If the Thrashers left Atlanta, would anyone care? Oh, yes.
The Hamilton Spectator reported last week that a Vancouver-based group wanted to buy the Thrashers and move them to Ontario. Don Waddell, the team’s general manager, insists that cannot and will not happen, and there’s no reason we shouldn’t believe him.
Still, that got me to thinking: If the Thrashers left, would anybody miss them? (They ranked next-to-last among NHL teams in attendance, averaging 14,626 per home date.) So, via Twitter, I asked. And of 50 respondents, only four said they wouldn’t care if the Thrash went the way of the migratory Flames. A selected sampling:
John Bragg: “Aside from family, friends, and the basic necessities in life, there’s not much I wouldn’t trade to see Ilya [Kovalchuk] hoist the Cup in Philips.”
Chad Bryant: “This is like asking, ‘Would you miss your dog if it ran away?’ – except in this case, the dog is being stolen from you from rich and crazy Canadians.”
Catherine Olson: “I was born at Georgia Baptist Hospital in 1964. The myth that Southerners could not possibly like hockey kills me. I am so tired of every one assuming that all the hockey fans in Atlanta are transplants from up north. I am Southern and a hockey fan and better yet a Thrasher fan!”
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Lance Blair: “Following them is my second religion and going to Philips is my second church. I’d miss the fans, the excitement, and the promise of the team’s bright future … If they left now I might consider moving to their new home.”
Pat DeSilva: “It takes character to be a Thrashers fan. It is not for everyone, but we Thrashers fans would like to see the base group grow and it will as the team continues to improve. There is currently plenty of room on the bandwagon.”
Barry Tennihan: “I hate to admit it but I would not really lose any sleep if they left town. It would be a negative for the city since we try show that Atlanta is a ‘major league town.’ Unfortunately, most of the blame would have to go on the backs of the owners (or the Seven Stooges).”
Jeffrey T. Cape: “I wouldn’t miss the Thrashers a bit if they moved. I will admit that attending a Thrashers game in person is a lot of fun – even if I don’t fully grasp all the rules and nuances of hockey – but outside the arena I have no interest in them. I can’t explain why this is so, but I don’t follow them, wouldn’t miss them.”
Debbie Ott: “My kids are getting older but the one thing we all still enjoy is getting together and attending Thrasher games … I definitely would not be going downtown and spending a trainload of my discretionary income any more if the guys weren’t there.”
Brett Williams: “I’d be furious and empty. As a native Minnesotan and huge hockey fan and player, it was hard to survive prior to the Thrashers’ arrival. If they left, I’d be like a fish out of water – flipping and flopping and trying to figure out how to survive.”
Billy Lindahl: “I’m willing to cheer for the fourth-worst team in the league every year just to see them every season.”
Chris Bennett: “I wear the Michael Myers mask [at home games]. I would be very disappointed if the Thrashers left. I am a born and raised Atlantan, third generation in fact … Thrasher wins make my days a little better as much as losses make them a little worse.”
Yes, the Thrashers qualify as a niche sport, but it’s a vibrant niche that makes our city that much nicer. We would be diminished if they weren’t around. I mean, you don’t have to go to the High Museum 41 times a year, but isn’t it nice to know it’s there?
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230 comments Add your comment
C. M. Thornton, III
May 14th, 2009
9:17 pm
There is no way I could possibly care LESS if Atlanta (or any other city, for that matter) has a hockey team or not.
Whopper Dawg
May 14th, 2009
9:20 pm
Mark,
As a native Georgian, but with family ties up north, I had the great fortune of living in Phillie in 1975 with my uncle and his family. They had season tickets to the Flyers and they won the cup that year. I went to many game regular season and playoffs and still am hooked. The Flyers are my team.
The NHL playoffs are SO much better than the majority of the NBA playoffs it is not even close. I would love to embrace an Atlanta hockey team, even from afar (I live in Memphis), but they have been so terrible I barely keep up with them. But I would hate to see Atlanta lose the team.
Brian
May 14th, 2009
9:20 pm
We need new ownership.
Nine owners who are either engaged in infighting or late night drinking will never send this team down a clear path to victory.
One owner with vision and dedication will preserve Hockey in Atlanta.
I grew up watching the Flames and was immensely saddened when the moved away. If the Thrashers move away I believe there will never be an NHL franchise in this city again.
Bob
May 14th, 2009
9:20 pm
I don’t care. I went a couple of times with free tickets. I would never pay for a game. I’ll never pay for Braves, Falcons or Hawks tickets either. Once you get free club level seats you never go back.
