Braves’ McGuirk disputes report of team’s potential sale
The Braves have been profitable for Liberty Media. But if they're for sale, CEO Terry McGuirk doesn't know about it.
(First posted: 1:28 p.m.)
(Last updated: 4:50 p.m.)
If Liberty Media is preparing to put the Braves up for sale, as a report suggests, the team’s highest ranking executive doesn’t know about it.
“I speak with Liberty people fairly frequently and there’s absolutely nothing new here,” Braves chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk said. “The whole article looks pretty amateurish to me. Liberty has no interest in selling right now. Life is good. The team is good. I’m the person in position to know these things and that’s the most informed comment you’re going to get.”
McGuirk is upset because at a time when he would prefer people focus on a potential World Series contender, one week before the season opens, Forbes Magazine is reporting Liberty Media may be preparing to sell the team. In its annual valuation of major league baseball franchises, Forbes ranked the Braves 13th out of 30 teams with a value of $482 million and included this comment: “It appears as though Liberty Media is preparing to unload the Braves. The tax advantages to Liberty’s purchase of the Braves from Time Warner [in] 2007 expire after five years and ownership has slashed player payroll from $102 million to $84 million since 2008 despite higher revenue.”
That’s actually somewhat misleading. Liberty already has secured the tax advantages of its complicated May of 2007 purchase from Time Warner. The only time stamp related to ownership was an agreement between Liberty and MLB that they remain as owner for at least 4½ years — effectively, after the 2011 season.
There’s also a belief that a quick attempt to sell by Liberty, after tax benefits had been secured, would trigger problems with the IRS. But it might be past that point.
A phone call to Liberty Media’s headquarters in Colorado brought the expected response.
“We don’t comment on speculation like this,” said Courtnee Ulrich, vice president of investor relations.
I considered asking her where Kenshin Kawakami would be playing next week, but I passed.
Liberty Media generally has not been popular with the fan base. The company represents faceless ownership that is based far from Atlanta. The fact that the company allows McGuirk to run the franchise doesn’t matter for the simple reason he’s not the owner.
There’s also the matter of payroll having been reduced the past few years. McGuirk has long vehemently disputed the reported numbers, saying Braves’ payroll “has gone up.” But every team computes salaries differently, and various databases all show Braves’ payroll has dropped. Most show that total payroll was at, or close to, $102.3 million in 2008, $96.7 million in 2009 and $84.4 million in 2010. The fact general manager Frank Wren has rebuilt the club back into a playoff team is commendable, given the backdrop.
Is private ownership always better than corporate ownership? Hardly. The Atlanta Spirit is the only proof you need of that. But at least when something goes wrong, people know who to scream at. You can’t scream at an annual stock report.
The potential sale of the franchise makes sense. As the Denver Business Journal wrote: “Liberty Media has not announced any plans to unload the Atlanta team. But John Malone, Liberty Media chairman and founder, is famous for making use of tax advantages, and he has said Liberty Media doesn’t consider the baseball team a strategic asset.”
See, that’s the problem: Most people don’t want their sports teams known as a “strategic asset” — or worse, a non-strategic asset.
Four months ago, the Wall Street Journal’s list of highest paid CEO’s was topped by Liberty’s Gregory B. Maffei. His compensation: $87.1 million. The Braves’ 2010 reported payroll: $84.4 million. But Maffei kept stockholders happy. Forbes reported the franchise’s 2011 value at $482 million (up from $446 million in 2009) and operating income at $22.2 million (up from $5 million in ‘09 and $2 million in ‘10).
In Colorado, ownership is achieving its financial objectives.
In Atlanta, McGuirk would prefer the focus be elsewhere.
“This is not a subject that’s even in my thinking right now,” he said of a potential sale. “We’re getting ready for the current season.”
He need not worry about distractions. If anything happens, it won’t be until after the World Series.
By Jeff Schultz
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195 comments Add your comment
Will
March 24th, 2011
1:31 pm
First!
The sale of the team would be the highlight of the season!
Art Vandelay
March 24th, 2011
1:34 pm
Paging Mr. Cuban, Mr. Mark Cuban. White courtesy phone, please.
Smitty
March 24th, 2011
1:36 pm
The Braves are a gem because they can evaluate and develop talent. Those are 2 skills the Hawks and Thrashers don’t have.
QWDH
March 24th, 2011
1:38 pm
Please, yes.
boots
March 24th, 2011
1:40 pm
Great news! Liberty sucks. Who are they anyway, and why are taxpayers giving them a tax break for anything??? Honestly, I am an Atlanta native, huge baseball fan, and a sports freak. I have never met anyone who works for Liberty, I don’t have any idea what they do (are they a cable company?) and I certainly object to them getting my tax money.
Ted Turner, Mark Cuban, or any number of rich guys would make better owners.
Peter
March 24th, 2011
1:41 pm
TED!!!
Biff P
March 24th, 2011
1:41 pm
Ted Turner or Arthur Blank…we are looking for you guys to step up!
Marshall
March 24th, 2011
1:41 pm
Great news! The Braves could be much more competitive with that 2008 payroll of $102 million.
Belcher
March 24th, 2011
1:41 pm
Sell the team to authur funk!!!!
Casual Observer
March 24th, 2011
1:41 pm
uhh Duh. We all know Liberty is not in the Baseball business but the business of business. Good riddance, can’t wait. Hell we should have a parade down P’tree when they sell. Unless of course if they sell to another conglomerate looking for a tax break. Come on can we have our Braves back? PLEASE!!!!!!
jarvis
March 24th, 2011
1:42 pm
Smitty, it’s hardly fair to throw the Thrashers in that same boat. They are given nothing by their ownership. They are the redheaded stepchild of an already cheap owner.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
March 24th, 2011
1:42 pm
this group sounds kinda like the NFL owners
more income less payout and forget the fans
DaTruth
March 24th, 2011
1:42 pm
Step right up Arthur Blank!! Let’s make this a winning franchise again!!
Investor
March 24th, 2011
1:43 pm
I think Tom Glavine, Greg Maddox, John Smoltz, Hank Aaron and a few others would have the dough to buy the franchise.
Deion S.
March 24th, 2011
1:45 pm
I want Arthur Blank!
supsalemgr
March 24th, 2011
1:45 pm
This would also give Arthur Blank an outside stadium.
TERRY P.
March 24th, 2011
1:46 pm
hmmm i would like to see mark cuban buy the team. i like the single owner that wants to win.
