Thrashers, Atlanta were never given a chance
Thrashers fans tried hard to keep hope, season after season. But the deck was stacked against them. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
(Updated: 12:30 p.m.)
This is how it ends: With the weasel of a commissioner not stepping foot in the city, with another season passing without a playoff game, with a lying ownership group maintaining it did all it could to save a franchise that in reality it spent most of seven years wrecking.
Atlanta has lost an NHL expansion team to a Canadian outpost for the second time. The Thrashers are going to Winnipeg just like the Flames went to Calgary in 1980. A press conference was held in Winnipeg, while the Thrashers sent out this warm-and-fuzzy news release: “The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have entered into an asset purchase agreement with True North Sports and Entertainment …”
This isn’t about the fans or the market or certainly Gary Bettman’s fictional “covenant” with fans, which I believe he left in the same sock drawer with his conscience. It’s about greed and abandonment, plain and simple. It’s about a disingenuous ownership group, which had long lost any semblance of credibility, serving up fans swill and gruel and then wondering why the turnstiles sleep at night.
They’ll tell you they care. They don’t. They’re walking away with a fat check. While you mourn the loss of a franchise, they’re waving goodbye with one middle finger.
The NHL is leaving a city that never really was given a chance. It’s going back to a city that it left 15 years ago and that has grown by about 60,000 people and a couple of doughnut shops since. They will be discussing this decision one day at business schools, right after the sections on Charles Ponzi and Enron.
Atlanta didn’t fail. The franchise failed. But the NHL doesn’t care about that. This is a league that survives on franchise fees and relocation fees. It collected $80 million from Ted Turner for an expansion fee in 1997. (He joked in the Board of Governors meeting that followed that he could’ve saved $70 million by purchasing the Flames from Tom Cousins for $10 million. Nobody laughed.) The league reportedly will collect another $60 million for permission to move the Thrashers to Manitoba.
In five years, when another failing franchise wants to move into Philips Arena, Bettman will be happy to collect another fat relocation fee, and he’ll deliver the same canned, phony speech about how he always believed in this market. The guy has told so many lies, it’s a wonder he’s not an Atlanta Spirit partner. (One postscript: Bettman referred to them as the “Atlantic” Spirit on Tuesday.)
Now living in Calgary.
There are hockey teams in Tampa and San Jose and Raleigh, and I could go on. There’s still one inexplicably in Phoenix, which the NHL is floating for another year, maybe because Bettman plans to retire and open up a pawn shop there one day. Is Atlanta an inferior market to any of those cities? Or does product have something to do with it?
There was no reason to do this now. When the Phoenix-to-Winnipeg deal fell apart, the NHL (which owns the Coyotes) was out $170 million. Bettman panicked. So he crossed out Phoenix and wrote in Atlanta. But why couldn’t he have waited a year to see if another owner for the team
Now living in Winnipeg.
emerged? Winnipeg wasn’t going anywhere. Was Bettman that desperate for the $60 million?
“I have absolutely no doubt that this market can support an NHL team,” said Bob Hartley, a native Canadian, a Stanley Cup winner in Colorado and the only coach to get the Thrashers to the playoffs. “It’s a huge disappointment to see the Atlanta franchise leave before so many other cities in the league. I loved it there. My last two years in Atlanta were as exciting as what I went through in Colorado. We had only two [home] playoffs games but it was a Stanley Cup atmosphere. But Hoss [Marian Hossa] left, Kovy [llya Kovalchuk] left, I was gone. It felt like the organization was drained of its energy.”
First player: Damian Rhodes. First draft pick: Patrik Stefan. First coach: Curt Fraser. First general manager: Don Waddell. That was only the beginning. Eleven seasons: one playoff berth, no wins.
Turner was followed by AOL/Time Warner, a bad marriage that was followed by an even worse one: Atlanta Spirit, LLC. Hossa saw no future here. Kovalchuk, given so many misdirections by part-owner Bruce Levenson in negotiations, wasn’t even sure the team would stay. Both wanted out.
There never was a commitment. There never was hope. There never was a plan — at least not one that worked.
