Do the Thrashers really have the NHL’s worst fans?
Each of the ladies seated behind John Anderson has a blog. (AJC photo by Jessica McGowan)
I guess I see it differently. When I go to a Thrashers game and see 5,000 empty seats, my first thought isn’t, “Why don’t more people come to these games?” It is, on the contrary: “Why do so many people come to these games?”
Let’s face it: In a decade of operation, the Thrashers haven’t given their constituency much. They’ve committed the two glaring sins of professional sports: They took too long to build something and then couldn’t sustain it. They’ve had two winning seasons. They’ve made the playoffs once (and were swept in Round 1).
I mention this because it has come to my attention that Derek Felska has, on the blog Most Valuable Network, decided the Thrashers have the worst fan base in the NHL. I present his “justification” in its entirety:
“I am going to share a little story with you which will might explain why the Atlanta Thrashers are deserving of being called the league’s worst fans. Just this spring, I went down [to] Georgia as part of an Educators Tour to Ft. Benning. On our way back, we were given the day to enjoy downtown Atlanta. While there I went into a sports apparel shop, which was filled with all sorts of Atlanta sports team clothing; Braves jerseys, Falcons jerseys, and some college football jerseys yet nowhere to be found was anything pertaining to the Thrashers. I asked the attendant, ‘Do you have any Atlanta Thrashers stuff’ and I was met with a confused look and then a quick question to her co-worker, ‘Do we have any Thrashers stuff?’ A few seconds later they pointed me to the only two items they had pertaining to the the Thrashers along with an explanation of how extremely rare it is anyone is looking for their merchandise.
“Now does that mean that there are almost no Thrashers fans out there? No, but in the larger scheme of things there does not appear to be too many. In a Southern city where it’s almost a challenge to find someone with a southern drawl, it might surprise people just how many Atlanta residents used to live in areas quite familiar with snow and ice. The Thrashers’ online presence is very small and that does little to help a team that many in Atlanta seem to struggle to remember is even there. That sound you just heard was Ilya Kovalchuk screaming over the fact he has at least one more season with the team.”
I think even Mr. Felska would concede there might be a hole or two in his scientific method. But the greater point, at least to me, would seem to be this: The Thrashers are lucky to have any fans at all, and the ones they have — it’s a smallish group, but it’s a group nonetheless — are passionate in a way Hawks fans, say, only wish they could be.
Loading ...The line about a “very small” online presence particularly struck me as odd. Because I consider Thrashers fans the equivalent of Velvet Underground followers. The time-honored line: “Only 10,000 people bought their records, but everyone who did started a band.”
If the Thrashers have 10,000 hardcore fans, I’m thinking all 10,000 have started a blog. Here’s Bird Watchers Anonymous, and here’s Whazzupwitchu?, and here’s The Thrashers 411. And here’s The Blueland Chronicle, and here’s Blueland Outsider.
I haven’t traveled extensively in hockey circles, so there might be an even greater local passion for, say, the Florida Panthers or the Phoenix Coyotes or the Nashville Predators. But somehow I doubt it. See, I’ve always thought what fans the Thrashers have are great fans. Truth to tell, I think they’re the best fans in Atlanta. Because they’ve been given so little and care so much. Because they care even though caring isn’t cool.
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119 comments Add your comment
lee
August 29th, 2009
8:41 am
thank u A27 and that was exactly my point. i got ur back next time!!
i didn’t mean the isles were gonna win the cup, i said or meant to say that the isles r progressing. it’s not very common for a bad team to go to a cup winner, but now because of their off season improvment, it probably will help in some way. hey, i could be wrong the islanders will suck again this season, but thats my point of veiw.
lee
August 29th, 2009
9:32 am
just wondering, who disagrees with elrey….tard?