The Man
March 24th, 2011
1:46 pm
I wish someone that had some deep pockets would buy the Braves.. we need to get back to Championship stauts and fast!! Playoffs is not good enough.. we need to have a shot at the title..year in and year out.. this is one of the best franchises in baseball.. let’s start acting like it!!
Buzz killar
March 24th, 2011
1:46 pm
Tyler Perry
David
March 24th, 2011
1:47 pm
Turner said a couple years ago he did not have enough money to buy the Braves or CNN. In a few years the Braves are going to be considered a small market team, with a small market owner. The big markets are So Cal, NYC, Chicago, and Boston. Since there is no real revenue sharing in baseball, there will always be a major gap between big market teams and small market teams.
gg
March 24th, 2011
1:48 pm
Don’t toy with me. Say it IS so! And please, please…NOT A CORPORATION! Needs to be a private individual who cares about the city, and the team, and wants to win…like Mark Cuban, but NOT Mark Cuban.
CARMEN
March 24th, 2011
1:48 pm
Sounds like a Atlanta Spirit smoke and mirror comment! So it must true.
Buzz killar
March 24th, 2011
1:50 pm
Thank you baseball gods …if this is true.
Yea right.............
March 24th, 2011
1:50 pm
Any single owner who wants to win and will stand back and let the organization work the way it has for years is good for me. What bothers me when the team is sold will the new owner change things? This might not be good as you think! It all depends on who buys them and who they bring with them to run the team.
Rupert
March 24th, 2011
1:51 pm
I think this is great news for the team. I think all along this was the plan and comments to the contrary were simply to make MLB go along with the orginal sell. I will say that I have done a bit of a 180 on Liberty. As a FAN I hate that payroll has gone down, and I HATE hearing Wren and Co. spew this BS about sweet spots for payroll when everyone knows if others are spending more, you are starting out the game essentially behind. However, Liberty is not a person. It is a business, and its sole responsibility is to its shareholders, to maximize their profits. They have done this with the Braves by both retaining the franchise’s value, while ellimnating an operating loss and creating an actual net gain. So the Liberty’s board is simply doing what it is being paid to do. This is why big corporations should not own sports teams. By the letter of the law their fiduciary duty is to the shareholders, not the fans of a small asset. It’s darn frustrating as a Braves fan, and I hope Blank or Rickets or someone buys the team who cares about the Braves and spends, but you can’t be angry at Liberty for doing what it does. That’s what makes it successfull.
Jerry
March 24th, 2011
1:52 pm
No matter who would be willing to buy the team, it has to be an individual, or several individuals and not a corporation. Ted screwed us when he became greedy and aligned himself with Time-Warner. Now he says he doesn’t have the capital to buy the team, or at least that is what he said a few years ago. When he went with Time Warner, he didn’t have to include the Braves, but he chose to anyway. Hell no to Ted.
brilliant....not
March 24th, 2011
1:54 pm
yeah, brilliant vandelay. just when the team is getting it’s groove back bring in a big moron like cuban to cause all sorts of distractions. maybe he could get his buddy charlie sheen to announce the games, since he needs a job.
MountainJam
March 24th, 2011
1:55 pm
The tax advantage is simply a long term / short term hold. You get taxed differently on the gain of a home depending on how long you hold. You get taxed at different rates depending on how long you hold a stock. Same applies to the Liberty purchase of the Braves (just different time periods than my two examples).
Forbes knows about the 5 year mark and are simply speculating.
mike
March 24th, 2011
1:56 pm
The NFL will not allow Blank to own both the Falcons and Braves….
Come on Ted Tunner!
heartofdarkness
March 24th, 2011
1:56 pm
Is your thesis that the Braves are on the block enhanced or demolished by the fact Mr. McGuirk knows nothing about it?
Augusta Jacket
March 24th, 2011
1:58 pm
For all calling for Ted–Have you seen him lately he looks about like Al Davis, I’ll pass.
Patrick
March 24th, 2011
1:59 pm
Man, it’ll never happen, at least not until Arthur gets his stadium… but isn’t it fun to dream about him owning ALL 4 sports teams? That would be sick.
cl
March 24th, 2011
1:59 pm
Everyone knew this would come from the day they acquired the Braves. It was based on a huge stock swap with Time Warner and by holding the Braves until 2012 they could avoid taxes on the sale. The organization has done a wonderful job of keeping a competitive product on the field while Liberty insisted on cutting payroll and other operating cost. The good news is they shouldn’t have too much trouble selling the team to local interests. Broadcast mogul David Dickie has expressed a strong interest (when asked about purchasing the Thrashers, Dickie said no, he was waiting to buy the Braves) and Arthur Blank did hint at an interest during the original sale to Liberty.
David
March 24th, 2011
1:59 pm
The NFL would allow that mike, Paul Allen owns the Seahawks and the Trailblazers. Wayne also owned the Marlins and the Dolphins at the same time.
Tron5000
March 24th, 2011
1:59 pm
Imagine what that extra $18 million the team has slashed in payroll could do for the Braves. That’s almost Carl Crawford money.
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
2:00 pm
Folks, just updated this blog.
59bulldawg
March 24th, 2011
2:00 pm
Please God . . . send us an owner who takes an interest in the Braves and sees them more than just a tax write-off! I’d even take crazy Ted back . . . in a heartbeat!
WJ
March 24th, 2011
2:01 pm
sell baby sell !!!!!!! Buy Blanks Buy!!!!!!!!!!!
put CEO TM on the road.
kenali
March 24th, 2011
2:02 pm
The Braves can’t evaluate and develop talent. Look at A. Wainwrigh, yes he maybe hurt now, but the Braves did not develop that talent when they had him. The St.Louis Cardinals saw the talent in him and with Dave Duncan’s help developed that guy into a high caliber pitcher. Yes! He did bring STL a World Series. The only person on the Braves team with any real talent is Brian McCann
Herschel Talker
March 24th, 2011
2:04 pm
Schultzie:
The sooner the better. We need a real owner, not these corporate pinheads.
HT
Harry The Hawk
March 24th, 2011
2:04 pm
Indoor baseball at Philips Arena….hmmmmm
59bulldawg
March 24th, 2011
2:06 pm
Dude . . . what does that comment have to do with thisn story? Plus you’re wrong!
ryan
March 24th, 2011
2:08 pm
I hope its true Blank, or Cuban just hope the Braves stay in Atlanta Liberty group had no intention of owning the Braves long term anyway .
lanier
March 24th, 2011
2:10 pm
be careful for what you wish. i remember when those pirates in Chicago owned them . never want to see those days again
ExBrave Fan
March 24th, 2011
2:10 pm
Kenali: If you talke a long look at the so called great Braves minor leagurers, for the few they actually have come too fruit, they have a ton of rotten ones. The road is long and littered with Braves potential greats that mainly were trade bait and did not develope. A long long road of failures compared to the very few they have developed.