A city just lost a franchise. While you mourn, they laugh. It’s nothing less than shameful.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
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1,115 comments Add your comment
CrazyDiamond
June 1st, 2011
1:20 am
On the bright side: NO MORE DUMBA$$ PEOPLE YELLING “KNIGHTS” DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!
Billy Bob
June 1st, 2011
1:20 am
Woah these Canadians on this blog are ruthless, I would be pissed if I actually gave a rats @ss about the Thrashers.
HockeysBack
June 1st, 2011
1:37 am
Winnipeg = Poverty… Really?
Lets compare economies of Atlanta vs Winnipeg.
How’s Atlanta’s unemployment rate?? How about property values??
What’s that? Increasing and Decreasing respectively? Sounds about right.
If you makes you fair weather fans feel better to bash another city, at least get your facts straight.
The end result, is no there is no legal action you can take to stop the sale. No qualified buyers in Atlanta came forward. You actually think that ASG for all of their bumbling would not have rather pocketed the re-lo fee instead of giving 60 million away to the NHL, you are complete morons.
The ownership group in Winnipeg is worth 26 billion dollars (Canadian, which is worth more than the US Peso BTW)… 26 billion… They can afford to buy EVERY SINGLE TEAM in the league. So it’ll be a busy free agent season, and an exciting draft to add to the young talent that your years of suffering through losing seasons made possible.. Thanks for that.
Sure be bitter at your ownership group for screwing you out of a team, just like Winnipeg was screwed out of their team 15 years ago. If it makes you feel like heros to shit talk Winnipeg, go right ahead.. I know it won’t bother us a bit, while we are watching NHL hockey while you are crying in your beers. Have fun with that empty arena.
TheAntiMe
June 1st, 2011
1:39 am
I hear that there will be quite a few Moosehead promotion nights in the new arena as everyone knows that Moosehead is a favorite of most male Winnipeg hockey fans. A quick question, Peggers: Moosehead – is that what you drink or what you give?
Jonathan
June 1st, 2011
1:45 am
I don’t get Schultz’s problem with Bettman. From a business perspective and the league’s perspective, it’s very, very bad to lose a team in Atlanta. The NHL, since the emergence of Gretzky, has been focused on Americanizing the sport of hockey and spreading it as far south as possible. Losing a stronghold like Atlanta is anathema to that goal. Bettman and the NHL know this. I believe that they likely did everything they could to keep the team in Atlanta without jeopardizing the team’s future in Winnipeg which also has a few question marks surrounding it. I would have acted the same way: Work behind the scenes, and if there’s nothing you can do about it, let it move to Winnipeg and hope you can establish a rich franchise there. Regardless, Bettman knows that another team in Canada doesn’t help the NHL. In fact, even if it is a profitable team, it could hurt the league by further reinforcing the idea that hockey is a purely Canadian sport. The NHL knows this move to Winnipeg is in the opposite direction of where the league wants to go. But getting loud about it wouldn’t have changed anything. I can’t be sure, but I assume Bettman acted as he should have.
Carl
June 1st, 2011
1:45 am
The only outpost here is Atlanta. Canada is hockey mad and while it is sad to see any team leave don’t take a run at Winnipeg or their fans. It is a great town and a place where you can actually play hockey in its natural outdoor environment. No wonder there is such a connection to the fans.
TheAntiMe
June 1st, 2011
1:53 am
The only outpost here is Atlanta. Canada is hockey mad and while it is sad to see any team leave don’t take a run at Winnipeg or their fans.
And maybe, Carl, if you and your fellow Winnipeg fans didn’t come down here on our ajc.com blog to make a point of dancing on Atlanta’s NHL grave then we wouldn’t have any problem with Winnipeg at all. You folks from Winnipeg have shown all of the class of a diarrhea popsicle.
