Collapse of Hawks’ sale is just one more Spirit nightmare
Alex Meruelo is out as Hawks' owner. That means ...
(Updated at 5:45 p.m.)
The only thing worse than bad ownership in professional sports is uncertain ownership. We have been cursed with both.
The sale of the Hawks from the Atlanta Spirit to Alex Meruelo has gone from in danger of falling apart to officially dead. Our Tim Tucker reports that the deal was terminated by mutual agreement.
This is what it means to you: There is nobody minding the office. Not Meruelo, who presumably never had the funding and/or wouldn’t provide the financial guarantees as laid out by the NBA to purchase a franchise, his claims to the contrary not withstanding. His purchase was announced Aug. 7. The dissolution of deal was revealed 89 days later on Nov. 4. This lasted only slightly
... These guys are back running the show.
longer than a Kim Kardashian marriage (72 days) — the only problem being that most consider this closer to real life.
Not the Atlanta Spirit. They weaseled out of NHL ownership and sent the Thrashers to Winnipeg, and now they’re looking to liquidate themselves of the Hawks and Philips Arena’s operating rights so they can get out of the sports business.
Not even Hawks’ employees, who aren’t in a position to make decisions because they don’t know who their boss is or what
Kim Kardashian's marriage to Kris Humphries lasted nearly as long as Meruelo's "ownership."
their boss wants.
One of the Spirit’s partners, Bruce Levenson, released a statement, saying: “The Atlanta Hawks are no longer for sale. We’re excited to remain as owners of the Hawks and are committed to building on our string of four straight playoff appearances.”
And why shouldn’t we believe Levenson? Doesn’t he always speak the truth?
(Pause for effect.)
And if you were trying to sell a property, wouldn’t you be “excited” when that deal fell apart?
(Pause again.)
The Spirit basically has gone from bad ownership to relative absentee ownership because their primary objective now is to sell the team, not improve it.
Granted, the NBA is in a lockout, and there is no sign of that ending any time soon. The league already has canceled a month’s worth of games. In that sense, a case could be made that the Hawks haven’t lost any ground during this expanded offseason. But other NBA teams can at least look at their roster, their payroll and their coaching staff and plan for the future. They can prepare themselves for next season under a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Hawks? Well, imagine that you owned a team and you were looking to sell it. Your focus would be on finding a buyer, cutting overhead and maybe dusting the office furniture and vacuuming the rugs for any interested party who wanted to give the place the once over. It certainly wouldn’t be in investing time, money and resources to improve the product or cater to the fan base.
The problems created by Meruelo’s exit are compounded by a depressed economy, one that is thin on potential sports owners and ownership groups. It follows that Levenson, Michael Gearon, et. al. likely will continue in the executive suite for sometime. The Atlanta Spirit’s attempts to leave have become as big a headache as their attempt at sports ownership.
It’s the nightmare that won’t end.
By Jeff Schultz
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168 comments Add your comment
EuroHawk
November 5th, 2011
12:13 am
This makes me just sick. Arthur Blank was trying to purchase the Braves a few years ago. I really hope he is interested in owning a basketball team. There is so much potential for an NBA franchise in Atlanta, the city does not deserve to have such cra**y owners like the Spirit Group. I really want the Hawks to stay here but they need the owners who actually give a damn…
sIdney c
November 5th, 2011
12:20 am
The Atlanta Spirit group is the worst group of Frat boys/owners who really don’t care about their city or their fans.
They screwed the hockey fans of this city and i hope they lose every freking dime they have because they are a bunch of losers.
T Dog
November 5th, 2011
12:27 am
Interesting. I thought they did away with pro basketball………yawn………..who cares? I honestly don’t care if I never see another pro basketball game again.
Reality Check
November 5th, 2011
1:05 am
Blank can’t buy the Hawks. Rules say one person can’t own an NFL and NBA team in the same market.