South Georgia Fan
March 24th, 2011
2:11 pm
I’ll buy them. I got $491.77 in the savings account. Will you take that?
Kennesaw Dave
March 24th, 2011
2:11 pm
I’m with some of the other posters in here. I think this would be a great opportunity for Arthur Blanc if he is in a position to buy the team. Not to mention, it may give the Braves some more spending flexability to replace players like Chipper when he retires as well as further develop our pitching.
Marie
March 24th, 2011
2:12 pm
I hope they sell! COME BACK TED!!!!
hmmmmm......
March 24th, 2011
2:14 pm
It’d be our luck that atlanta spirit unloads the hawks and thrashers and buys the braves.
Im in favor of cuban buying the team he’s done alot with the mavs. He cant be a bigger distraction than jane fonda was
P. Bull Terrier
March 24th, 2011
2:14 pm
The Atlanta Spirit Group.plans to purchase the Atlanta Braves from Liberty Media. A person familiar with the negotiations says Charlie Sheen will join the Atlanta Spirit Group as the new President of Baseball operations. In addition to his investment of $34.16 in the financially troubled partnership, Sheen gives the ASG an investor with baseball experience and provides the group with a more credible public image.
Upon completion of the sale, the ASG plans to give Chipper Jones a very large 10 year contract to ensure that the star player will anchor the line-up long after he is able to do so, and to play more hip-hop music between innings.
WAR EAGLE
March 24th, 2011
2:17 pm
Blank would best be served owning the Hockey team. Let Cuban buy the Braves.
Jared
March 24th, 2011
2:17 pm
Mark Cuban!!!!
Unknown Hinson
March 24th, 2011
2:21 pm
Anyone with a LAST NAME please!!! Conglomerate companies should not be allowed to own a professional sports team unless they are in huge financial trouble. Great news!!
Kentavo
March 24th, 2011
2:23 pm
Why are people clamoring for Cuban? The Mavericks have spent tons of money in his tenure, but haven’t won any championships.
wxwax
March 24th, 2011
2:24 pm
No question that since Liberty took over, investment in the team has declined and so have the results.
Logically, you’d want new ownership.
But this is one of those “devil you know” situations.
Because there’s always another Atlanta Spirit out there, underfunded and ready to bungle things even worse.
Go Dawgs!
March 24th, 2011
2:25 pm
The CEO makes $87 million annually? If you’re wondering why our economy is FUBAR and you can be bankrupted if you get a bad disease or your child can be expected to die because they’ll run through their lifetime insurance payout due to any number of long-term diseases, this is the reason. I bet he’s a Tea Partier who doesn’t think he should have to pay taxes, too.
Hoosier Aaron
March 24th, 2011
2:25 pm
Chuck Greenberg obviously has an interest in owning a baseball team.
It would certainly be nice to have an owner interested in owning a BASEBALL team.
Brett Favre was once a Falcon
March 24th, 2011
2:25 pm
I might just buy this team. Then I can come out of retirement and pitch. Starter, of course.
Gwinnett Fred
March 24th, 2011
2:26 pm
How about The Donald????
There’s already a precedent for a baseball owner going on to live in the White House!!!
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
2:26 pm
If they do get sold maybe they can move. The could change the field name to the ART and the Falcons could play outside there.
Gareth Bale
March 24th, 2011
2:29 pm
Braves need to be sold to some Russian or Middle Eastern oil magnate who literally does not consider a $200M payroll to be any big deal.
Ned Pepper
March 24th, 2011
2:33 pm
Sell it to Donald trump and Rush Limbaugh
Disbott 3000
March 24th, 2011
2:36 pm
Liberty has been nothing but an empty suit and it would be good riddance. I suppose I wouldn’t care if they were an empty suit if they increased payroll incrementally every year, but since they have chosen the opposite road they mean nothing to me. I wish Ted would buy them back, but he’s made it clear in the past that he’s not interested. Please give us a person who cares!
taudawg
March 24th, 2011
2:41 pm
So when is it bad to make profit? Why would anyone be offended that the Braves revenue is up? Bet not one person here would work for free. Why do we expect the team owners to operate for free or at a loss? Because they should “do it for the fans?” Hahahahahahaha. How naive and ridiculous many of us sound.
We are so class envious it is silly
66Bravo
March 24th, 2011
2:41 pm
Mark Cuban??? Are you guys serious? What connection does he have with Atlanta? Let’s get real…we need a local business fan who respects the game and celebrates the city! Bernie & Arthur!
dahlonega
March 24th, 2011
2:41 pm
i would love cuban. but hasn’t mlb tried to keep cuban from owning a major league club in the past. seems like they didn’t want him to own the cubs or the pirates.
Ted
March 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
IF ANYONE FROM THE ATLANTA SPIRIT GROUP COMES FORWARD AND EVEN MENTIONS BUYING THE BRAVES; OH, THE HUMANITY!!!!
Possible Owner?
March 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
Hmm, 5.5 million people in metro Atlanta. We each put $60 in, and we can buy the Braves! Who’s with me!?!?
P. Bull Terrier
March 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
The Atlanta Spirit Group announced that they plan to enter discussions with “South Georgia Fan” as part of their ongoing plan to purchase the Atlanta Braves. The rumored $491.77 investment from “South Georgia Fan” would make him/her/it/them the largest ASG shareholder and give him considerable power in the decision making process.
In related news, Dominique Wilkins plans to sue the ASG as a result of a dispute over ownership shares and control over the future decisions. Wilkins contends that his investment in the franchise – a pair of shoes that he wore in a 1987 game agains Washington – is worth at least $500, and gives him a controlling interest in the franchise.
Bravefan for life
March 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Will Liberty sell the Braves before the free agency starts and our really good players sign elsewhere? Stay tuned for NO more details in the future.
1911A1
March 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Everyone calling for Ted to buy the team back, please understand that he doesn’t have the money. He spent it all buying Montana.
JPopNC
March 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Okay..okay, I’m willing to act as spokesperson for a fan-owned team. Just need everyone to pitch in a couple thousand dollars each. Then we’ll run the team the way it SHOULD be run! (although they’re not looking too shabby this season I must say).