Brendan
August 29th, 2009
9:35 am
We also have a fanbase with a long memory. I can’t buy into the notion that the years 2001, 2002, and 2003 didn’t exist. The drafting got a little bit better after that. But right about the time this team should have been the youngest, fastest, most highly-skilled team in the league … it saw the likes of Holik, Bondra, and Mellanby, making it one of the oldest, slowest, and least prepared to play in the “new NHL,” post Lockout era. I think Waddell has a much better grasp of what is needed, roster-wise. But, there was no accountability at the GM position, for those early years. Kovy’s been waiting, patiently, since 2001 for a Stanley Cup contender to emerge. Entering Season Ten, this team isn’t projected past the bottom third of the Eastern Conference, much less the playoffs. And Kovy said, “playoffs are the minimum goal” for this season.
A thought occurs to me that ifff, it is INDEED “Just like August 2005,” does that ALSO MEAN that the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, is willing to GREENLIGHT a MAXED CAP, like they did in October 2005? If this lawsuit is really OVERRRRR, then the REASONS the Thrashers cannot spend money are likewise over. Or do they hope that Thrasher fans don’t have the cranial capacity to link those two events? Maybe Belkin will appeal? But if he doesn’t, and he ponies up his share, as a fully functioning partner, then budget shouldn’t be an issue anymore.
Your thoughts, Mark Bradley?
lee
August 29th, 2009
11:52 am
i agree with u brendan, hopefully it won’t be an issue. but the thought of belkin appealing doesn’t seem that likely.
Brendan
August 29th, 2009
4:48 pm
Lee, I sit waiting, hoping, and praying for some kind of answer for this team. The truth is, I’ve seen what these owners do. I’m not impressed. I hope they sell to some local interest. Shoot, I hope they sell it all, Philips Arena, the Hawks, and the Thrashers. I just want somebody competent, capable, ideally with some sports business experience, ideally with a single, solitary FACE for the ownership, to emerge and assume control of the teams.
Now, I do also hear the voice of the Spirit defenders out there. Let me to try explain their argument. They’ll say, “Well, during the lawsuit ordeal, the team simply couldn’t spend. The legal fees were mounting, and the very control over the teams was hanging in the balance. They had to do whatever they could to win out, over Mr. Belkin. So, budgets had to be low.” Okay. I can actually ‘buy that’ to a certain extent.
What I don’t forgive, is the bluster about the playoffs, charging full price, and a failure to admit that there’s a 4-year ongoing building process in effect. Why not “bring the fans onboard?” Why EXCLUDE them from the plan? All a Thrasher fan really asks … is for the organization to try to ice a winner. And explain how they’re trying to do that. What’s wrong with that??? Nothing!! But they don’t do it. Even now, even for the 2009-10 season, they’ll tell you the goal is making the playoffs. Well, if that were indeed true, shouldn’t the budget be higher than $46 million, when the NHL says the cap limit is $56.8 million? Something doesn’t add up. If it’s Year Three, just say-so. The previous two years ended in 76-point campaigns, where, again, playoffs were discussed as the season’s goal. Each of those seasons saw practically salary cap floor spending from October to April. How does one qualify for the playoffs, while spending the league minimum? Sure, spending doesn’t always correspond to success. Grabbing a pot and a wooden spoon to bang it while pundits cite thier favorite example of BIG-TIME SPENDERS who spend their April’s watching 16 other teams in the playoffs. Check out the major hockey publications. The Atlanta Thrashers aren’t projected any higher than 12th in the Conference. Does that sound like a ‘playoff team?’ How long do fans have to be insulted? Just beeee honest with us. We can handle the TRUTH. And you guys better be honest with Kovalchuk, too. Sell him on the building project. Make him ‘buy in.’
