there’s an appropriate time to open the Thrashers’ collective throat and pour Drano down it, the time is not after the most difficult week of the year (perhaps in the franchise’s history) and while the team is still in the playoff hunt. This is the kind of stuff that’s only appropriate AFTER the team has been mathematically or otherwise eliminated.
It’s also just an obvious piece to appease the bloggers here that have given up on the team and want everyone else to do the same. Funny, but an announced crowd of nearly 17,000 didn’t get the memo Sat night and I dare say that was the most electrified crowd since opening night in Oct!
We WON, the new guys both got stars and one of them scored the game winner…..ISN’T THAT NEWS ANYMORE AT THE AJC? Apparently not if your name is Jeff Schultz. This town’s sports reporters need to get their act together….Perhaps that’s one of the direct causes of declining attendance and struggling franchises? For example:
1) Kovalchuk GOES INSANE and turns down $101 MILLION to play ice hockey…..Everywhere else it was headlines. Here it was “another franchise failure” and “the GM’s fault” and “the owners can’t get their act together”….Not a SINGLE WORD directed at Kovalchuk, like “Are you freakin out of your mind, dude?” Really now, $101 Million —- THAT’S $102,642 PER GAME for the next 12 years that he turned down —– But it’s management’s fault or the owners’ fault according to the AJC. In fact, everyone’s fault EXCEPT Kovalchuk’s?!?! Go figure…
2) I watched the Sunday night Ch 2 and Ch 11 Sports Extra shows (on DirecTV double-play) last night…NEITHER of these shows even MENTIONED the Kovalchuk departure! The most popular player to ever wear a Thrashers jersey is traded and it doesn’t even make these “week in review” sports shows. Truly and unbelievably PATHETIC! In fact, someone at Ch 2 should be fired….Their “Play of the Week” was none other than Ovechkin, and I kid you not!
Yes Brendan, you’re right that Kovy will sign for less $$$ than Atlanta offered….But your reason is wrong. The real reason is because no other franchise is loco enough to mortgage its collective future on one player. There’s not a single franchise that will come close to offering Kovy $101 Million or $10 Million/yr…And it’s impossible to sign somewhere else for more money when nobody’s OFFERING more money!
Kovy was a Superstar in ATL, but he’s no Ovechkin. On the Devils, he’s not even a superstar anymore. I will truly be surprised if he is offered > Ovechkin $$$ by anyone (other than Atlanta, that is). And you’d think Schultz and the AJC would actually give Waddell and the ASG some credit for offering an INSANE amount of money to try and keep Kovy, since they’ve been beaten over the head before for NOT paying up to keep players around.
Anyone who turns down $101 Million to play hockey is just a lunatic. But you have to be able to figure these things out for yourself because Schultz and the AJC only present one side of the story. Never was there the question, “Mr Kovalchuk, isn’t $101 Million literally more than you and your agent can spend in a lifetime? And if so, why did you demand $136 Million to stay?” or “Mr Kovalchuk, do you feel like kind of a moron for turning down $10 Million/yr to play ice hockey when nearly 20% of Americans are out of work?” or “Mr Kovalchuk, what do you have to say to the Atlanta Thrashers Fans now that you’ve decided $101 Million is not enough for you to remain a Thrasher for life, which is what you repeatedly said you wanted to do?” Nope…Just another “it’s the owners fault” column (yawn).
And I’m quite sure the owners are immediately going to “get their act together” since Bettman (via Jeff Schultz) is hot on their trail…..On the other hand, I think I heard their collective roar of laughter when they heard about this story. Along with, “Who the hell is Jeff Schultz anyway?”
ScottBravesfan
February 9th, 2010
12:24 am
The Thrashers need new owners Atlanta spirit is terrible. And the people who say Atlanta has a hockey team? Yeah because Atlanta is the 8th largest market in this country and will be the 5th largest market in 5 years. Large cities have pro sports teams. I know you still think you are living in Mayberry, Georgia but this is a major metropolitan city with all kinds of people from all over the world. So if you want to pretend it’s still the 1940’s and you are just a good ole boy from way down in Dixie, that’s fine. The rest of us will be here in the 21st century enjoying life in a great city.
LD
February 9th, 2010
3:37 am
ATLANTA IS MOVING NORTH!!! WINNIPEG OR HAMILTON!!! VOTE NOW!!!