SHANNON
March 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
IF THE PRICE WERE RIGHT, ARTHUR BLANK WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE
Wishful Thinkin'
March 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
Ok, when I win the Mega Millions on Friday night, I will buy my beloved Braves and lookout Yankees!!!!!
Rock Star from Mars
March 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
TEDDY TEDDY TEDDY……..they can serve Bison burgers at the stadium…Itsa No Brainer!
Bryan
March 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
Would love to see Mr.Blank purchase this team!
Rock Star from Mars
March 24th, 2011
2:52 pm
Ok…here we go. City of Atlanta sells airport to State….takes some of proceeds, buys Braves….WOOO HOOO! Can I getta witness?
ryan
March 24th, 2011
2:53 pm
What about the former Atlanta Dream owner who wanted to purchase the Braves at one time what did with the Dream was turn into a winning team .
JoeBravesFan
March 24th, 2011
2:54 pm
This would be awesome, but only if it was sold to someone who actually cares about the success of the Atlanta Braves. We don’t need another Liberty Media type to purchase the franchise, that’s for sure!
PMC
March 24th, 2011
2:57 pm
The above financial information is why it doesn’t make sense to whine about Chipper Jones salary.
It’s always been Liberty Media that’s the problem but Wren has done a fantastic job with the constraints considering.
McGuirk can’t say anything publically of course but Obviously they are going to sell the team.
dahlonega
March 24th, 2011
2:58 pm
i wonder if phil knight is a braves fan. phil would be an awesome owner. the guy would want to win at any cost.
para brave
March 24th, 2011
2:58 pm
You can forget about Ted buying it. He has said that he isn’t interested in buying back the Braves. Mark Cuban, heck no. Need someone like Nolan Ryan to buy the club.
Kashi
March 24th, 2011
3:00 pm
Arthur Blank must step up. Combination of Football and Baseball winning championship will rock this town. His dream of open stadium for Falcons will be easily met too!
PMC
March 24th, 2011
3:02 pm
The good it has done is in forcing the Braves to find ways to be competitive while not spending what other top teams are spending.
The result is that the minors are full of talented pitching arms.
Next step, finding a few more quality outfielders.
PMC
March 24th, 2011
3:02 pm
I’d rather have Andre 3000 buy the club.
Andre
March 24th, 2011
3:03 pm
I just did some research, and according to Forbes, Ted Turner has a net worth of $1.9 billion.
The Braves, according to Forbes, are worth $482 million.
Surely Ted Turner can afford to buy back the Braves and have enough money left over to live comfortably.
Subtract $482 million from $1.9 billion and you get $1.4 billion. In other words, if Ted buys back the Braves, he’ll still have money in the bank.
ted
March 24th, 2011
3:06 pm
Before every gives the 2 thumbs up, Liberty has mostly stayed out of the way and let the grownups run the baseball operations….family ownership can have its downside (read: Mets, Dodgers)
Robert
March 24th, 2011
3:19 pm
Liberty is taking profit.
You have to figure the value of the franchise went up by about 25% once Cox left
Ali50
March 24th, 2011
3:25 pm
The correct spelling is “its”, not “it’s”, in the first sentence. Don’t you guys proofread anymore?
bulldogmaniac
March 24th, 2011
3:26 pm
Buy em back TED!
KC Frenchy
March 24th, 2011
3:26 pm
Arthur Blank-Yes, Ted Turner-No or Mr. Blank get your buddy Bernie Marcus to step up & buy, we need local ownership that is dedicated to competing for a title every year! Go Bravos goodbye Liberty Media
P. Bull Terrier
March 24th, 2011
3:29 pm
Breaking News: Joe Johnson announced plans to sue the Atlanta Spirit Group and several potential investment partners over a proposed purchase of the Atlanta Braves from Liberty Media Group. Johnson will file suit against the Atlanta Spirit Group, Dominique Wilkins, “South Georgia Fan”, Charlie Sheen, and Magic City dancer Mer-Sadees.
Johnson alledges that the $600 in one dollar bills that he tossed on stage during a performance by Mer-Sadees was, in fact, an investment in the Atlanta Spirit Group partnership. In addition to her job as a performer at Magic City, Mer-Sadees is also a partner in the Atlanta Spirit Group. If Johnson’s stack of $1 bills is ruled to be an investment rather than a tip, Johnson would become the largest ASG investor and seize control of the group from “South Georgia Fan”, Wilkins and Sheen.
Scott from Fairburn
March 24th, 2011
3:31 pm
Terry McGuirk is most likely very aware … would not surprise me if he is putting together an ownership group himself to buy the team …
Larry
March 24th, 2011
3:31 pm
“So I’m assuming the news that the team may be for sale will not be met with disappointment.”
Uh, ya think? Duh!
give us a real owner
March 24th, 2011
3:32 pm
The payroll declined by 18 million the last 3 years while a number of teams have significantly INCREASED their payroll. We’ve fallen way down the rankings of MLB payrolls and are now in the middle.
We need an owner who will SPEND.
RoadDAWG
March 24th, 2011
3:32 pm
Kenali @ 2:02pm : “The only person on the Braves team with any real talent is Brian McCann”
What are YOU smoking, and where do I get some? McCann, Jason Heyward, Tommy Hanson, most of the bullpen, Freddie Freeman (granted it’s very early on him)…the list of Braves talent which was developed in-house and is now on the big league roster would be the envy of all but a handful of teams in the majors. Oh…and we’re widely considered to have the best minor-league pitching in all of baseball.
You’re just one of those people that likes to tear down the home team, rather than accept the fact that we had stingy corporate ownership for a little while, so our ‘misses’ in free agency were a much bigger deal than they used to be.
The future is VERY bright for the Bravos…and David Dickie sounds like a GREAT owner option to me.
braves70
March 24th, 2011
3:32 pm
How about the big 3 of Snoltz, Glavine, and Maddux teaming up with a few others to buy the team? They have plenty of millions available and time to kill.
MSC-OFF
March 24th, 2011
3:34 pm
Thank goodness! The corporate ownership is a joke! Let’s hope Ted Turner or Mark Cuban wants to buy the franchise and put the king of money into the team that it deserves!
russ
March 24th, 2011
3:38 pm
I asked Cuban at a Hawks game once if he would ever be interested in the Braves if his Cubs deal fell through. He said and I quote, “no chance in hell.” He grinned and walked away…
North Ave Trade School Hater
March 24th, 2011
3:41 pm
Yes, yes YES!
Smokewagon
March 24th, 2011
3:48 pm
Buy me a beer!