lee
August 29th, 2009
5:43 pm
brendan-i can see how hard of an argument this is and im not sure what side im going for. i too do not understand the point of having a high sal cap and being under by 20 million somthin. but the otherside of me is screaming that it’s hard to overcome belkin. again to hav a playoff team we can’t just sit there and do nothing. honestly im not sure if antropov and kubina is strong enough for kovy. maybe grab malhotra, or snag another decent player. the season will start in no time and we definetly won’t be a playoff team without kovy. there r players out there for under a million that r good and decent, we r just unwilling to go for it. the argument has overcome there actions and if this keeps going on, we will definetly not get much further. Now, lets think as if no arguments, problems, etc. had happened, don’t u think we would be a lot further than 12th place? The fans are wat keeps the buisness runnin and the thrashers owners and mr. belkin needs to get that through their heads. it doesn’t make sense for anyone to spend and expensive ticket when we can’t even win because of their problems. mostly the thrashers are a suckish team is because of them. hey, it’s not the players fault, it’s certainly not our fault, so whos is it??? MAYBE IT’S THEIR OWN!! all of the owners “SAY” they will reach the playoffs, get kovy to stay, grab new players, make tickets lower, promise to win WHEN WE HAVEN’T MOVED FROM 12th PLACE! if they want to win, if they want to make money, they r going to have to do something. That’s all the owners care about is money money money money and $$$$$$$, well if they want their dang money then do something!!!!
Brendan
August 29th, 2009
9:57 pm
With all that hangs in the balance this season, lee, our budget is cause for concern. But, I tell myself “the offseason isn’t over yet.” And it isn’t. I’m not a fan of trades, to be honest. I don’t like FORCING a player who didn’t sign here, to play here. And I don’t like to give away young talent, either. I don’t want Pavelec traded. I don’t think we should quit yet on Kari. And I don’t rightly know what to do with Boris Valabik yet. My gut says to hang on to him. We’ve stuck with him this long. So, who’d be getting traded? Maybe some of those names. Maybe Todd White. Maybe a prospect like Brett Sterling. I just wonder how much a trade return is really out there? I can’t possibly agree to a Bryan Little trade. And we’re trying to keep Kovy, not trade him. Trading him would obviously fetch the most, but I think that’s a trade deadline move. Made only of DESPERATION.
lee
August 30th, 2009
9:50 am
agreed. the players that the fans do not want traded r always the players that r. the owners do not pay much attention to the fans. they give up too soon on players.
ElRey30
August 31st, 2009
8:24 am
Lee, of course you wouldn’t understand the Thrashers SELF IMPOSED salary cap because you are a straight up moron. You think this team has more than that to spend? They make no money because they are a laughingstock NHL franchise. When Kovalchuk bounces after he realizes that Nik Antropov didn’t deliver him a cup win, it will probably shoot down even more, leading to a sale and movement. I can’t wait. They make no money because they don’t win and they don’t make the playoffs. I’d rather be an Isles fan than a Thrashers fan, at least they have history. What have you gotten, 4 playoff games and zero wins? Give it up, time to move on. Argument won by me.
Fan since the Flames
August 31st, 2009
4:53 pm
Been a die hard fan since the Flames then Knights. The blogger IS right about merchandise. UNLESS you go to Phillips, try finding Thrasher car flags, decals or such. Not at Wal-mart. Not at most fan stores in the mall. I order mine on line.
scottbravesfan
August 31st, 2009
5:44 pm
I agree sometimes when I go to a Thrashers game I look around and wonder why the hell do I and the other 12,000 people in the arena even bother. It’s pretty tough sometimes. And all other NHL fans rip on us because Atlanta is not Toronto and everyone doesn’t care about the Thrashers, but you know what? I used to live in New York. Do you know how ofter I saw people wearing Rangers gear? Very rarely. They sell out every game because they play at MSG. You never saw people wearing Islanders or Devils gear. But Yankees, Knicks, Giants? Stuff was everywhere. I never saw Rangers gear in shoe stores either like this guy is talking about here in Atlanta. Hockey is a niche sport throughout the country and Atlanta is no different, our team just sucks so bad that we have ZERO bandwagon fans. Everyone who goes to the games are hardcore.