LD
February 9th, 2010
3:57 am
“My parents bought season tickets for 10 years, but the Thrashers front office and ownership ruined that. I still root for the Thrashers but my family and I refuse to spend money on such a weak product. Now I sit from afar and root for them on TV and wonder when the last game will be played in ATL.” THIS PROVES IT, ATLANTA IS A WEAK HOCKEY MARKET, MOVE THE TEAM TO CANADA ALREADY WHERE THEY WILL P-A-Y TO WATCH THIER TEAM WIN OR LOSE. We all know about your attendance inflations too. The Thrashers games they show up here all have half-empty arenas and its announced 13,000, when the real attendance is around 6000. (Real B.S.) If you ppl down south were real hockey fans you would pay and attend no matter how bad your team is playing, not get free tickets and only show up for the free beer that comes with that ticket. If you ppl cared about hockey you would probably still have the flames. If the NHL was as smart today as it was in 1980, the coyotes should never have left Winnipeg to fool around in a desert, the Predators in Hamilton, the Thrashers in Quebec City, and the Panthers to Hartford, you know, REAL HOCKEY MARKETS. Enjoy your Thrashers while they are still down south, or better yet, smarten up and act like a big city and support them. If the NHL threw out Bettman and put a smart commissioner in his place, the Thrashers will be put out of thier misery and moved to better places. SUCK ON THAT BETTMAN.
Want My Floor Seats?
February 9th, 2010
9:08 am
LD
The Thrashers — as a TEAM — were supported by FANS Sat night in their first post-Kovy home game, despite ZERO support from the sports media in this town. They played hard, the new guys immediately contributed and the fans showed up when they could’ve easily “boycotted”. People were still chanting, “Let’s go Thrashers!” in the parking deck 20 min after the game…But they don’t show THAT on TV, huh?
Quebec lost their team to Colorado. Winnipeg lost their team to Phoenix. Hartford lost their team to Carolina. Is that what REAL HOCKEY MARKETS do?
The empties you see on TV are the most expensive seats in the Arena, and we’re going through a recession in ATL led by a serious housing market collapse. While that’s not an excuse per se, it is a fact. The 300 and 400 levels were practically FULL Sat night, but they don’t show that on TV either.
And if you know where I can get FREE Thrashers tickets for a family of 5, please let me know. I PAY for all of our tickets and there is no free beer, Cokes or food either. In fact, it can cost nearly $400 for a family of 5 to attend ONE Thrashers game and sit in the 300s…I KNOW.
It’s nice to know that with all of the Thrasher-bashing going on in the AJC and its blogs with the departure of Kovy, Bettman “warning” the owners and STH who vow they’ll never return, there’s still Thrashers-ENVY up north! And if you’re keeping score, that makes Atlanta MORE of an NHL Hockey City than every city whose residents can only watch NHL Hockey on TV.
As much anger as there is right now, going to a Thrashers game at Philips is still SUPERIOR to being forced to watch games on TV because you live in an NHL-less city…(sob, sob, sniff)
Crooner
February 9th, 2010
9:33 am
Having a strong revenue stream at the gate is even more important these days. I think there is no debate that this club is being propped up by corporate revenue. (decling too) The ownership team needs to be focused on getting people in the arena – now. Reported attendance is not relevant since many people don’t show up. We can debate how many tickets are given away but who can debate the cost of not having people showing up and paying for parking, buying food and drinks.
The economic conditions have made it much more challening. All this means is that the ownership has to work that much harder to succeed. Does it appear this is happening? Let’s be honest.
rob
February 9th, 2010
9:36 am
Schultz,
Just saw the answer to my post. Don’t want to get into an arguing match here. I obviously don’t have Levenson or anyone else on speed dial LOL. All I am wondering is if we can expect any sort of follow up on an issue which effects not only hockey fans, but the city as a whole. In a time when any money coming into the city is a boon, and when any negative light cast on the city at such a time only hurts it. But if you feel this article is enough, hey, I still thank you for writing it and at least starting an issue that needed attention.