DamntheButcher
March 24th, 2011
3:49 pm
Does anybody know if the people that own Chik Fil A have any intereste in the Brves? They are local and loaded with cash.
H.Berry
March 24th, 2011
3:50 pm
Can you say Arthur Blank?
deb
March 24th, 2011
3:51 pm
@ possible owner, I’m with You! The Braves can be owned by the fans like the Green Bay Packers! I LOVE that idea! Only we’ll need Mr. Blank to give us some training.
deb
March 24th, 2011
3:52 pm
@ Road Dawg, I like the David Dickie suggestion too! Another good one!
1969hotrod
March 24th, 2011
4:00 pm
sell the team to wild thing(Charlie Sheen for those not familiar with the movie Major League)! he’s got lots of cash, and has done a baseball movie, so what else is there? we could fill the stadium just on the hopes of him doing something strange.
steve
March 24th, 2011
4:01 pm
Please sell this team! Lets get some owners in here who actually give a flip about winning for a change.
JSS
March 24th, 2011
4:05 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
Liberty Media is publicly held and traded, get enough shareholders together and get them to spin it off…
Oh, the shareholders meeting will be online on Thursday, June 24, 2010 9:00 am MT. You can find out all you want to know when they open the books to the shareholders in the annual report…
http://ir.libertymedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61138&p=irol-eventDetails&EventId=3171957
Just signup for the webcast and take some NoDoz
The Real Brave
March 24th, 2011
4:06 pm
Where is the surprise here? Just a tax write-off.
With the exception of Arthur Blank we have carpet-baggers and wanna-bees as sports club
owners.
JSS
March 24th, 2011
4:11 pm
How many times do you have tell Atlanta sports fans that NFL owners can not cross own other Major Sports franchises in the same town? It is amazing! Paul Allen is only allowed to own the Blazers because there is no NFL team in Portland. Arthur Blank can not buy the Thrashers, the Braves, or Hawks, get over him…
raleighbravesfan
March 24th, 2011
4:11 pm
Liberty Media has been a better owner than Time Warner. They have been a much better owner than many teams, most of which are owned by individuals. Ask fans of Marlins, Pirates, Astros, etc. how that’s working for them. Also, Liberty has let the baseball people do their job, with little interference. Be careful what you wish for.
Jeff R
March 24th, 2011
4:13 pm
For the reasons Jeff Schultz stated, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Liberty Media try to sell the Braves after December. I would think that the condition of the economy then will be an important factor, however. I can’t imagine that Liberty would want to undersell the Braves. And, actually, Liberty Media hasn’t been a terrible owner; it’s been largely hands off.
The danger in a sale is who buys. Everyone wants another Ted Turner. But there’s also the possibility of a Peter Angelos, the dreadful Orioles’ owner who’s run a fine franchise into the ground. Or a sale to a conglomerate, where the suits aren’t so hands off.
Next winter should be interesting.
Jeff R
March 24th, 2011
4:17 pm
Does Arthur Blank still have the assets to purchase the Braves? If not, we shouldn’t be so eager to see Liberty Media sell (or assume that Blank is an automatic bidder). Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 24th, 2011
4:19 pm
If there’s one thing I have learned over the years, it is that Forbes knows very little about sports.
With that said, the Braves compensate for an ownership group that isn’t willing to spend to the max by having a fantastic player development system, particularly when it comes to pitching. We should be thankful for that.
Drexel Gal
March 24th, 2011
4:39 pm
Forget Mark Cuban, Arthur Blank, and the recycled Ted Turner-Fonda. If you want local ownership, Truett Cathy of Chick-Fil-A is the candidate. Uh … except … that would mean no more Sunday games.
Anonmyous
March 24th, 2011
4:40 pm
Watch out for the Dickey Bros to make a play for the Braves.
Stinger2
March 24th, 2011
4:59 pm
Why does anyone think Arthur Blank or Ted Turner would want to buy the Braves. Has anyone who suggest such heard
either one of those two say they have any interest. I don`t understand why so many people throw names of rich people out without any basis for doing so.
I Saw It On TV
March 24th, 2011
5:01 pm
To the ownership Terry McGuirk is just another employee.
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
Sorry folks — haven’t gotten to any of your comments because I’ve been writing, rewriting, expanding, interviewing, trimming — well, you get it. Final update now up (pending some final edits).
Dawg A
March 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
I have both Falcon and Braves season tickets! If Arthur buys them then I will not buy anymore season tickets! I am sick of him raising prices and now he expects his money for season tickets even though there is a lockout!
Oh yea I don’t have to keep my Falcon tickets but I lose the over 2,200 I have already paid! So no Arthur please!
kirkinga
March 24th, 2011
5:03 pm
I hope we get an owner with a passion to win, sense enough to let good baseball people run things, and has deep pockets to make the necessary investments.
I also hope the next owner jettisons McGuirk who is either clueless or has trouble telling the truth about payroll. Officials should never mislead fans even if that means fessing-up to lowering payroll.
Skeezix
March 24th, 2011
5:05 pm
I hope this rumor is true. I hate large corporate ownership of a MLB team. Liberty Media is a pimp and McGuirk their local puppet.
Sonny Clusters
March 24th, 2011
5:06 pm
We understand Wintes Investment Group is in talks with Liberty Media at this time. Not sure what that means yet but we will let you know. If Warren Buffett buys the team we hope he will build a Dairy Queen at the Ted. Could happen.
Hammond B3
March 24th, 2011
5:07 pm
time to ask for an increase on my visa and mastercard
Skeezix
March 24th, 2011
5:11 pm
It is not unusual for headquarters staffers of a large corporation to negotiate the sale of a piece of their business while keeping the management team that is actually running that business totally in the dark.
Paddy
March 24th, 2011
5:12 pm
So the Braves are not the asset that Liberty thinks is important. Keep talking like that and your fan base will start looking elsewhere to spend their entertainment dollar. Doubt you would ever hear Ted Turner say that about his old team.
Jeff, don’t mention the ASG any more. It just makes this town look so foolish.
Terry McGuirk
March 24th, 2011
5:13 pm
I am totally clueless.
What if?
March 24th, 2011
5:17 pm
what if the braves could be owned by the public (like the Green Bay Packers)???
Sonny Clusters
March 24th, 2011
5:17 pm
We was wondering will the Buck Commanders make a run at buying the Braves? Can you simagine what the Tool Race will turn into? We’ll see some deer running against some elk and some other stuff Buck Commanders shoot at and there will be some new concessions. Venison dogs and fries. Free admission if you bring in some deer toes.