Sad but True
November 5th, 2011
1:10 am
Hate to break it to you, but ASG actually saves money via the lockout, they’re one of the 23 of 30 that lose money by operating this year. This group reminds me of Rebeillion (Lies), every time you close your eyes, lies, lies.
tiger7_88
November 5th, 2011
1:17 am
Who do I blame above all? Ted Turner, that’s who. Because he sold everything he had so that he could produce Captain Planet and give $1 billion to the United Nations.
Yes, the UNITED FREAKIN’ NATIONS.
Dang, Ted Turner got dumb as hell when he got old.
Whopper Dawg
November 5th, 2011
1:50 am
In the words of Jerry Clower,
Shoot up here among us, one of us has got to have some relief.
UGASlobberknocker
November 5th, 2011
2:07 am
I think its hilarious that the Spirit is still stuck with the team during the lockout..I hope they lose every dime they have. We would be better off to go the route Charlotte went..let the team with the crappy owner go to aonother city, then get a new start with an expansion franchise..maybe thats the way to go.
day old fries
November 5th, 2011
2:32 am
i was looking forward to the pizza
M
November 5th, 2011
2:49 am
I am disappointed, this guy was the real deal, I know because I had a chance to meet him. He was serious about what he wanted. Atlanta needs to go after this guy and get him back. Wow he had the money baby. He wanted much for the city.
BRAD LYONS
November 5th, 2011
3:51 am
After getting a HUGE run-around on the Thrashers and getting my money back—I can’t wait for the rest of the ASG to go down in a burning disaster. I hope these fools go bankrupt and get run out of this city after their lies to the fans of Atlanta. They screwed us out of a hockey team—they bought the team SOLELY to get an NBA franchise, and sold the Thrashers off immediately—well tried to, but couldn’t for years. The general public blamed the fans, but those of us that know the situation know it wasn’t the fans fault. I DESERVE A FACE TO FACE MEETING WTIH THESE FOOLS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA. I DEMAND TO GET IN THEIR FACE AND LET THEM HEAR IT FROM ME.
Charlie Criss
November 5th, 2011
4:18 am
Me and spudd will buy the team.
Andrew
November 5th, 2011
7:23 am
Winnipeg doesn’t want basketball too?
The Ghost of Pistol Pete Maravich
November 5th, 2011
7:26 am
Hawks in turmoil? NBA lockout continues? Suits me.
Hell, suits me just fine.
Less traffic downtown. Less panhandlers.
My ideal Christmas (or Xmas or holiday or whatever politically correct season you want) present would be the cancellation of the entire NBA season, and the relocation of the Hawks to anywhere else.
Manny
November 5th, 2011
7:34 am
This is the failure of the NBA lockout, not the ASG. I can’t blame Meruelo, either. I mean, there may not be a season and the NBA wants Meruelo to sign on with $90 million guarantee with no hint as to ROI? He’s no fool!
It’s the ASG that’s left holding the bag. They can’t sell the team because of the lockout.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
7:48 am
Levenson lied again. “the Hawks are not for sale”! Who does he think he is talking to, a 4yr old? If you think nobody showed up for games last yeat, just wait till this season starts. You will be able to have hand grenade practice at Phillips and not hurt anyone.
why are you so stupid?
November 5th, 2011
7:53 am
I really wish people will stop being yo stupid. ASG hasn’t been the best to hockey, but to Hoops in Atlanta they have spent money, removed Billy Knight, and created a team that has been in the NBA’s elite 8 in the past few seasons and four playoff years striaght. Have the Falcons done that? NO. Braves? NO.
So they keep the Hawks and Arena, how about you look at the team and support them, and maybe just maybe someone else will want to buy them or ASG wil keep spending money on the team.
Occupy your Brain, don’t be a stupid fan (or person in general) and learn how to merge in traffic, look at the record of the most successful pro team in the city and pay attention to the facts.
GT
November 5th, 2011
8:25 am
The south is a college sports kind of place. The college game has been around for over 100 years. The south produces more home grown athletes than the other parts of the country, we don’t have to pay to have talent shipped in, or maybe we pay but don’t ship is more accurate.
