It’s shameful to blame fans if Thrashers move to Winnipeg
The Atlanta Spirit pie chart never worked. The Thrashers' failures are not the fault of fans.
(Updated: 2 p.m.)
Like warped kismet, the Thrashers were scheduled to face the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday night, the same week one of the Atlanta Spirit’s captains of disaster declared a relative state of emergency.
There should have been viewing parties in Winnipeg for this, because there’s a very good chance one of these teams is ending up in Manitoba. These rumors have been circulating for months, and not just from the usual Canadian chamber-of-commerce-type knuckleheads who have a vested interest. The rumors are like dominoes, and they fall like this:
♦ 1) The NHL has assured Winnipeg it is getting a team back.
♦ 2) The Coyotes, who’ve had financial issues since moving from Winnipeg in 1996, went into bankruptcy and now are operated by the league, would move back to Winnipeg if current arena refinancing issues can’t be resolved.
♦ 3) Should Phoenix resolve its problems and not relocate, the Thrashers will move to Winnipeg.
I wish I had a dollar for every time somebody used the term “done deal” with me over the last two months.
Michael Gearon was right about one thing: There is a “sense of urgency.” He just misplaces the blame. For him to suddenly put the onus on the fan base – “The reality is we need fans showing up and we need investors or a primary investor” – for hockey’s lifeline in Atlanta is disingenuous and shameful.
Fans showed up when the product was new and fresh. Fans showed up when the Thrashers won and made the playoffs. But since 1999, the team mostly has been mismanaged and run on the cheap.
Atlanta gets knocked for being “a bad sports town.” Fact is, Atlanta sports fans are smart and discerning consumers because they mandate a reason to spend their money. After being dumped on for most of 11 years since 1999, are Thrashers fans supposed to run through walls for a few good months? Scars take longer to heal.
Gearon, Bruce Levenson, and the rest don’t care. In the past, ownership suggested the $10 million annual Philips Arena naming rights deal was tied to having two tenants. It was a fallback soundbite every time a rumored move came up. Now, Thrashers president Don Waddell claims that’s not the case. If the Thrashers leave, he said, the Spirit merely receives a reduced pro-rated amount. (The Spirit denies an earlier version of the blog that said the naming rights deal was renegotiated six months ago.)
Over a year ago, when the Thrashers sat down to attempt to negotiate a new contract with Ilya Kovalchuk, ownership was apoplectic that Kovalchuk and his agent addressed potential new ownership and the team’s uncertain future in negotiations. Some wanted to cast the failed negotiations as the pro sports cliché of an athlete just asking for too much money. The fact was that Kovalchuk didn’t want to wake up in two years and find out he was moving to . . . Winnipeg.
When he couldn’t get assurances the team would stay in Atlanta, he played his only bargaining chip: He asked for the moon.
This situation is tearing up the insides of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. He doesn’t want to be the guy who allowed Atlanta to lose an NHL franchise for the second time. But he knows it’s a horrible situation created by horrible ownership, which he has called on the carpet before. There is no incentive for an outsider to purchase only the hockey team and keep it in Atlanta. There also is no market right now for the Spirit to sell both teams and the arena rights, even though both have been on the market for at least two years.
The Spirit admits in a current complaint against their former attorneys that they’ve been seeking to sell the Thrashers almost since closing the deal to buy them. How can somebody claim to be putting out the best possible product and at the same time be looking to dump it?
There’s a word for that: fraud.
I’m not sure there’s a way out of this. Even if the Coyotes move back to Winnipeg, the Thrashers will be in the same situation, waiting for a financial archangel the way you and I wait for a winning lottery ticket. It wasn’t right in 1980 when Tom Cousins had to sell the Flame to support his real estate ventures, and it’s not right now.