Pinball34
May 14th, 2009
9:22 pm
I agree that 7:00 is too early… Are you listening, Atlanta Spirit??
Whopper Dawg
May 14th, 2009
9:24 pm
I should have added:
If you win in Atlanta, you get massive support, not championships, just win and get into the playoffs. Massive. The Braves historic run, (which is now over), is a bit misleading as they were so good for so long and then only once won the big one. But watch the Falcons and the Hawks if they continue to build on their upward movement – you won’t be able to get a ticket. The same will be true for the Thrashers, but you have to win in Hot “Lanta.
d
May 14th, 2009
9:30 pm
First, it says a lot that Atlanta is one of very few cities in this country that has a team in all four major league sports, not even Los Angles can say that. Second, if we could get this ownership to do something productive, we could get some help for Kovalchuk. The potential is there, we do have a division championship under our belt. Honestly, and no offense to the Braves, but gee, baseball is so static. Hockey, on the other hand, is constantly moving, fast paced, and truly a great sport. Don’t take that away from our city.
Atlanta native and longtime hockey fan
May 14th, 2009
9:39 pm
I am an Atlanta native who was a Flames season ticket holder before the team was moved. It broke my heart back then to lose the Flames and I was so excited when the Thrashers came to town. Going to Philips Arena watching them play is so exciting and I can’t understand why more people don’t support them. However, that said they still have a strong fan base even though the media coverage is awful. They can win a huge game and when you turn on the 11 o’clock news there is very little mention on any of the local networks. And the AJC coverage is pitiful. The media didn’t support the Flames when they were here and you don’t support the Thrashers enough. We need more coverage and we need a better GM. We have some exciting players and they need our support. Stop talking about them moving to another town and get behind them. Blueland is the place to be!
Clint
May 14th, 2009
9:50 pm
As much as I like the Thrashers and love going to see them in person, I wouldn’t care if they left. The ownership will never commit to making them a contender year after year. Plus, the front office doesn’t seem to know anything about drafting players. As many top 10 picks as they’ve had since they joined the league they should be better than they are. Maybe that’s all on Waddell and him leaving would help turn things around, but with the Falcons, and Hawks on the rise, and the young talent the Braves have I wouldn’t miss hockey too bad.
Capt Caveman
May 14th, 2009
9:53 pm
Don’t let another Canadian hockey ROBBERY happen to Atlanta. I was crushed as a kid when the Flames left and the city and team deserve better than what we are getting now from the Spirit ownership group.
Wait a minute, they can’t even agree on a price for each other, no way they could ever even get a sale of the team put together.
SO == NO
I.C. Wiener
May 14th, 2009
9:53 pm
What the hell is the matter with you, Bradley?
Of course I’d miss hockey! But I sure wouldn’t miss you and your dumb articles!!
FIRE WADDELL AND BRADLEY!!!! RELOCATE THE AJC!!!!!
Jiminy Cricket, LIVE from Mark Bradley's shoulder!
May 14th, 2009
9:56 pm
Why even validate the Canadian press with this article? Your time is better spent getting us a Thrashers Vent. Really, Mark, the people have spoken.
kracker
May 14th, 2009
10:03 pm
Now that you mention it, Mark, I do remember you touching on your past exsposure to the sport in an earlier column. As a remaining 7 day subscriber I hope the coverage at least continues at the level it was at before the recent buyouts but the print biz is changing for sure. And, yeah, I know the team has to make their on noise to get heard above the general sports din in this city.
Y’all can’t do any worse than 680, though. As the flagship station for the Thrashers, they rarely even mention the team or hockey beyond a headline burb or two or reciting last night’s score. I used to call the Buck & Kincade show to talk hockey but would never get beyond the call screener. Their position is that nobody wants to hear it. Well, you have to at least try to help develop interest in the sport by devoting some regular time per week if you are the “Home of the Thrashers”, don’t you?
Jiminy Cricket, LIVE from Mark Bradley's pants!
May 14th, 2009
10:09 pm
YEAH, BABY!!!
Mark Bradley
May 14th, 2009
10:09 pm
Let’s see. Fourth-worst record in the league. Second-lowest attendance in the league. And it’s the AJC’s fault! Are we powerful or what?
R. Stroz
May 14th, 2009
10:12 pm
Here’s a good question:
If Waddell is fired would anyone be sad to see him go?
HECK NO!
kracker
May 14th, 2009
10:18 pm
Ah, let me be fairer to 680 the fan: They usually have DW or a coach on once a week on the morning or evening drive time show. But they really are pretty weak as the team station. It’s the same for them as with the AJC, coverage is tough to get in this town. You have to admit, though, the Thrash should have gotten more local media hype during their playoff year. (Yes, they got swept but the games were competitive except for the 3rd game blowout…remember the bad bounce goal on Moose?)