The pro sports thing is a northern habit imposed on the south like palm trees in New York. It is not natural to start with. Then you have local writers, from other places, if that makes any sense ranting about the conduct of mercenary owners who practically go bankrupt for the pleasure of transplanted audiences. There is no market for hockey in this town, and obviously no market for a buyer of an NBA team. I direct your attention to the NBA and suggest the failure of this product is not the local franchise but the corporation that creates the product. I also would add this may not be a negative evaluation on the character of this town that stuff like this does not sell well.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:30 am
why are you so stupid……….I don’t know. Maybe it is reading post from idiots like you? Playing in 4 straight playoffs in a league that almost all the teams get in is not turning the fans on. Maybe you have not noticed, the ASG is nonfunctional. When ownership lies to its fans everytime they open their mouths, it tends to make even us “stupid” folks look for other ways to spend our money. My guess is that you work for the ASG.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:34 am
GT…..I do not agree with everything you just said but the marketing of the NBA is a disaster, I will agree. And the ASG is at the bottom of that disaster, league wide.
William
November 5th, 2011
8:35 am
What’s the NBA?
Ben
November 5th, 2011
8:45 am
Unreal. The ASG are complete epic fails. They literally fail at failing.
If we lose the Hawks they should be banned from the state.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:47 am
William……….the NBA is a players run league with the motto of “me first, me always” as their battle cry!
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:48 am
Ben…….The ASG “literally fails at failing”. Now that is classic! Well said.
GT
November 5th, 2011
9:01 am
The foundation of my argument is if there was value in these teams, Atlanta is a town of several million people, no buyers. Step up and buy the pony if you like the ride. Both teams were for sale, big sign in front of them, and bargain basement pricing. The local press loses money when the hockey team leaves town, less to report, less ads sold. Ted Turner bought these teams because all he had to sale on his minor league television cable at the time was old movies. His losses were mitigated because he wasn’t in it for this community he was looking for product to sell just like the AJC , only they don’t put up the money to buy the rights to what they sell, they just complain. Nobody should be shamed into stupid business moves for the sake of what is really not a true picture of what Atlanta has ever cared about. These articles come from vengeful writers and reporters on television and radio, who no longer have the welfare of local businessmen to support their livelihood.
Sippa
November 5th, 2011
9:31 am
“The Atlanta Hawks are no longer for sale,” Levenson said in a statement. “We’re excited to remain as owners of the Hawks and are committed to building on our string of four straight playoff appearances.”
‘EXCITED’ HA! LMSFAO!! lol!!! Thanks Levenson, my kids got a great laugh this morning when I spit out my cereal all over the table when I read that!!!!!! So one day you were excited to get the money from the sale, next day you’re excited to remain as owners?? HOLY F ING LOL!!!
You stupid muther f ers ruined basketball in Atlanta. If it wasn’t for this f ing lockout the transaction would have happened. F ALL Y ALL IDIOTS!!!
R. Stroztradamus
November 5th, 2011
9:32 am
As if every sports fan in Atlanta didn’t see this coming. Besides, wasn’t Don Waddell involved in the Hawks sales process? Has Don Waddell done anything other than destroy sports franchises in Atlanta?
The Spirit Clowns are like relatives that keep asking for money, they just don’t go away.
Sippa
November 5th, 2011
9:34 am
If Atlanta Spirit Group owned a funeral home nobody would die.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
9:37 am
GT…….I don’t believe the motivation of the AJC is vengeful. It is just as fed up as the fan base on the incompetence of the ASG. They are just reporting what we all know is the true spirt of the ASG. There are no real buyers for the NBA product because the NBA product can’t be sold as it is now being marketed. In this town or any other town in America. The guys with the big bucks. to buy are not fooled by this worthless product. The NBA is in a death spirial. Fans have had enough. When you combine that with the nonfunctional ASG you are trying to sell buggy whips and stagecoaches. Good luck with that!
R. Stroz
November 5th, 2011
9:41 am
GT – Would you have purchased the hockey team under these terms?
You have to pay “Philips Arena Operations” 120% of the “direct costs” of hosting each game.