Wetcoast
June 1st, 2011
2:07 am
As a Canadian I can tell you that no one trust Bettman on this side of the border. Although we are happy for Winnipeg, a city frothing with delight from big time hockey fans, Bettman is still the little weasel that did. For the past 18 years he has remained adamant that the NHL should be in all big American markets in order to secure a Network television deal. The deal hasn’t happened. Now NBC is courting the NHL, not because it is or isn’ t in all major markets, in fact is in some difficulty in Phoenix (was Atlanta) and a couple other place, but because of a demographic study indicating that Hockey fans are educated, make good money and are fairly sophisticated. Bettman was either incompetent or lied. If he lied, then yeah, it’s about relocation and franchise fees. If he is incompetent, then what sort of ownership group do we have? He speak on behalf of them. He lied. Too bad for Atlanta, but is it really a hockey town? Winnipeg may not have the potential upside of Atlanta, but does deserve to have a team. Bettman on the other hand is a weasel.
MBHockeyFan
June 1st, 2011
2:28 am
To the real hockey fans in Atlanta – My sympathies. We know too well here how much it hurts to lose a franchise. We were fans without a team for 15 years.
The only consolation to offer is that your team will be cherished by Winnipeg. There were THOUSANDS of people in the streets today celebrating the return of the NHL to the city. It is not an exageration to say that there were real tears of joy shed here.
Perhaps the Thrashers have died and gone to franchise heaven. The existence of a team in Winnipeg is only possible with passionate fans and dedicated ownership and in many ways shines against the cynicism that surrounds professional sports. So keep loving hockey and for your Thrashers/Jets.
E J Zeman Jr
June 1st, 2011
2:43 am
Yikes! Didn’t give the Thrashers a chance? I saw games on Center Ice where the place was practically empty! You could hear the players and coaches shouting? Who in the heck is kidding who here?! If people don’t come to the games, for WHATEVER reason, it is plain as the nose on your face that the team HAS NO SUPPORT! Who would want to own a team that doesn’t get support? Being a former hockey player, playing in front of a bunch of empty seats just plain SUCKS!
AgentJ
June 1st, 2011
3:35 am
Seattle feels for Atlanta right now. While the thrashers don’t have the same history the Sonics did, and while they weren’t bought by a businessman from OKC who tried to pretend he wasn’t moving the team ASAP while tearing the team apart for that very goal, there are still a number of similarities in our situations. We are hoping to get an NHL team ourselves, but I’m glad it didn’t have to come off the backs of Atlanta fans (you guys need a MLS team). Maybe Phoenix will be willing to lend us a team.
dale in newnan
June 1st, 2011
3:54 am
I AM BOYCOTTING THE HAWKS TILL THE ASG IS OUT OF HERE. I do not care if the hawks move, they will not get a dime from me. If I ever meet bettman I will punch the lying weasel in the nose. I will not purchase or solicit any of the hawks corporate partners till ASG is toast. How ya like that Levison?
Bobby Walden
June 1st, 2011
4:04 am
what ajc pimps won’t say:
In Atlanta, there was little reaction other than a tearful news conference held by co-owner Michael Gearon. He said the group that controls the Thrashers, the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and operating rights to Philips Arena did all it could to find someone who would help keep the financially ailing team in the city.
No one made a serious offer.
On the city’s sports-talk stations, there was more discussion about college football and the scandal that cost Ohio State coach Jim Tressel his job than losing an NHL team that, at best, attracted a niche audience.
The Thrashers made only one playoff appearance in 11 seasons and never won a postseason game. The ownership was plagued by financial problems and attendance became a major issue in recent years. The Thrashers averaged less than 14,000 a game this season, ranking 28th out of 30 teams.
Seriously
June 1st, 2011
4:07 am
At the risk of sounding racist, I’m going to plain out say it. Atlanta has a large African American population. The NHL is 99.9% white, from players to management to ownership. There is nothing there for African Americans to relate to. This is why the team didn’t thrive, this is why the seats were empty, and this is why they are headed out of town. If it’s not one of the three major sports like baseball, basketball, football then it will not thrive in a city like Atlanta. Once again, not trying to sound racist, just stating facts. Atlanta is a great city, just not an NHL city.
CoastDog
June 1st, 2011
5:17 am
Go Thrashees…………and keep going! Now for the Hocks.
Z in Big D
June 1st, 2011
5:54 am
I think it’s interesting to note how everyone is taking their anger out on the ownership by not supporting the Hawks.