Gearon said this is an urgent matter. Neglect will do that. But this was years in the making. Don’t throw that into the laps of fans.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier:
– NCAA investigating Auburn again (not Cam Newton this time)
– Dreaming of Albert Pujols as a Brave
– Roger Goodell should be negotiating, not Tweeting for clicks
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223 comments Add your comment
former thrashers fan
February 17th, 2011
12:53 pm
it was gearon sr. and tom cousins and a shifty partner buy-out that made mike jr. his money. no wonder this group is a laughingstock. Atlanta (Thrashers) Spirit KILLERS – fraud from the get-go.
BlueEagle
February 17th, 2011
12:55 pm
This is on the Atlanta Spirit Group…all of them. Shameful thing is the Hawks are run just as poorly, they only have a longer history and fanbase to draw on. It’s too bad for the Thrasher fans that truly love this team that they were never given a fighting chance due to mismanagement.
Bet they wish they would have give David McDavid a shot now, huh?
Tim
February 17th, 2011
12:57 pm
This is so sad :’(
KLS1
February 17th, 2011
1:10 pm
To destroy a brand new frnachise in 10 years is an amazing accomplishment…nice work ASG, you should all never show your faces in this town again.
Sadly, without a playoff push this whole relocation will happen without a whimper. I hope we can grind our way into the 8th seed in the playoffs and go put some energy behind this team.
As it stands now, after 10 years of misery it is hard to get fired up about anything.
SomaAtl95
February 17th, 2011
1:10 pm
We want the team to stay in Atlanta and send the A$G to Winnipeg. That way they can kill NHL Hockey for a second time in another market.
R. Stroz
February 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
I’s be more than happy to charter a poorly maintained plane for the Spirit Clowns to fly over the Bermuda triangle.
The only problem is this: I’m sure the Bermuda Triangle has standards for disappearances.
The ASG does fluffing for Gay Porn on weekends
February 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
I have been pissed off with this group ever sense they let Hossa go. Been severely pissed off since Kovy left, but I did not know of the subplot in the negotiations; like the ASG was gonna bring that to public light. They need their franchise pulled by the NHL for fair market value, which by the way they operate won’t be very much, that will be the only way this franchise is to be saved. What a bunch of losers to blame the fans for their gross incompetence. Jeff I loved the term “Captains of Disaster”. How would like to be a rank-and-file employee under these Morons? They probably installed pay toilets in their guest bathrooms.
Chris
February 17th, 2011
1:19 pm
I would feel horrible getting Thrashers from Atlanta. Fans seem genuine. On the other hand, I’d gladly take the Coyotes from the bandwagon fans of Arizona. In Jobing.com Arena, The home team is always the away team. That and the Coyotes lie about attendance all the time which I’m not a fan of.
Alan R.
February 17th, 2011
1:20 pm
KLS1 – To be fair, it took them seven years. Smell that? Smells like napalm. Check the ground underneath your feet, for it may be scorched.
JLC
February 17th, 2011
1:22 pm
Bottom line is that Atlanta is just not a hockey town (thank God). I know there are loyal fans here, but it’s just not a good fit here. We love football and the Braves. I’m sure the boys north of the border will be thrilled when they get them. Oh, and if any of the Thrashers need a ride to the airport, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Tweets that mention It’s shameful to blame fans if Thrashers move to Winnipeg | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
February 17th, 2011
1:24 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by James Gordon, Hockey Utopia. Hockey Utopia said: It’s shameful to blame fans if Thrashers move to Winnipeg | Jeff Schultz http://t.co/G4wdbyc [...]
heartofdarkness
February 17th, 2011
1:45 pm
How can you say there is no market for buying the Hawks-Thrashers- Philips interests, Jeff? The Chinese are building empty cities in Mongolia, for crying out loud. Russian oligarchs are already in the NBA. Professional sports can’t be a worse investment than Citigroup, and the Saudis are all over that. Canadians are assembling oil fortunes again, And the Social Network guy could probably hide the entire deal in a footnote of his I.P.O. The question is, how much would ASG have to pay someone to take the enterprise off their hands.