All the negative bashing on here is sickening. If you don’t go to the games, decided not to because you felt you were wasting your money. Fine, that is your choice. You gave up your voice on the matter by doing that. The FANS on here and at the areana are the only ones that can HELP change things for the better. ANYONE else go to the game Saturday with a FIRE WADDELL shirt? Not that I saw ( I did hear some signs were taken away, how about asking a reporter why PAYING fans couldn’t voice an opinion if the signs were not obscene? ). I had A LOT of compliments on the shirt and only 1 negative, so obviously it isn’t just a paranoid few who think we need change sooner than later. Stroz actually asked a question to DW, and hats off to him. I LOVE THIS GAME AND AM NOT GOING TO STOP, gonna support the team, but not the owners/gm/coach because I feel they are all the wrong for this team/league. That is my choice, and as such I have a stake in it. I hope that those who have been wronged previously by the ASG group can come to the conclusion that by not coming to the game, you are making it possible for others to make the case for the team one day leaving Atlanta? Is that what you truly want???? If so then you are no better than the ownership who is ruining the team. Let’s get TOGETHER, as a FAN of the team, and make things better here. BETTMAN is watching, so how would a FIRE WADDELL night go over? Blogging alone won’t change a thing. Schultz has given us an in, and to let it go by would be a real shame.
Want My Floor Seats?
February 9th, 2010
11:09 am
OK…Gonna try this again since my post was apparently blocked because I included active links.
As for what ownership has done to bring more people to the games during tough economic times, I’d like to see more…But they have done some things.
First, the $5 Souvenir Coke is now bottomless. This wasn’t the case at the start of the year. While I appreciate the gesture and think it’s a good start, who wants to chug down Cokes and get up to take a leak at every faceoff? LOL I’d like to see the price just dropped to say, $3 for a Souvenir Coke, $3 for a hot dog, $3 for popcorn, etc. Even better, combos like 2 Cokes, 2 hot dogs & popcorn for $10. It may seem somewhat trivial, but to get $$$-stressed families to HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE, return to more games and even tell others about their fun time, every little bit does help. It’s quite a “shock” to pony up $60 for cokes, hot dogs & popcorn for 5. I would argue that it does more harm than good to get fans to show up and then beat them over the head with horrible and over-priced food…Plus a huge chunk of payroll was just dumped, so maybe the ASG can pass some $aving$ down to the fans through reduced concession prices, right?
Second, there are 50% off ticket promotions for certain Hawks and Thrashers games throughout the season. You pretty much have to close your eyes to miss them. For example:
HawksCoupon.com and ThrashersCoupon.com are two of the current promotions. If you can’t find what you want on StubHub.com, then half-price is pretty good for generating more foot traffic.
Third, parking in “the Pit” was only $8 Sat night and you’re in the SAME DECK as the $12 (sometimes $15) parking on street level. Take the elevator or hoof it up the stairs and the savings add up over a season.
Fourth, and this is the REAL STEAL. Certain games have a “Thrashers Special Offer” at Ticketmaster.com. For example, go to:
www (dot) ticketmaster.com/event/0E0042FCD7DF9A22?majorcatid=10004&artistid=805899&minorcatid=9
Go down to Thrashers Special Offers, select your number of tickets, select the $42 price level, then type in ZOO in the code area and VOILA….You’ll get generally decent 300 level seats to see Kovy’s return to Philips Arena for a mere $8 each!!
Doesn’t work on higher priced seats, but for 8 bucks??? C’mon! Also doesn’t do anything about the outrageous $4.25 Ticketmaster “Convenience Charge” per ticket. But buy anything through Ticketmaster and you’ll pay dearly for “convenience”.
Obviously ownership had to approve of these promotions. They also have to walk a fine line when promoting them so as not to give the impression that seats can be bought during the year for less than ST “discount” prices…..But I have no problem sharing this info because I know how tough the current economy is first-hand and I’d like to see Philips FULL! Besides, we got our Devils tickets over the weekend and with the other games we have, we’re set for the rest of the season!!
I may beetch & moan about how expensive the games are, and they ARE if you go full-price….But you don’t really think I pay full price now do you?
Want My Floor Seats?
February 9th, 2010
11:20 am
TEST…So is there a technical problem with the blog or my comment I’m trying to post…TEST.
Want My Floor Seats?
February 9th, 2010
11:28 am
Sorry in advance if this end up posting multiple times.
As for what ownership has done to bring more people to the games during tough economic times, I’d like to see more…But they have done some things.