I live in Dallas, and I have always wondered why Atlanta sports were not more successful. The ATL market seems to be large enough…
I guess I found my answer…
dan brisebois
June 1st, 2011
5:59 am
as an albertan, i’m glad to see winnipeg get a hockey team again. but your comments are on the mark jeff – even up here we were surprised to see the thrashers get thrown in the hat when the coyotes deal fell through. but you had ugly jerseys anyway. you’ll get a team again, it just might take more than five years.
Winnipeg Rules!
June 1st, 2011
6:15 am
Winnipeg—real hockey! Great hockey fans!!! With real owners who know the game, the Winnipeg Thrashers will be in the NHL playoffs in two years—mark it down!
Mark in mid-town
June 1st, 2011
7:00 am
The owners of the Thrashers were despicable people who consistently lied to the fan base in Atlanta. They deserve all the condemnation they’ve been getting. But they’re not the reason Atlanta no longer has an NHL team. The reason Atlanta no longer has an NHL team is that none of Atlanta’s wealthiest stepped up to the plate and buy the team. I believe the wealthiest Atlanta residents are the owners of this newspaper and that they have a net-worth of many billions of dollars. It would have taken chump-change for them to buy the Thrashers relative to their wealth. They decided not to do so. I’m not saying they made the wrong decision, but at the end of the day, the reason Atlanta no longer has an NHL team is that nobody stepped up to the plate to buy them. There were those who easily could have, and they decided to take a pass.
nice try but lame
June 1st, 2011
7:20 am
You people who post 10-20 times repeating the same point are pathetic. Everyone knows there isn’t an abundance of people in Atlanta who HATE hockey.
Nice try though – trying to get everyone to hate the same things you hate. When this story is dead, you can move on to trying to get everyone to hate soccer.
Charles
June 1st, 2011
7:20 am
WOW! Breaking news! Atlanta had a hockey team all this time? All I ever heard was news of stupid, squabbling owners suing each other. I gotta pay better attention. Hey! We got basketball, too?
Ron
June 1st, 2011
7:28 am
I loved the Flames. I never warmed up to the Thrashers. They never really wanted to win. I think we need to give up on hockey, as if it were our decision.
Jeff
June 1st, 2011
7:32 am
Great write-up, hope it gets gets picked up nationally, but the bottom line is that there are not enough people in Atlanta who are passionate about hockey.
gt
June 1st, 2011
7:35 am
Jeff you speak of the NHL like it were the NFL or the NBA. This league may not survive five years. The only reason Turner bought them was to have someone paying rent so he could build a new area. Then Time/Warner got stuck with them when they bought Turner. Then they were the ugly tag along sister in the Atlanta Spirit deal, plus still needed them to pay the rent of Phillips. Hockey certainly cannot support a television station the way the Braves did channel 17 or the cable. Look where the Braves support is and tell me that is anywhere close to hockey country. People in Alabama or Mississippi would probably pay you to keep it off their television. The Braves called themselves America’s team, what would hockey call itself as they come into this country and play the Canadian national anthem before every game, then stroll a half dozen Russians and eastern block players on, what do they call it? ICE. Even for the major networks it has been a piece of funiture no one wants, nationwide.
Harvard writes that story, which they won’t, they will have to mention a business hall of fame, Tom Cousins, let one get away too. Back in his day the press didn’t call someone losing millions of dollars a liar, they said he tried in an American way of business and failed. He built the Omni and wanted something to fill it up just like Turner. Neither one of these men were in love with hockey no more than the south is.. I listen yesterday as John Kinard blistered a poor guy in an interview yesterday. It was like he was personally offended by the hockey leaving town and he was getting some revenge. Looked like he was showing off for the crowd, the ones that live up 400 where all the banks go under in national record breaking numbers, more than being intelligent and professional. Kinard like many sports people in this town ,now days, is from up north, in his case Philadelphia. None of these jerks stepped up to buy this franchise they could of got it dirt cheap. Seems ,like in Green Bay, if you love the sport so much you would have put together an offering from all the transplants up 400 and made a public offering. Then maybe move it up there a little closer to the snow where it came from. Nope they want some southern chump to pay for their entertainment and go broke. It would be like buying a Blockbusters franchise on steroids. When the league goes under in a few years, lets see if that can be blamed on the Atlanta Spirit too.