Rock Perdoni
February 17th, 2011
1:52 pm
Quick – name three Thrasher players. …. Yawn.
schmeckdawg
February 17th, 2011
1:56 pm
Schultzie, for once I agree with you. This team has been here what 10 years, made the playoffs just once and got swept! Time to go!!!!!
Ozzy
February 17th, 2011
2:04 pm
If the NHL and NBA both folded up tomorrow, would anyone south of Philadelphia really give a rip?
Hella Jeff
February 17th, 2011
2:04 pm
Bryan Little, Evander Kane, Dustin Byfuglien. try again, Rock.
ot
February 17th, 2011
2:07 pm
I’ve always wondered why people bother to come here and comment about how much they hate hockey, and some are even glad to see them go. What do *you* gain by having the Thrashers leave? I’m sure you have a favorite sport, and I’m equally as sure that it’s not the same as mine (since mine is hockey). But I’m happy you have your team to cheer for, and I hope I will still have mine for years to come.
Being on the Internet and being anonymous doesn’t mean you have to try to be a jerk just because you can.
Bluelander
February 17th, 2011
2:13 pm
Jeff, unless I missed something this is a key piece of info I picked up while reading an article in the “north of the border” press…can you comment on whether this is true or not…because if it is true…we have all been set up…they will sell to folks north of the border for sure…and the league can’t stop them:
“Thrashers ownership is in the last year of its seven-year relocation covenant with the NHL. The covenant is a promise from owners not to move their franchise for seven years and is part of the consent agreement all owners sign when they buy a team.
Atlanta Spirit bought the Thrashers in March of 2004 and will be in position to request a relocation sale for this fall”
reebok
February 17th, 2011
2:17 pm
I attend sporting events in Atlanta regularly, including Braves, G-Tech and GSU games…I also go to UGA games in Athens and NASCAR events at AMS. Don’t call me a poor sports fan because I don’t go to Thrashers games anymore…I don’t go to the games because they are a pi$$-poor use of my entertainment $$.
GaVaHokie
February 17th, 2011
2:18 pm
Bluelander… I was under the understanding that the covenant was until 2014… don’t remember where I got that from, it’s just always been stuck in my head.
One silver lining, according to this article (last paragraph) is that a third to half the league is looking for new investors.
http://blogs.forbes.com/mikeozanian/2011/02/02/buffalo-sabres-sold-for-165-million-to-billionaire-terry-pegula/
Gwinnett Fred
February 17th, 2011
2:19 pm
At least the morons making up the ASG can’t be accused of false advertising. The poster clearly shows they are all part of owning a basketball team, distancing themselves from hockey from the very start!
JSS
February 17th, 2011
2:19 pm
At Ted Striker and Davenpoop…
Massive Co-signs!!!
I’ve said my part on the Thrashers, I won’t rehash it now… Still, the NHL will contract before it expands. The troubled franchises: Atlanta, Miami, Carolina, and Phoenix are very unlikely to make the trip North with the exclusion of the Coyotes…There is no reason that this team can not succeed; but they’ve got to make the playoffs and breathe life into this fan base… It will not make the owners loved. That ship has sailed. But at least it might show some outside group that “hey, let’s give it a go.” The NHL wants no part of Hamilton or Quebec City because they pull from two of the prime teams in the league Montreal and Toronto… The Leafs make the Thrashers look like they are well run!
JSS
February 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
“Bet they wish they would have give David McDavid a shot now, huh?”
That man is Bud Adams Jr… He’s a crackpot!
Eon Rodeo
February 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
I usually don’t buy into the “What about the children?” line of reasoning, but I was disturbed by the honest disappointment in my 7-year-old son’s face last night when I told him it’s possible the Thrashers might be leaving. I firmly believe having them here really helped get him into a sport I grew up with and love, and if they leave, who knows? That could hurt on a very personal level.
And for those who say who cares about hockey, it’s about more than just the sport itself, but of keeping Atlanta as a legitimate big-league sports city. Losing one of the top four stick-and-ball sports is a blow to civic pride. I sincerely hope this can still be resolved in Atlanta’s favor.