You receive NONE of the concession, parking, or merchandise revenue from each game. All of this revenue would go to the “Philips Arena Operations” unit as well.
You would pay 5% of the “gate” for each game to the “Philips Arena Operations” unit as well.
And GT, that is just the “start” of the terms that a prospective buyer faced. Now under those terms would you want the Spirit Clowns as your landlord?
Atlanta Spirit is the anti-christ
November 5th, 2011
9:45 am
Ya know you would think AS would get the message that as a fan base we hate them and want them to crawl back under their rocks and go away. My only conclusion thus far is they want to bankrupt the Hawks so the NBA takes over so they can continue to blame the fans and stroke their egos saying it wasn’t our fault we tried. The Atlanta fans simply suck. Or they are so arrogant to think we can’t possibly be serious in our plan to unoccupy Phillips Arena. I would love to see Roger Waters but he chose the wrong venue. Sorry Roger maybe next time. Hey, AS deal with it. Karma is real pain in the wallet.
Joey
November 5th, 2011
9:51 am
Alex probably had a WTF-moment when he first viewed Joe Johnson’s contract, then viewed his highlights of last season.
That would be enough to scare off Bill Gates . . .
Atlanta Fan
November 5th, 2011
9:52 am
Anyone who thinks Liberty Media is a problem is truly living under a rock. They have not rocked the boat with the Braves once and they seem to let the Braves run as they always did. Okay, so the payroll isn’t $200 million, so what. They still have the 3rd best record in baseball for about 60% of the season. ASG could learn something from how the Braves are run.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
9:58 am
Sippa……..if I owned a bar in this town I could make some money with this promotion. When the ASG does die away ( no time soon it looks like), have a ASG “Irish Wake”.night. Who would not come to that happy event? They would be a line around the block to celebrate that joyious occasion. I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!! Green beer for everybody.
GT
November 5th, 2011
10:09 am
The only person with skin in the game is the Spirit. The rest of us are bystanders. The augments here circles around owning these teams equal some pleasure for the ownership of these things. In the NFL and MLB I believe you would be correct. And where there is pleasure in this business there is demand. These owners are bleeding to death for the your pleasure.
When you sell your house you may ask a million for it but you may only get 100,000. If you really need to sell it you will eventually come down to the 100,000. Some of you hot shots call the Spirit, I bet the AJC has their number. Get about 100 of you living up 400 with checkbooks. Make an offer. I bet you can buy these teams and then you too will be cussing me for giving you the idea in the first place. And the rest of us will be cussing you because we want entertainment at your expense. Something about modern America all over that situation.
R. Stroz
November 5th, 2011
10:19 am
GT – Let them bleed. The Spirit Clowns haven’t “produced” any pleasure in this town. The main “problem” is the Spirit Clowns want to “keeo a stake” in the basketball franchise. No one in their right mind wants to conduct “on going” business with these litigious clowns.
Atlanta Spirit is the anti-christ
November 5th, 2011
10:34 am
@GT Bruce is that you?? Just askin cause………
I Am Gearon's Crocodile Tears
November 5th, 2011
10:36 am
The next logical move for the Atlanta Spirit, LLC would be to file a lawsuit against Merulo for not having enough money to buy the Hawks. That is the m.o. for these clowns, “When in doubt, Litigate!” In an absolute worst-case scenario, they continue to bleed money uncontrollably to the point where they have to practically give the team away to an ownership that moves the team to St. Louis, or back to Seattle… Where would they rank in the list of lousy sports ownerships if they ran TWO franchises from two different sports into the ground to the point that they relocated?
Could we then break out the tar and feathers and run Gearon/Levenson et al out of town on a rail? Please?