Necromancer
March 24th, 2011
5:19 pm
Hallejuah, please, Lord in Heaven, let it be true!!!!!!
BravesFan27
March 24th, 2011
5:30 pm
Come Back TED!!!! Please rebuy the braves
Nateforpresident
March 24th, 2011
5:31 pm
This would mean the world to braves fans if its eitherMr Cuban or Mr Blank
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
5:45 pm
To all — Hate to smother your Arthur Blank dreams, but like I’ve said before I’m pretty sure that’s not happening. AMB’s priorities are getting a stadium for the Falcons and winning a Super Bowl. And with all of his time and money tied up in those two ventures, there’s no way he could (or would) purchase a baseball team.
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
5:47 pm
P.Bull Terrier — Charlie Sheen is buying a team? Great! I can’t wait for the press conference.
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
5:50 pm
JSS — Yes, the media often gets info out of those shareholders’ meetings, thanks.
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
5:57 pm
JSS — Actually, I think you’ve got the NFL cross-ownership rule wrong. Arthur Blank can own the Braves. But he CAN’T own the Yankees because it competes with NFL teams in another city. In other words, the NFL knows he’s not going to try to undercut his own NFL product (Falcons) but they can’t be certain he won’t try to undercut another city’s NFL team (Giants, Jets). Make sense? At least that’s how I understand cross-ownership rule. …. FYI: Stan Kroenke was allowed to be a minority-owner of the St. Louis Rams when he had majority ownership of NBA Nuggets and NHL Avalanche. But he was denied permission to a majority owner of the Rams (because Nuggets-Avalanche in competition with Broncos).
Bud
March 24th, 2011
6:01 pm
Oh, Mr Blank, where are you? The people of Atlanta want you to come to the rescue.
Thomas
March 24th, 2011
6:04 pm
“Liberty Media doesn’t consider the baseball team a strategic asset.” This is why they BLOW!
bfred
March 24th, 2011
6:20 pm
I’m pretty sure the way the tax benefits worked is that the Braves had accumulated losses that Liberty could acquire and use to offset its own tax liability up to the amount of those losses, over a certain period of time. So no one was really getting a “tax break” – if a company loses money, it can avoid paying taxes going forward until the cumulative earnings surpass the losses (very simply put).
But yeah, the expanding operating income over the last few years is a mirror image of the decline in payroll. An owner who would run the club break-even could take it right back to $100MM, which seems to be what this market can support.
And just because Ted’s worth $1.4MM doesn’t mean it’s buried out back somewhere. I’m betting most of that is real estate value. Try selling half of Montana in one transaction.
Hillbilly Deluxe
March 24th, 2011
6:35 pm
Sounds to me like they’re for sale.
ryan
March 24th, 2011
6:38 pm
McGuirk is full of crap its not up him Liberty has decided there going to sell the the team 2012 i think he worried his about his job Liberty does not want to own the Braves long term .
ryan
March 24th, 2011
6:44 pm
McGuirk does not get to decide whether the Braves are up for sale Liberty group does .
Mr. Baseball
March 24th, 2011
6:58 pm
CL @ 1:59pm is right. This “strategic asset” will be sold as soon as it is advantageous for Malone to do so. He has no loyalties to these fans, the city or the team. The fact that McGuirk does not know can be explained simply as “plausible deniability” – he’s not lying if he doesn’t know.
LTBF
March 24th, 2011
7:44 pm
I thought I was a sports fan but I guess not, what the heck is the Atlanta Spirit
D Man
March 24th, 2011
7:45 pm
Mr. Blank, please consider buying the Braves…
wins-by-a-link
March 24th, 2011
7:53 pm
This would be the best thing that could happen to the Braves and thier fans, Players and coaches, To get a set of owners that would put the amount of money necessary to secure a world series championship for the city of Atlanta and the southeast into the Braves organization would be great, I hope that this is more than rumor, The sale of the Braves to Liberty Media should never have been approved by Major league Baseball It was never in the best interest of Baseball or the Atlanta Braves and its Fans.
OldTimer
March 24th, 2011
7:55 pm
Liberty is a fine organization. They have no disrespect toward the Braves.
OldTimer
March 24th, 2011
7:56 pm
We should embrace Liberty as we do Freedom.
John Taylor
March 24th, 2011
8:00 pm
McGuirk has said repeatedly that HE sets the budget.
I.e., McGuirk is responsible for tying the hands of management in acquisition of good players.
What goes, Terry ole lad?
JSS
March 24th, 2011
8:08 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
I stand corrected …
Jeff, you’re talking about the “Huizenga Rule” from 1997? If I remember it right, he owned the Dolphins and the Marlins (bought them in 1993), but he placed the Marlins in a trust Then he bought the Panthers. They voted in ‘97 to remove the 1967 prohibition. But only Huizenga and Paul Allen took advantage of it. None of the teams except the Marlins ever won a title; and then he gutted them…
Allen owns the the Sounders FC but he also had owned the Blazers before acquiring the Seahwks. There was a clause (the Hunt Clause) that allowed ownership in the NASL and its follow-up the MLS.
The difference in the Nuggets deal was that he sold his majority interest outright to his son’s new ownership group. And yes, you can be a minority owner across a regional conflict. But they majority ownership deal is you must divest majority ownership in another league if you’re buying into the NFL. The old Denver Nuggets and Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke had to sell out to his son’s Josh investor group before the Rams deal was finalized… That was the sticking point…
But Stan Kroenke is worth $2.9 billion. Paul Allen is worth $12.7 billion, and Arthur Blank is supposedly $1.2 billion… That is a huge difference… So Stan Kroenke and Allen also own Pepsi Center and The Rose Garden too? So where does Blank get $500 million while he is begging poverty not to spend a nearly equal amount on a stadium without public assistance? Just asking…
Charlie Sheen
March 24th, 2011
8:17 pm
I think I should be the new owner of the Atlanta Braves!!!! What do you think Atlanta?? I mean I am all about WINNING, AM I NOT!!!??
NikkiFree
March 24th, 2011
8:24 pm
Oh, please!!!! The entire city of Atlanta knew the sale was coming as soon as this season was over. I just hope the new owner is someone as awesome as Arthur Blank has been when it comes to supporting his team.
Jeremy
March 24th, 2011
8:25 pm
Many people here seem to forget payroll has nothing to do with winning. I am a long time Braves fan. Should we Ask Tampa or Reds if they need a higher payroll. As fans we have to remember its a business the goal of many teams is not to win a world series but to make a profit for the team owners. I hate to say that also as I love baseball but it gotten to expense for everyone form fans to the owners.