Good!
February 17th, 2011
2:25 pm
I think it would be great if we lost the Falcons and the Braves too. For that matter it would be even better if NHL, NFL and MLB leagues were all disbanded. So sport can be sport again, not overpriced entertainment underwritten by Municipal debt. Where are the teapartiers when you really need them?
dga
February 17th, 2011
2:26 pm
@Pazzo: I agree with the marketing aspect. Of course, the ownership is about as crummy as possible, but there are many easy marketing items the Thrashers could address that a friend and I were talking about last night.
The Falcons and Braves players are always out in the community, signing autographs at different functions and showing up at different locations around the city (in the Braves’ case, the entire Southeast). I don’t think of D.C. as a hockey town, but it was amazing to see the buzz around the Capitals (even during a tough stretch) and how well that organization was run on HBO’s 24/7 (granted, they do have one of the two best players in the league).
Why don’t the Thrashers have a couple of days where they come to the outdoor skating rink at Centennial Park and skate with the kids (The Caps did this on 24/7)? I also know the Thrashers practice in Duluth, but why don’t they do a lot of PR/events at other ice rinks and roller hockey rinks in the state? Market to those who actually play hockey and obviously have an interest in the sport. Start there. Plus, I know roller hockey is pretty big in the Gwinnett and Cobb areas, and it seems they forget that.
The fact is they don’t even do the minimum in trying to create interest from a marketing/PR standpoint. I mean Thrash getting “arrested” is the best they can come up with?! Really?!
Another thing is that tickets aren’t as affordable as a Braves game. Who wants to pay $20+ to sit in the upper deck? Not to mention concessions. My theory is, decide how you want to make money, concessions or ticket prices. I would say offer more affordable tickets ($10 in the upper deck). Once people are actually IN the arena, they’re going to buy concessions, regardless of cost.
Rich T
February 17th, 2011
2:32 pm
Michael Gearon: “I think it helps having fans show up because it demonstrates that the city is committed to the team.”
It would be easy to be committed to this team had the ownership group shown any level of commitment over the years. It works both ways.
Atlanta Spirit has failed the hockey fans of this city.
Brian
February 17th, 2011
2:33 pm
I shared season tickets for years. When the team dumped Marion Hossa it became apparent the ownership was not serious about putting a winning product on the ice. (Hossa would not re-sign for reasons repeated later with Kovalchuk). I declined to renew. In my experience, the fans were seriously loyal to the team but that loyalty was not rewarded and has begun to erode. I think Don Waddell did the best he could within the limitations created by the owners.
Joe Tess Fish House
February 17th, 2011
2:43 pm
The Trashers reel problem is they got rit of there best player in Kolvachock. Every sence than, they not look like winers.
My letter to Winnipeg:
February 17th, 2011
2:43 pm
I’ve been doing tons of research over this in the last few days, and I really think we should give the team to Winnipeg. I’m a huge hockey fan, and I like going out to as many games as I can afford to, but when you look at the fanbase in Winnipeg, their history, and how they were so unfairly ripped of a team they so deserve by the “Evil Gary,” I’d say they can have it. I mean, how much does out city/state really want a team. I’ll sometimes go to a lounge and start chatting about sports, and every time I bring up hockey, I get looked at like a loonie (get the Canadian reference there?). This city doesn’t need NHL hockey to be a happy sports town. Winnipeg does.
I want my Beer
February 17th, 2011
2:46 pm
Thirsty Thursdays are promotional days where they offer discounted beers in certain locations. On two separate occassions when I was there, THEY RAN OUT OF BEER!!!
What more do you need to say about these jokers running the Thrashers? Their incompetence is truly pathetic. I feel sorry for the players wasting their careers playing for these idiotic owners.
I guarantee the Winnipeg vendors would never run out of beer.
polskidawg
February 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
A repeat from Bradley’s artice:
Completely and shamefully the biggest group of incompetent, disingenuous, lying b*stards in the history of Atlanta sports ownership. That’s saying something in a city that has previously seen the Smith family as owners.