First, the $5 Souvenir Coke is now bottomless. This wasn’t the case at the start of the year. While I appreciate the gesture and think it’s a good start, who wants to chug down Cokes and get up to take a leak at every faceoff? LOL I’d like to see the price just dropped to say, $3 for a Souvenir Coke, $3 for a hot dog, $3 for popcorn, etc. Even better, combos like 2 Cokes, 2 hot dogs & popcorn for $10. It may seem somewhat trivial, but to get $$$-stressed families to HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE, return to more games and even tell others about their fun time, every little bit does help. It’s quite a “shock” to pony up $60 for cokes, hot dogs & popcorn for 5. I would argue that it does more harm than good to get fans to show up and then beat them over the head with horrible and over-priced food…Plus a huge chunk of payroll was just dumped, so maybe the ASG can pass some $aving$ down to the fans through reduced vendor concessions prices, right?
Second, there are 50% off ticket promotions for certain Hawks and Thrashers games throughout the season. You pretty much have to close your eyes to miss them. For example:
HawksCoupon (dot) com and ThrashersCoupon (dot) com are two of the current promotions. If you can’t find what you want on StubHub (dot) com, then half-price is pretty good for generating more foot traffic.
Third, parking in “the Pit” was only $8 Sat night and you’re in the SAME DECK as the $12 (sometimes $15) parking on street level. Take the elevator or hoof it up the stairs and the savings add up over a season.
Fourth, and this is the REAL STEAL. Certain games have a “Thrashers Special Offer” at Ticketmaster. For example, go to:
ticketmaster (dot) com/event/0E0042FCD7DF9A22?majorcatid=10004&artistid=805899&minorcatid=9
Go down to Thrashers Special Offers, select your number of tickets, select the $42 price level, then type in ZOO in the code area and VOILA….You’ll get generally decent 300 level seats to see Kovy’s return to Philips Arena for a mere $8 each!!
Doesn’t work on higher priced seats, but for 8 bucks??? C’mon! Also doesn’t do anything about the outrageous $4.25 Ticketmaster “Convenience Charge” per ticket. But buy anything through Ticketmaster and you’ll pay dearly for “convenience”.
Obviously ownership had to approve of these promotions. They also have to walk a fine line when promoting them so as not to give the impression that seats can be bought during the year for less than ST “discount” prices…..But I have no problem sharing this info because I know how tough the current economy is first-hand and I’d like to see Philips FULL! Besides, we got our Devils tickets over the weekend and with the other games we have, we’re set for the rest of the season!!
I may beetch & moan about how expensive the games are, and they ARE if you go full-price….But you don’t really think I pay full price now do you?
Tween_the_Pipes
February 9th, 2010
2:09 pm
For the people accusing Schultz of negative reporting, and Thrasher bashing, your thoughts are misguided. The Atlanta Spirit, LLC and the culture of losing that they have allowed, are going down the path of destruction.
Having access to Gary Bettman has assured us that the Commissioner is aware of the ownership mess in Atlanta, and it goes much deeper than Steve Belkin. And for that confirmation, I thank Jeff Schultz.
With it being common knowledge among players, agents, and probably the NHL office that the ownership in Atlanta is a circus, it has been very difficult to get UFA talent to sign here. Expect that trend to continue.
Hopefully with the Spirit seeking investors, and the indirect insinuation that Bettman, by not confirming or denying that the team is for sale, will lead to new owners. And sooner rather than later.
The notion that Atlanta isn’t a hockey town is also incorrect. There were many near sell-outs in the spring the year of our only playoffs.
When your business model’s ultimate goal calls for achieving revenue sharing rather than winning hockey games the current average attendence is what you get.
A plea the AS,LLC:
Please, stop looking for investors and start looking for a local buyer that will keep the team at Phillips. Your apathy is deafening!!
George
February 9th, 2010
2:13 pm
My vote is Hamilton, yeah!
rob
February 9th, 2010
3:59 pm
wantmyfloorseats?,
you r hired. start today lol please post this info on viv and rawhides blogs and let’s fill ‘er up!!!
Brendan
February 9th, 2010
4:29 pm
Kovalchuk would have turned down $201 million. He would have turned down $301 million. The truth is … he just doesn’t want to waste his prime years in an organization in which he has no faith. Who blames him for that? I don’t. The organization failed him, not the other way around.
While I doubt another $101 million offer will come Kovalchuk’s way, it doesn’t change my supposition that he wouldn’t accept THAT OFFER, EITHER, so long as it’s from a market he doesn’t want to play in. In short, in doesn’t matter how much money someone offers him. “Throwing money at a problem doesn’t fix it.”
That’s the lesson. I repeat, “throwing money at a problem doesn’t fix it.” The problem is … free agents don’t have faith in this franchise, this ownership, this GM. And there it is. I wish to God it weren’t true. But it is. And there’s ample evidence to support that assertion.