Peyton
May 14th, 2009
10:22 pm
I would ABSOLUTELY miss hockey if it left this city. The English language doesn’t yet hold a profane word that would be sufficient to describe hockey leaving this city.
The owners, on the hand, I would absolutely not miss if they left the city. Which is quite funny because I don’t even know if there ARE any owners of this team that are actually in the city.
kracker
May 14th, 2009
10:22 pm
Nope, you aren’t. Like I already said, the team needs to win…but the Braves got (and get) super press no matter how many consecutive years they flopped in the playoffs.
blazerdawg
May 14th, 2009
10:26 pm
I did not know the Thrash were hurtin and regret not going to a game this past year. This native GAian will definately make it down to Phillips a few times next season.
Jimmy Carter
May 14th, 2009
10:27 pm
I think the Thrashers are inexperiencing a “malaise.” I know something about this term. The cure is the Reagan Administration and the releasing of the Thrasher Hostages from Spirit captivity.
Mark Bradley
May 14th, 2009
10:38 pm
Game 7 of Boston-Carolina goes to overtime. Mark Recchi almost won it for the B’s in the third period. Former Thrasher, as I recall.
BraveCat
May 14th, 2009
10:43 pm
Atlanta has a hockey team?!
Oman
May 14th, 2009
10:46 pm
Yes, I watch the Thrashers when they are on TV and go to games when I can. I waited most of my life to get the NHL back to the ATL. Don’t let it go now. Blueland shouldn’t be the home of the Blues.
Mark Bradley
May 14th, 2009
10:51 pm
Marc Savard taking a faceoff in OT. Former Thrasher, as I recall.
Matt
May 14th, 2009
10:52 pm
I would probably support the Thrashers if I would actually stop seeing all of these people who are in the playoffs making great plays and saving their teams being referred to as FORMER Atlanta Thrashers. Let’s face it, we’re the KC Royals of the NHL. We draft great talent, develop them, then see them walk and be great for other teams. SO sick of it.
huh?
May 14th, 2009
10:53 pm
Wait, Atlanta has a hockey team?
huh?
May 14th, 2009
10:53 pm
In the NHL?
JerseyGuy
May 14th, 2009
10:55 pm
Everybody thought the Flames were hot stuff (pardon the pun) in 1973 when they first arrived…then they were doused. They have thrived in Calgary. Send the birds to Ontario.
Hockey is a foreign sport. Lets concentrate in getting the Braves back into the WS and the Falcons into the SB. To hell with hockey.
Maybe we can get a 2-for-1 deal and send the Hawks packing too. What a pathetic showing against Cleveland….
csquared
May 14th, 2009
10:56 pm
what if they held a season and no one came? Oh wait they did THAT already. The main thing is that like ALL of Atlanta’s teams, fans paying to see them would like SOME level of competitiveness.
Would like to at least go to a game, match whatever thinking we can match up with the visiting team. And NONE of Atlanta’s teams seem to have what it takes in the stretch. Sure they’ll win a game or three, put together a winning streak, just eek into the playoffs and then what? the run out of gas faster than a high school kid on a hot date.
huh?
May 14th, 2009
11:01 pm
I thought they went to Calgary?
Mark Bradley
May 14th, 2009
11:03 pm
I don’t think success in pro sports is a zero sum game, Jersey. I believe a city can have good teams across the board. I believe Boston is a fine example of that.
Whatever...
May 14th, 2009
11:10 pm
I’d be willing to bet that the AJC has lost more subscribers than the Thrashers have lost fans…
You might want to ask questions that hit closer to home.
Didn’t take the buyout huh?
Erin
May 14th, 2009
11:12 pm
If the Atlanta Thrashers finally wised up and got rid of the 7:00 starting times for Monday-Friday games, I would NOT miss that at all.
If the team left, I would likely have to take my own life.
PMC
May 14th, 2009
11:18 pm
Yes, It would be very disapointing to no longer be a 4 sport town. Also as is commonly discussed. Atlanta is a transient city. Even if our hockey team is horrific if not dull… it is, and it has been historically for the most part… the venue still allows people from all over to see thier teams play close to home.
We can only hope that they some how manage to stop making stupid front office decisions and put a team that is actually capable of playing interesting hockey.
This town absolutely gets behind teams when they are interesting, they just aren’t interesting generally on a consistant basis enough and the lack of TV in Hockey and non sellout Football has also hurt the franchise loyalties.