Puckhead
February 17th, 2011
2:49 pm
The ASG’s bumbling ownership reminds me of an old saying. Can’t remember the first part, but the last part is: “…and the horse you rode in on.”
Richard Bagge
February 17th, 2011
3:02 pm
Why on earth should I go see the Thrashers when, for one-fifth the cost, I can see a BETTER team play BETTER hockey from BETTER seats in Gwinnett County, where my concession dollars support local schools and the parking is free? Go Glads!
Mooseberg - Season Ticket Holder
February 17th, 2011
3:08 pm
Thank you Schultz, someone needed to write the fans side and truth about what has been going on with the Thrashers. Hope we can find a way to keep them.
gearon is an idiot
February 17th, 2011
3:08 pm
Michael gearon is such a punk. He really wants to question the fans commitment after what those mental defectives did to this franchise? If you went into a restaurant and the waiter brought out your plate and it had a big pile of horse$hit on it would you go back? Heck no. The spirit group served the Thrasher fans a big pile of dung for over a decade.
Rich T
February 17th, 2011
3:09 pm
polskidawg: “Completely and shamefully the biggest group of incompetent, disingenuous, lying b*stards in the history of Atlanta sports ownership. That’s saying something in a city that has previously seen the Smith family as owners.”
Funny you bring up the Smiths, as I was thinking the same exact thing last night.
VOLinATL
February 17th, 2011
3:30 pm
Baggee: The Gladiators are a better team??? Really?? I like the Glads, but please….
gooneygoogoo
February 17th, 2011
3:31 pm
I must say I am suprised so many fans are atill at the games. The ASG and WADDELL screwed this team and the fans so many times they made people hate the team. For this team to survive there needed to be alot of redneck converts. How can you convert the locals with a team contantly in flux and never making the playoffs. ASG are cowards who wont blame themselves and hide behind the curtains.
I’m sorry they are going to leave I wont be able to see the PENS live anymore. Damn Smucks ASG.
LAC
February 17th, 2011
3:37 pm
Right on Jeff, We have endured HORRIBLE Businessmen buying sports teams in this city and they,
cousins and the Litte Liar Boys, had/have NO idea as to what they are doing. It just astounds me
that the NHL, a respectable league, which holds players & teams to HIGH Standards, are allowing these sririt IDIOTS to lie, lie, lie. I really cannot believe they have not stepped in and done something.
When “did” the NHL say winnipeg “will” get a team back ???? I heard Bettman at the ASG, say NO franchise will be relocated.
But yet AGAIN, the Fans are NOT to blame, it is the owners, and gearon or WTF your name is, you are a little stinking LIAR. I REALLY wish your car would stall on one of my railroad lines…
Instead of putting the train into emergency and stopping, I would instruct ALL my engineers to notch up to throttle #8 and split you in half and drag you for about a mile, then stop and let the EMS people pick up YOUR pieces !
Morons in Charge
February 17th, 2011
3:38 pm
Hire back kasten! He’s in the know!!!
nascar/NOT
February 17th, 2011
3:41 pm
nascar is not a sport, period. I see more than enough cars on 285. nascar is simply stupid as hell !
@ Jeff Schultz - New Website Up
February 17th, 2011
3:42 pm
Jeff: We are close to “de-Blanking” our plea – we are shifting to “Keep the Thrashers”. We also will be migrating to a new facebook page soon (not yet) – you can show support for hockey in Atlanta by “Liking Us” on the new facebook page. We will post an update here. We need to try to build some momentum in the next two weeks. Our cause is to keep hockey in Atlanta. New domain is:
http://www.keepthethrashers.com/
Let’s fight the good fight – it is much easier to keep an existing team than to get another franchise (just ask Winnipeg or Kansas City).
JSS
February 17th, 2011
3:42 pm
VOLinATL
February 17th, 2011
3:30 pm
“Baggee: The Gladiators are a better team??? Really?? I like the Glads, but please.”