So, throwing $200 million at Kovalchuk won’t make him sign. He’s not signing here, AT … ANY … PRICE.
Kovy doesn’t need money, dude. He’s got four houses. Luxury cars. Hedge funds. Whatever you can name, he’s got it already. Unless you say, “How about a pet dinosaur for Karoline?” And if pet dinosaurs could be had, Kovy’d buy that, too, I suppose. So, what good is the Thrashers’ money to him?? He’s made $47 million playing hockey in the NHL, per Waddell. Kovy’s next contract is not, nor was it EVER, about the money. It’s entirely about where he wants to play. Presummably, to win the Cup. If the Columbus Blue Jacket offer $101 million over 12-years, or $135.6 million over 12 years, Kovalchuk’s answer will be the same one. “Nyet.” Why???
Well why do you think? It’s because Columbus doesn’t know how to run its team. Nor does Florida. Or any of a number of markets. Kovy is looking for (1) good ownership, (2) GOOD GM, (3) commitment to winning the Cup, (4) winning climate in the dressing room, (5) good player retention, (6) good drafting, etc.
Why blame Kovalchuk that Atlanta didn’t provide that for him? Why point to his ‘greed?’ Why stress MONEY. When, in the end, he’ll take LESS money. The ‘greed’ argument doesn’t work. George Costanza, on “Seinfeld” might hold out for LESS money, but that’s because he’s stupid. Kovy isn’t holding out for more money. He’s holding out for a team that will be winning the Stanley Cup sometime in the near future.
wncpuckdrop@twitter
February 9th, 2010
7:52 pm
Hmmm Wonder what part about the economy this guy does not get. I think no matter who owned the team Hockey is dead last in Atlanta to Baseball, and Basket Ball. this is the second go around in that market and it just does not seem to fly. You may have in line leagues and so forth . Paying customers are what fills the seats and pay the bills. Move them. I do not have much doubt the Fla Panthers will relocate an well as Tampa. People need jobs to pay for recreation. So until that turns around no matter how much the owners disagree you wont fill the seats!!!!
Hassan Been Sober
February 10th, 2010
8:40 pm
Bring back Damian Rhrodes and Patrick Stephan…(hiccup) eh,,,,,never mind Ill have a Bud Light
Atlanta ain’t happenin’ « Kansas City Hockey
February 10th, 2010
11:24 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/02/07/bettman-wants-thrashers-owners-to-get-their-act-to... [...]
ynot
February 11th, 2010
12:22 pm
The spirit group doesn’t care. The Thrashers are to the NHL; what the Clippers are to the NBA. A Joke. The parallels are there. Don Waddel is the new Elgin Baylor.
BMurphy
February 11th, 2010
2:06 pm
Thrashville…..You hit it right on Head. Shultz is MR NEGATIVE….also down on the T4eams of Atlanta, Especially The Falcons. If we Win, He finds Any Negative Comment to Feature, Even the Headline of article is Negative…Guess Cant stand Atl to have any Winning Team !!! Also Shultzey, Should Lay off a Wonderful Guy like McKay…Has developed the Falcons into a Wonderful Team, Back To Back Winning Seasons. McKay, The Legal Brains of the Falcons is Awarded his Position by Blank Extending McKays Contract. HOORAY BLANK AND GO FALCONS !!!!!
Stuart
February 12th, 2010
6:37 pm
Don Waddell is to the Thrashers franchise what Charles Manson was to the Tate family.
David
February 13th, 2010
11:30 am
New Owner is good???
Quick hits: With Jamison to Cavs, do Hawks need upgrade? | Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
7:19 am
[...] the team up for sale, but the relocation part doesn’t make sense — at least not yet. Commissioner Gary Bettman reaffirmed he wants the franchise to work in Atlanta. He presides over a league with a number of weak markets already. Do you believe he really would [...]
FunnyDevil
March 9th, 2010
2:51 pm
It is certainly interesting for me to read the article. Thanx for it. I like such themes and anything connected to them. I would like to read a bit more soon.
Best wishes
Report says Hawks and Thrashers may both be for sale | Jeff Schultz
March 17th, 2010
9:02 am
[...] commissioner Gary Bettman recently told the Journal-Constitution that the squabbling among owners has affected th…: “Ultimately, the ownership situation has to be straightened out. It’s difficult to operate [...]