Good Hockey is a fantastic watch even on television (ok maybe not on VS) but Playoff hockey is every bit as exciting as any other playoff sport in America. It has all the elements.
TheAntiMe
May 14th, 2009
11:19 pm
I would surely miss the Thrashers if they left town. I even created a character named Atlanta Thrasher that I use for online play in the video game Rock Band 2. As you could probably guess, Atlanta Thrasher plays lead guitar.
PMC
May 14th, 2009
11:23 pm
I’ll say this as well. Go to Pittsburgh… they talk Hockey in July. They are discussing Malkin and Crosby on sports talk. If you did that in this town people would go to sleep. Regionally we are just different. We grew up playing football and baseball predominantly… College Football is king, then baseball (because they don’t seem to care that kids from 7-13 when they actually follow and care about baseball can’t watch WS games that start at 9:30… though that saves them from Tim McCarver…so maybe that’s a plus) Ultimately though… college town, in a College Football region.
Dash of Reality
May 14th, 2009
11:27 pm
What’s hockey?
Falcon season ticket holder, attend 12to 5 Hawks games per year with 80% viewership of tv games and 10 to 20 Braves games per year w/70% tv viewereship.
Thrashers – 0 games and maybe watched 2 periods this past season. Just doesnt move my needle.
kracker
May 14th, 2009
11:27 pm
WOW Congrats to Walker and the Canes! Even tho they are a div foe, I support the SE Division. Plus, as one of “the 151″, they are a good road host to go visit, great fans there. I was afraid Brind’Amour’s injury was gonna cost them.
kracker
May 14th, 2009
11:28 pm
Nothing better anywhere than gm 7 overtime hockey!
Mark Bradley
May 14th, 2009
11:30 pm
Won’t disagree with that, Kracker.
LAC
May 14th, 2009
11:34 pm
If hawws left who cares,never have been or will attend a National BORING Assoc game.
Falcons about the same… no interest. Braves attend a couple games a year,but since winning streak ended much of my interest did too.
nascar, What is THAT > Some seniors picnic or something, I’d rather watch my grass grow than watch that CRAP !
Hockey Number #1. Fed up with loser/liar waddell and the Stupid owners, and tired of the same old NOTHING every season… Been attending Hockey games since 60’s in Charlotte watching The Checkers…
Fun, Fast, Hard Hitting, EASY to understand,those who don’t much have attended school in athens… Who likely not attend any pro events if the left !!!!! PLEASE get rid of hawks !
Jason(Darkhorse)
May 14th, 2009
11:35 pm
Losing the Thrashers because of horrible management and ownership would even be worse than being front row at a Clay Aiken concert. It would suck so bad………
Give us a legit team with solid playoff performances, and maybe even a cup, for a good seven or eight years in a row. If the fans fail to show up or care after that, THEN move them to the frozen north somewhere.
Looks like there are quite a few folks here who would give more of a damn if the front office did.
Boo Boo
May 14th, 2009
11:37 pm
I last got excited about hockey when the Atlanta Knights won the championship. Then they disappeared without a word. The Thrashers should just leave and not tell anyone.
C
May 14th, 2009
11:38 pm
Go Thrashers Go!!
BLACK AND RED DAWG
May 14th, 2009
11:40 pm
THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE CITY. I HAVE JUST LEARNED TO LOVE HOCKEY AND HAVE JUST BEEN A SEASON TICKET HOLDER FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I WOULD LOSE MY MIND IF COULDN’T SEE MY THRASHERS. THEY MUST PLAY LIKE WE DID AT THE END OF THE SEASON SO THAT THERE ARE BUTTS IN THE SEATS.
Don
May 14th, 2009
11:42 pm
John Kincade is the only one in Atlanta that cares about hockey, hell when do the NHL playoffs start? no one watch hockey so if they leave so what!
joe blow
May 14th, 2009
11:44 pm
Why would this extremely disorganized paper ask this question when you don’t even have NHL playoff scores and articles in the sports section.. Atlanta will always be pathetic for sports…GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!
dawgma
May 14th, 2009
11:46 pm
IF WE ONLY HAD A SCORER – A COACH – AN OWNER (NOT A BAND OF IDIOTS).
NHL BLEW IT FOR ME WHEN THEY TOOK A YEAR OFF. AS A SEASON TICKET OWNER (FORMERLY) THE OWNERS ARE CHEAP BASTARDS!
dawgma
May 14th, 2009
11:48 pm
DO THE THRASHERS STILL PLAY IN ATLANTA?