I’ll never step foot in Gwinnettt Arena (or the G-Braves Stadium) for just the reasons ‘Baggee’ stated why supports them… It’s Gwinnett!
Thrashers Stay Please!
February 17th, 2011
3:44 pm
A few points that should be at the center of this rather than everybody whining and moaning “do this” and “do that” to ASG:
1. Every sports franchise/ownership has been disingenuous with fans from time to time and ALL OF THEM worry about the bottom line… period. ASG may be to an extreme, but they really aren’t any different so get off that crap…
2. The Braves? You Kidding? People supported them because grew up loving the sport? WOW that’s a farce… I grew up going to Braves games when you could throw a hand-grenade in parts of Atlanta-Fulton Co. Stadium and nobody would get hurt and everyone got invited behind home plate in the third inning…. they only reason they stuck around was because Ted wanted them too and lvoed baseball — oh and it drove his ratings on Channel 17 to the point he could make it a national cable network.
3. Fans can’t be blamed…. BULL&^$&^!!. Everyone is to blame if they really want hockey to stick around here. It’s a disgrace to see an arena half-empty for team that is playing hard and WANTS to make Atlanta its home regardless of ownership issues.
4. Media to blame? ESPN shows more Hockey and Soccer highlights now than it ever has – and other than football, basketball and baseball hockey is fourth. I’ve seen more local Thrashers coverage than ever before – and the national media went nuts over the team went it really started to cook back in November.
5. The bottom line is nobody OWES the fans a $#$^#%^$^%& thing. My family loves the Thrashers and we go to every game we can – although from an 1:30 mins away we only make it about 5 to 7 times a season — but I don’t go thinking somebody owes us this or that — I go because I love the team and want them to succeed and stay in Atlanta.
BOTTOM LINE — either get off your a$$es and go to the games or shut up and don’t complain. Period.
Non combative Winnipeger
February 17th, 2011
3:45 pm
Gotta disagree with part of Jeff’s comments. While the owners may be guilty of everything Jeff accuses them of, the comments regarding Atlanta’s “discerning” sports fans are not well thought out. Jeff says the fans need a reason to pay for Thrashers tickets and explains that the team has not been winning enough to warrant fan support. This theory applies to fans on the periphery of the sport only. True fans support their teams for love of the game (hockey, football, etc.) and the team. The Atlanta Falcons have had 30 losing seasons in their 44-year history. Are you telling me the fans didn’t support the team during the lean years? Of course they did, in part because pro football in Atlanta is “big-time”, whereas hockey just isn’t as popular. I’m talking on the street level. How many Falcons jersies can be seen worn around town, year round, compared to Thrashers jersies? As an Oakland Raiders fan, I use the phrase, “Win Lose or Tie…Raiders till I die!” I’m sure enough Falcons fans feel the same about their team and that’s the what you need for a professional sports team. I’m not saying true Atlanta Thrasher fans are to blame, but I am saying there may not be enough of them.
KLS1
February 17th, 2011
3:46 pm
Has there ever been a franchise started and killed in such a quick time? Maybe the Charlotte Hornets?
Winnipeg Jet
February 17th, 2011
3:54 pm
Bring us the Thrasher!!!
Good riddance!
February 17th, 2011
3:56 pm
Get these 2 loser franchises out of town and hopefully all these sorry millionaire owners leave too and move to canada. Stay away!
brett
February 17th, 2011
4:03 pm
this city is riddled with famous people, big corporations, ie COKE., and all kinds of investors. 150 mil is pocket change to new ownership. hell, coca cola makes that in a few days…i remember seeing someone write on here a while back if they took over, just rename philips coca cola arena or some crap. so hard to believe that not one or more people in this entire city are even interested to our knowledge. davis love III, tom glavine, holyfield (i think hes broke), LIL JOHN (haha) ive seen them all at games numerous times…someone needs to step it up. i heard kincaide say yesterday he had a meeting today with a group of investors (prob just sarcasm) i wasnt paying attention enough…but thatd be a START