Mr Moneybags
June 1st, 2011
7:38 am
Get ready to PAY UP or SHUT UP Winnipeggers! A 3-yr season ticket commitment for a team that’s been cursed since its inception? Let us know how that works out for ya OK?
Tickets won’t be cheap….But you’ll pay more in tears of frustration watching this team consistently disappoint. Yeah, you’ll soon have NHL hockey again, but only by affiliation. Only 3 players on this team hit the ice hard and ready every night. The rest won’t get better by playing in front of Winnipeg fans instead of Blueland fans.
You’ll soon long for the return of your Moose and real hockey…..The reason nobody wanted this franchise is because it’s a complete JOKE. Now it’s just going to be a FROZEN JOKE.
Pete
June 1st, 2011
7:42 am
Hockey in Atlanta is like grits in Toronto.
It’s only a curiosity…………..it doesn’t work.
Move on.
gabugman
June 1st, 2011
7:54 am
*sigh*
Someone, anyone, please take D-Wad out of ATL.
G52PlM228
June 1st, 2011
8:03 am
TheAntiMe = tard
G52PlM228
June 1st, 2011
8:06 am
congrats to Winnipeg… proved me to be a moron
well done, not easy to do
blmeanie
June 1st, 2011
8:08 am
on 790 this morning -
-it’s like going to a bad restaurant, bad food, bad service yet you keep going back and spending your money hoping one day it will be good.
The fans, yes there are plenty to support a team, never had a chance. From the moment ASG bought the team they buried it. Good luck to them as all their expenses now have to find their way to the Hawks/Philips P&L. Won’t look so rosy when you can’t filter them over to the Thrash P&L. Five years or less they will be looking for “investors” or selling the Hawks and Philips. They have a couple of albatross contracts with the Hawks and will ultimately fail and have to sell.
KL Nothers
June 1st, 2011
8:08 am
The NHL has been a joke every since Bettman was hired. But let’s not blame everything on him – the real responsibility lie’s with the owners who pay him.
Mikefalcon63
June 1st, 2011
8:11 am
Hey Gearon…. What did you EVER do to try and build a fan base for the Thrashers? Not a thing. You are like the Rankin Smith in Atlanta Pro Sports…. Just invest enough to have a team by name, without trying to build them into something special. You are pathetic!
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
June 1st, 2011
8:13 am
I CAN MOST LIKELY GET TO WINNIPEG TO SEE A GAME EASIER THAN I CAN GET TO DOWNTOWN ATLANTA!!
Winnepeg Homer
June 1st, 2011
8:14 am
Any coincidence Waddell is not moving with the team? No, b/c we know Waddell is horrible as a GM. Why Atlanta kept him for so long is a mystery. We have a guy who is ready to take the team to the playoffs consistently.
gt
June 1st, 2011
8:16 am
Homegrown Winnipeg you are so right.
blmeanie
June 1st, 2011
8:17 am
for Homegrown Winnepeg : I’m confused, after your honeymoon wears off (couple of years maybe), will your attendance drop to the bottom of the league like it did for the last 7 (all I researched, might have been longer) years of the Jets existence?
Smart people don’t go to games when the ownership repeatedly doesn’t try to win.
Billsen
June 1st, 2011
8:19 am
“Hugh Jardon
June 1st, 2011
12:08 am
At least us Canadians don’t shut a city down when it snows or gets cold. Bunch of whiny crybabies!!! Lol!!!! ”
Actually, you DO. I was driving from Detroit to Toronto in November of 1996, and a blizzard hit. There were no plows out. According to the radio I was listening to as I crawled forward at 5MPH, it was because Toronto’s snow clearing contracts didn’t kick in until December 1st.
Spin that.
Bill
June 1st, 2011
8:22 am
Well said Jeff.
Part of the sadness is what will happen to many of the Thrashers employees. While the players are under contract, the rest of the team personnel (equipment guys, trainers, sales staff, etc.) are left to fend for themselves unless invited to go with the team. Many do not want to go to Winnipeg and the frozen north. After working around the team for ten years, and getting to know the real Thrashers people (not the owners), I truly feel bad for them and the way that Atl Spirit has taken a dump on them. The Thrashers personnel are some of the friendliest people I have ever had the pleasure of working with and being around.