ElRey30
August 31st, 2009
6:02 pm
hey Scott Brave, Rangers sell out MSG because the fans are loyal. The Garden was sold out even through their dark years, and it’s the 4th most popular sport in the city, whats that say about the Trashers? oh yeah, that they are worthless, and so are their fans. Argument won by me.
scottbravesfan
August 31st, 2009
11:59 pm
Elrey
I live in NYC for years and no one cared about the Rangers. I said in my original post that they always sell out and you know why? Because they play at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. Everything sells out that plays that arena because of it’s address. And I doubt hockey is the 4th most popular sport in NYC. If you took a poll soccer would be above hockey with ease.
ChippersLoveChild
September 1st, 2009
9:53 am
ElRey, having a population of millions and millions of people might help the Rags out too…. put that many people in Atlanta and we will sell out every game too…. As a poster, you are worthless, argument won by me…
lee
September 1st, 2009
6:44 pm
thank u chipperloveschild, at least someone has some common sense here
elrey…tard-face it, ur wrong, and look whos talkin. do u just shoot down teams like that???!!! some fan u r. i mean yes, the thrashers cannot just spend spend spend, but really??? ur just gonna sit there and watch the players get their butts kicked off. u know that just shows that u r just a meaningless person and that the thrashers wouldn’t care if u don’t wanna be a fan. u just cant wait for them to move, u want to become and islanders fan??? come on!!!! u hav no common sense and if u wanna become an islanders fan, fine, at least i wont hav to listen to ur complaining and yappin.
it’s called thinking positive, u might hav to look that one up in the dictionary. hav u realized that everyone here disagrees with u? i didn’t know if u knew that. u hav no point of blogging if u r just gonna critisize other people and say bad things about the thrashers. what i don’t understand is u want to go to another bad team jsut because they were good in the past??!!! geez, understand that the past is gone, yes, it was great memories, but now is now, not then. GET IT THROUGH UR HEAD!
ElRey30
September 2nd, 2009
11:47 am
@ Chippers, again, it’s the 4th most popular sport in the city so your argument is invalid, argument won there by me.
@scottbraves fan – if soccer is the 4th most popular sport how come no red bulls game has ever sold out or been near capacity? How come the Red Bulls arn’t regularly showed on television? The Rangers are amongst the biggest money makers and have the highest viewership in the NHL so people are watching more than for just an arena, why do you think we get so many NBC games a year? There are tons of Ranger fans at EVERY Arena and we dominate both The Rock and The Colliseum…you’ve never lived in new york…another argument won by me
@lee – I wouldnt be a trashers fan if you payed me. their jersey is the UGLIEST in the NHL, the team has won ZERO playoff games, has ZERO tradition and the worst fans. Sorry but those are just facts….ANOTHER ARGUMENT WON BY ME!
In conclusion, everybody who chooses to be a Thrashers fan is dumb and not a fan of hockey, but a fan of idiocy. The team will never do anything of worth ever and my prediction is that they will be moved within 5 years. May God have mercy on all your souls, Thank you and Goodnight!
Blueland nosebleeder
September 2nd, 2009
11:42 pm
I sit in the $10 seats for about 15 games a year. I get what I pay for. There are some real a-holes up there. The idiot with the drum is the worst. The joker who waves the flag, loser. Any man over 30 who wears a hockey jersey needs to grow up.
CGC - Hockey
September 3rd, 2009
6:21 pm
The one time the Thrashers made the playoffs, the stands were packed 10 minutes BEFORE the game with the fans chanting “Let’s go Thrashers.” Hockey fans in general are great fans – between the Flames and Thrashers, Atlanta has won only one playoff game (not series – a single game). We do not know the extent of the support a winning team would get – my guess is very good and passionate support. Put a winning team on the ice and the fans will come. The Thrashers need to make a deep run into the playoffs to bring in more fans. Until they do that, it will be difficult to compete with Tech, UGA, Falcons, Braves, Hawks, etc. – not to mention the fair weather in our great city.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 21st, 2010
5:59 pm
About the pic? they’re not real, just like the ownership.