FEAR
March 24th, 2011
8:55 pm
please sell it to arthur blank!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
9:15 pm
LTBF — They own the Hawks and Thrashers.
Jeff Schultz
March 24th, 2011
9:18 pm
JSS — Hah, money aside, I’m confident in saying Blank has no interest in Braves right now.
Bring back Noc a Homa
March 24th, 2011
10:05 pm
And even with Liberty owning the Bravos, they are eons ahead of the Hawks and Thrashers. I’d love to see the Braves have new ownership, but not if incompetent, spoiled boobs such as ASG were it.
nelson
March 24th, 2011
11:05 pm
terry it is the first thing you have to give a kick ass, first as a complete incompetent, as we are going to say it so clearly he is taking care of his position and salary that pays well, so he does not cares for the brave. hopefully we can have an owner ready to spend to see the brave champions, the team we have today is not bad, but lacks the small outpost to say now if we can be world champions.
JSS
March 24th, 2011
11:24 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
You don’t have to convince me… Tell your readers, they act like Blank is Carlos Slim deep pockets!
Quicherbichin
March 25th, 2011
12:02 am
Kenali.. Sometimes you have to give talent to get talent. The Braves did not undervalue or underdevelop Adam Wainwright. He was just one of the pieces needed to get J.D. Drew. You have brought to fruition the old saying ” Opinions are like. …….. , everyone has one. ” And it foes without saying that you are what everyone has one of…
TheAntiMe
March 25th, 2011
12:22 am
While Liberty Media is no Ted Turner, I very much prefer the faceless ownership of Liberty over the multi-headed monster that conducts it’s business under the name of the Atlanta Spirit Group.
u-bet
March 25th, 2011
12:47 am
Atlanta Spirits Group is one pit lower than Hell!
Mike McDonald
March 25th, 2011
12:56 am
John Malone is a businessman who takes no prisoners. He is an engineer from MIT and an MBA from Harvard Business School … if not in degree, in action and deed. He helped Ted Turner be all that he could be. Cable TV, as we know it, wouldn’t exist without Turner’s insightful boldness and Malone’s savvy and deep pockets.
Malone will sell the Braves as soon as his federal tax circumstances permit and his investment is optimized and when the price is right.
The time is about neigh and Liberty Media won’t be caught napping at first base or holding out for the last dollar.
Bernie Marcus is my bet for the new ownership of the Braves. I think that his pitch will blank Arthur’s.
WinterStar
March 25th, 2011
2:00 am
Tom Glavine would be an ideal owner.
Bobby's Cox
March 25th, 2011
3:56 am
Sell to Mark Cuban. That would be awesome.
Bobby's Cox
March 25th, 2011
3:58 am
Shultz,
Good article dude. Loved the one liners…
“I considered asking her where Kenshin Kawakami would be playing next week, but I passed.”
and
“See, that’s the problem: Most people don’t want their sports teams known as a “strategic asset” — or worse, a non-strategic asset.”
please
March 25th, 2011
4:01 am
please sell the braves liberty. i’m a huge braves fan. please sell.
Larry
March 25th, 2011
4:30 am
Sure, it is sentimental and nostalgic to have a “white knight,” sole proprietor owner sweep in, buy the Braves, and we have our Braves’ Arthur Blank. May happen, may not.
However, as some have alluded to, the Liberty ownership has had its advantages.
They are a profit driven machine. As an individual who has held the reins of a several large corporations, I can tell you this forces you to be excellent, resourceful, prudent and with great and careful wisdom make all key decisions. For example, Braves at 84 million are run infinitely better than the Mets at 133 million or the Cubs at 147 million in payroll, respectively. Sometimes boundaries and structure are a good thing by forcing greater discipline and strategic and calculated–versus impulsive–personnel decisions. The Braves have been pretty good in the regard with the exception of the KK acquisition and perhaps the Lowe contract. They cannot afford to do this too often and what is wrong with that?
True, we can’t do as the Yankees or Red Sox do. But this is not the Braves or Liberty’s fault, this is the fault of Major League Baseball who should implement the same salary cap and team revenue sharing system as found in the more much successful, well run machine called the NFL. In the NFL, team’s from western PA (Steelers) or Wisconsin (Packers) can compete for a championship; in MLB, they are almost rendered as hopeless by their fans…sad!
Just another perpective…
keef
March 25th, 2011
5:54 am
ahhh…remember the days when there were only 2 owners going after the cream of F.A’s? Ted Turner versus George Steinbrenner??? ahhh… one can only dream with a $150 million payroll (STILL $60 million LESS than Yankees…)
With our eye for talent ALONG with a payroll, new manager and Heyward, Hanson, Freeman..etc…well I can dream…of an actual billionaire personal owner…
Pinball34
March 25th, 2011
6:16 am
Attention all fans clamoring for Arthur Blank: He will not increase the payroll. The Falcons payroll this past season was 26th out of 32, while the Braves were 15th out of 30. Insiders know he’s cheap…
Jeff R
March 25th, 2011
6:58 am
How many fans are actually reading Schultz’s comments? Arthur Blank is very likely not going to bid for the Braves. Of course, anything is possible, but…
While I’m not keen on corporate ownership, I’ll say this for Liberty Media: it’s pretty much stayed away from the baseball operation. And…
Where’s it written that the next Braves’ owner will be better than Liberty Media? The next owner – individual or corporate – could well turn out to be terrible. I cited Peter Angelos (Orioles) earlier. Angelos and his family have ruined the Orioles.
So, let’s cross our fingers and hope that the Braves go to someone like Blank or a corporation that has enough sense to let the baseball pros run to the team.
papadawg
March 25th, 2011
7:22 am
All I can say is DAMMIT
GT
March 25th, 2011
7:30 am
I think McGuirk is the one common thread through all the winning years of the Braves. He may be the greatest sport’s executive in the history of Atlanta and I doubt moat people even know his name. In fact I will go as far as to say he may be what made Turner look so great. He was there from the very beginning. Malone bailed Turner out decades ago when he looked like he was a goner. He served on the board of directors of Turner, when McGuirk was chairman. He has been in McGuirk’s home many times as friends as well as business. Stop acting as if these people are from Mars, there is a rich history. Turner and the Braves would not have existed without Malone, check the facts.
bring back blauser
March 25th, 2011
7:59 am
Mark Cuban——–off load the Mavericks pick up the Hawks along with the Braves. I will buy season tickets to the Falcons for you so you can follow all the major sports here in Atlanta
In Fredi I Trust
March 25th, 2011
8:06 am
I will translate this story.