The Atlanta news media has to take a portion of the blame, too. While getting a team was the #1 news story in Winnipeg, it was the #5 story on the news in Atlanta. The media coverage over the years has been awful compared to other NHL cities. The Thrashers always took a back seat to all other sports with many sports fan claiming that Atlanta is just not a hockey town. Thanks to the Atlanta media for not promoting the team or the sport the way they should have.
Joe Z
June 1st, 2011
8:28 am
If you produced a winning team, you have made money! Second rate teams dont cut it in sports anymore. Where will you move next?
Leaf fan
June 1st, 2011
8:38 am
Let’s face. Atlanta was not, is not and never will be a hockey market. Baseball, football, Nascar sure but not hockey. It’s geographical and cultural. Thousands upon thousands of people play hockey in Canada. Not so much in Atlanta. For their 700,000 in Winnipeg (who have taken unfair shots in this page) that arena will be packed every night. People in Atlanta shouldn’t feel bad, you shouldn’t have had a team to begin with.
hhip czech
June 1st, 2011
8:43 am
Jeff Schultz, well played sir…your best article on the Thrashers is unfortunately the last.
To SOB, LAC, et al…well, you won. This is what you wanted so enjoy it, I’m happy for you. .
Absolutely stinks for my kids and all the other true hockey fans here.
I wonder if the truth will ever come out how far back this whole charade with Phoenix and Atlanta really goes? True justice would be Phoenix moving here next year (and that takes care of the realignment issue)…but Bettman’s “covenant” doesn’t cover fans in Atlanta.
hhip czech
June 1st, 2011
8:47 am
And how much was that sole negotiating agreement with a potential Hawks owner used to make sure a buyer wouldn’t be found? Funny how that agreement ended as soon as the Winnipeg deal was in place.
Julius Caesar
June 1st, 2011
8:51 am
Friends, Atlantans, Countrymen. Lend me your ears. I declare this day that the great city state of Atlanta should respond as Rome would–send its armies north to raze, plunder and pillage Winnipeg, seize the hockey team and return it to Atlanta.
Flames Rule
June 1st, 2011
8:54 am
Bring back the Atlanta Flames! New owners, better quality! The fans will come out—but move the team to Gwinnett, not the downtown ghetto.
FanNoMore
June 1st, 2011
8:56 am
When I think of Phillips Arena, I think hockey. That place rocked the first couple of seasons & during the playoff run. The product had potential. However, these owners had no idea what to do to keep a competetive product on the ice. I’m not going to a restaurant if I know they serve lousy food. Did ASG not go to other teams and learn from best practices. How has the NHL lasted in Florida? How did it stay in Pittsburgh? I don’t believe they wanted to succeed here in ATL. They wanted out. I hope for the Hawks sake they are sold to someone who loves basketball.
Rick
June 1st, 2011
8:59 am
News Bulletin: New donut shop to open in remote northern outpost (That would be Winnipeg). eh? If you ever accidently get caught in this burgh, drop by for a free donut (your choice) with your coffee. We’re right across from the MTS Centre on Portage Avenue, home of the new Winnipeg Jets–or whatever. As for that middle finger you’re extending our way, backatcha, Jeff.
HockeyFan
June 1st, 2011
9:07 am
WELCOME HOME, JETS!
The Truth
June 1st, 2011
9:08 am
It’s partly the AJC’s fault for not publicizing the situation enough. With all the readers of the AJC sports page (your selling point), surely you could have posted a few more Thrashers articles here and there. It didn’t even make the top story of this damned newspaper!
Dr. Phil
June 1st, 2011
9:08 am
The only constants in the Thrashers’ history were Waddel and losing. I guess that moving the team is the only way to get rid of him. The firing of Bob Hartey was as stupid a move as any in Atlanta sports history including Wren’s gift to the Texas Rangers. Good writing, Jeff. I don’t think you will be on Bettman’s guest list in the future.
hip czech
June 1st, 2011
9:18 am
Rick, the middle finger is the one the ASG clowns are giving to us schmucks here in Atlanta…