ASG To Hell
November 5th, 2011
10:38 am
I spit in the face of every member of ASG after what they have done. They are an harassment (yes, that word) to this city, this state and to the professional sports industry. They have ZERO business being in MY city of Atlanta. They have ZERO business running the Hawks, Philips Arena or anything to do with Atlanta. They need to sell the Hawks, move out of this city and state and never be seen or heard from again. After what they did to the Thrashers and after the way they mistreated fans, lied to us, covered the story up and gave us the run around year after year, ASG and every association they have with this city needs to get out of here. I urge all Hawks fans to never step FOOT inside Philips Arena or give a DIME to anything touched by ASG. They are scumbag lowlifes and they need to GTFO of this city NOW.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
10:38 am
GT…..there is something about modern America in this situation. We don’t like people to lie to us. Poor team, poor marketing and they lie. Not a good hand to draw to! No one in their right mind would do a business deal with these guys unless the circumstances of the sale were overpowering pro buyer. You could trust Ted Turner not so much the Marx Brothers of Atlanta.
GT Needs a Home
November 5th, 2011
10:44 am
I would have to say that I would like to see GT take a moral stance here and NOT play their games at Philips this year. Find another venue. Even as a UGA fan, I can’t stand the thought of a university giving money in any way, shape or form to Atlanta Spirit. They need to take the moral high ground, change venues and not play games at Philips after what they have done to this city. GT should not be doing ANY business with anything associated with ASG. Do the right thing, GT. Play elsewhere.
GT
November 5th, 2011
10:50 am
I think you have made the sell of the franchise more complicated than in reality it is. The reason this thing has not sold is no one wants it period. The Spirit ,clowns or not are stuck with it. There is no profit in this operation it is a donation to this city by the Spirit. Most native Atlantans could care less about this contribution, it is basically a corporate clientele of gypsies with public company expense accounts lounging around and calling it a tax write off. Or want to bes wanting to look like the they are lodge members, that couldn’t afford the luxury while living in the snowbound joints they evacuated to tell us how to run our city. If we don’t want it we don’t want it so get your charge cards out and maybe the Spirit can figure a way to sell it to you through their merchant accounts. You can then explain that to your bosses that are paying for your joy ride in the first place.
chico and the main
November 5th, 2011
10:57 am
you mean you can’t buy an nba team with pesos? aye….
GT
November 5th, 2011
11:03 am
Where does “GT take a moral stance” come from. This ain’t church this is basketball and we ain’t you. If you aren’t going to use Phillips then we are. You think Georgia Tech who loses players early every year if they get them at all to this addiction called the NBA now wants to take a moral stance for these thugs? The NBA is destroying college basketball. You take a moral stance and take your stripe joint somewhere else. 80% of the NBA is broke after five years of leaving the league. Las Vegas looks like the home of Christianity compared to the NBA, where guns are found in locker rooms and mugshots are taken in uniform so they have a number to id them with.
bj
November 5th, 2011
11:13 am
To he!! with Hawks, Spirit, NBA….they can stick it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other than Blank, The Atlanta Sports Teams have the worse owners in the world…its a joke.
huh?
November 5th, 2011
11:25 am
So much for the crazy cuban pizza guy from Cali…..publicity hound….OCCUPY HOLLYWOOD!!
Tv ?
November 5th, 2011
11:26 am
Are Dawgs on CSS at 12:30 also? Anyone?
Sideline Dude
November 5th, 2011
11:29 am
Please, someone buy the Hawks & move them to Seattle or Timbuktu or somewhere else far away. The NBA is just a bunch of overpaid hoodlums & thugs.
GT Needs a Home
November 5th, 2011
11:29 am
“GT” makes zero sense. Why would a world-class institution such as GT do any sort of business with the clowns called ASG? GT is a respectable university doing business with unethical , non-respectable villains called ASG. That’s why GT should take the moral high ground and not give any of their money to ASG. GT should not have ANY association with ASG. It’s the equal to doing business with the mob.
Born2Buzz
November 5th, 2011
11:31 am
The best thing that could happen to the Hawks is a cancellation of the season. Sadly they will eventually start playing again.
Is David McDavid interested again? Hey, he can just use the $250M he won from Turner to buy the Hawks, basically getting the team for free.
Or maybe Uncle Ted will come back home to own the team. Probably not, he’s too smart. Just like Blank.
The ASG is an embarrassment to Atlanta. I’m sure they are all ashamed.