” The Atlanta Braves will be for sale immediately concluding this years World Series event. Please focus your attention on the season as we finally have a fully healthy and potentially potent offense that could contend for the MLB’s richest title, that of being World Champions. We (Liberty Media) have never known how to run a pro sports team, nor do we ever intend on doing that. The mere reality of this entire situation is that we saw an advantage of getting a great Tax Advantage and know nothing about running a MLB Baseball Team. We (Liberty Media) believe that concluding this baseball season, we should sell the Atlanta Braves and give you fans what you deserve, an owner that is willing to spend some money to get better players into an Atlanta Braves uniform. Furthermore, we have already began talking with some potential future owners of this ball club that I am sure will do a much better job in getting this team back to a World Series and winning it. Now we can’t at this time say any name *Cough* Ted Turner, *Sneeze* Arthur Blank* *Fart* Mark Cuban, excuse me. So please Atlanta Braves fans all over the Country, lets embark on this journey together and show everyone (Turner, Blank, Cuban) all around the World that that the Atlanta Braves are America’s Team. Thank you.
Signed,
Some dude living in Colorado that has no business other than getting extremely rich to own a baseball team.
Total Grace
March 25th, 2011
8:34 am
Tyler Perry would be the perfect owner, he’s local and he would put money into the team.
The Man
March 25th, 2011
9:05 am
They should sell the Braves .. they don’t care about having a championship here!! Corporate BS!!
fauxfrankwren
March 25th, 2011
9:11 am
“Tyler Perry would be the perfect owner, he’s local and he would put money into the team.”
And Fredi Gonzales in a wig and dress…pass.
Bob Decker
March 25th, 2011
9:35 am
I say get rid of the braves and use the stadium as a prison yard, and the first prisoner to go in it is Robert Hood the cop killer on the loose in Clarke County. I guarantee we could have the stadium filled up 24/7 withing 6 months.
Jeff Schultz
March 25th, 2011
9:44 am
JSS – Yeah but that’s what happens when there’s only one guy fans like and they otherwise don’t feel overwhelmed by the local ownership (as a general rule).
Jeff Schultz
March 25th, 2011
9:45 am
WinterStar — I could almost see Glavine as part of an ownership group. He’s a bright guy. (Warning: I’m not starting a rumor. I have no inside information. Just thinking out loud.)
Jeff Schultz
March 25th, 2011
9:46 am
Bobby’s Cox — Thanks.
QWDH
March 25th, 2011
10:05 am
Yeah, Terry, because Forbes is well know for being amateurish. Pfft.
Jeff R
March 25th, 2011
11:05 am
There was talk years back that McGuirk cold be part of a group to bid for the Braves. Of course, putting together a group is easier said than done – or it might be easily done on paper, but bank accounts and other assets have to be strong to make the group’s bid viable.
But a McGuirk-led group with strong assets vying for the Braves would be good. Likely work for Liberty Media and MLB.
Michael Jordan
March 25th, 2011
12:38 pm
Atlanta fans: I love baseball and I got the coins to buy the Braves. Might as well do something else cause this Charlotte basketball team sucks (at my age I could whip the entire starting five by myself).
Escaped from Email Purgatory
March 25th, 2011
1:21 pm
taudog,
It’s just the nature of the corporate beast, dude so lower your capitalist hackles.
The proletariat isn’t braying against your beloved CEO’s or the profit motive. So take your ‘tsk, tsk” attitude and amortize it, pal. Put your Blackberry back in your pocket and get back to your golf game or your nooner with the secretary.
If you’ve paid any attention to the product from the perspective of your box seat in the privileged character section all these years, you’ll note that the payroll has declined since Liberty acquired the team.
Nobody begrudges Liberty Media profit-taking and expense reduction. That’s what corporations have to do to keep you stockholders happy.
But that’s why they tend to make such crappy owners of our favorite sports teams. We’re just another wholly-owned subsidiary on their annual report. If increasing the payroll can’t translate into higher revenue, then why would they do it? It’s not a good business decision.
Local ownership brings the passion of the fan base – at least good local ownership does. They’ll go the extra mile and spend a few more bucks because they want the team to win it all too. We fans appreciate that.
Heck, Arthur Blank’s probably as rich as the douche who runs Liberty Media, but he lives here and he wants his team to win.
So it’s not about class envy then, is it Sparky? Unless it’s your class envy.
big o
March 25th, 2011
1:29 pm
Nice !!! ok as others have mentioned its time for Mr. Blank to step up or for Ted to come home. Maybe Hank Aaron could put an ownership group together. Nolan did in TX and Bobby V is trying in NY. We need Atlanta Money and Atlanta People. Hell Cox is printing money with ajc.com and autotrader Thats old Atl coin They should consider buying
Billy Bean
March 25th, 2011
1:47 pm
GO BRAVOS, 162-0
Rick W.
March 25th, 2011
4:48 pm
How about George W. Bush……..he did well with the Rangers and loves the game!
Park Lane – Sports Finance Bulletin » Braves’ McGuirk disputes report of team’s potential sale
March 25th, 2011
9:55 pm
[...] want their sports teams known as a “strategic asset” — or worse, a non-strategic asset. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]
Trey
March 27th, 2011
2:45 am
Thanks for the article, Jeff. At least we kind of know what is going on with the Braves.
Sonny Clusters, nice to see you posting still!
scottbravesfan
March 28th, 2011
6:55 pm
Why would Liberty sell? They make a ton of money off of the Braves. I would love if an owner would come buy the Braves and spend like the Yankees but it’s probably not going to happen. And you really don’t have to spend like the Yankees to win. The Braves franchise is set up to have a very nice run this decade.
scottbravesfan
March 28th, 2011
6:59 pm
Larry,
You do realize that the Brewers are major contenders this year for the World Series? You do realize that neither the Giants nor the Rangers had big payrolls last year and both went to the world series. The Yankees have an old, overpaid team, that is passed it’s prime. They aren’t winning anything anytime soon. Their farm system is trash as well.
Bill
March 29th, 2011
12:46 pm
McQuirk cut you down Jeff on Braves TV the other day..whats your reply?
This report was 3/24 why again today? any up date?
Keep up the info , thanks
Justafan
March 29th, 2011
12:47 pm
Have no respect for McQuirk …period.