Hello/goodbye? Byfuglien stays, but the Thrashers could leave
You make the call: A salute to fans or a gesture of farewell? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
On Tuesday we witnessed that rarity: A big-time hockey player who actually wants to stay a Thrasher. Unlike Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk, Dustin Byfuglien was willing to re-up with the local hockey club. But now we ask: How much longer will the local hockey club be local?
The Thrashers’ corporate brother is having a a lousy year at the box office: The Hawks are 24th among 30 NBA teams in average attendance, down nearly 2,000 paying customers a game over last season. And still that beats the Thrashers, who until lately were positioned to make the playoffs for only the second time in their existence; they’re 28th in the 30-team NHL in attendance.
As if on cue, co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. told esteemed colleague Chris Vivlamore on Tuesday night that the Thrashers could indeed sold and moved if the Spirit doesn’t find additional investors/cash soon. “A sense of urgency,” was Gearon’s phrase, and when you hear that from ownership … well, that’s pretty close to “see you later,” is it not?
And there you had it, just another addled day in the life of the Spirit: Hours after Byfuglien re-signs for $26 million over five seasons, Gearon says his group needs money in the worst way. And we imagine, not for the first time, just how it must feel to be a Thrashers fan. The team finally upgrades at general manager and coach and finds a star willing to stick around, and then, from Gearon …
“The reality is we need fans showing up and we need investors, or a primary investor.”
The wonder isn’t that this club draws so few fans but that it still has so many. The wonder is that 13,056 folks (on average) keep supporting this forlorn franchise. Bless their soon-to-be-broken hearts.
By Mark Bradley
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136 comments Add your comment
canofpeas
February 16th, 2011
12:27 pm
there’s no way gearon would put this out there unless they had something lined up with a suitor from another city.
The worst part of it is with dudley on board this team is actually starting to get its act together.
i don’t blame gearon and partners for not wanting to lose $20 mil/year. I do blame them for absolutely ignoring this team since they’ve bought it. the “we need fans to show up” comment is absolutely insulting..not to mention out of touch…but it is keeping with the general vibe we’ve gotten from the sales end of the team this year which is basically “why are you all not coming to more games?”
I’ve never seen a business try to run itself into the ground quite like this.
Gordon
February 16th, 2011
12:27 pm
If we get rid of the Hawks, maybe the open air stadium Blank wants can be built where Philips sits now.
tonyb
February 16th, 2011
12:28 pm
Dear Mr. Bettman,
All you have to do is look that these boards, and go to Phillips arena for a game to realize there is a strong and passionate hockey fan base in this city (the 8th largest market in the US). The owners are doing what they can to destroy hockey in Atlanta so they can sell to some rich Canadian and turn a huge profit. We need your help. Don’t let the NHL or Atlanta be treated this way.
Thrasherfan93
February 16th, 2011
12:35 pm
All I was pointing out disproving the fact that ice hockey isn’t played here. Heck there is a statewide high school league for hockey, http://gshl.goalline.ca/. This issue here isn’t fan support. The issue here is the owners. They have treated this team like a piece of real estate they wanted to flip, but hasn’t trry to improve or heck or keep up maintenence. The Hawks best year of attendence was 16,748 in the past 10 years. The Thrashers was 16,240. That was our lone playoff season. 7 out of 10 season have been losing seasons. You can’t build a fan base around that.
James
February 16th, 2011
12:35 pm
As a broke grad student, I can’t afford to attend many sporting events. I go to Tech home games, 3-4 thrashers games a year, 3-4 braves games a year, 2-3 hawks games a year (can’t afford NFL). I enjoy all of them equally. The dark cloud that hangs over all of these teams? Bad management. I guess Liberty is better than ASG, but still. Look what a decent owner did for the falcons!!
Darkhorse
February 16th, 2011
12:37 pm
Would Coca Cola be a willing investor if they got to plaster more advertising all over the arena? How about Ga Pacific or Bernie Marcus?
I know a single owner is far better than corporate, but just trying to think of any rooted companies here that may want to invest or buy.
AtlantaHockeyFan
February 16th, 2011
12:45 pm
I no very little about hockey, but I love to go to the Thrashers’ games. I feel like I’m most Atlanta fans. Hockey is not exciting on TV, but it is awesome live. We care about the Thrashers, but the owners, the Atlanta Spirt Group (ASG) do not care about the fans or the team. The results from the last dozen years speak for themselves. I really, really hope the Thrashers stay. However, if they do get sold, I hope those jackasses from ASG lose billions and go broke.
Winnipeg in 2012
February 16th, 2011
12:46 pm
Wasn’t Philips Arena just named one of the nations most profitable / most active venues ? Rather than add another owner’s ego into this mess, maybe they should just book another Brittney Spears concert w/ Monster Truck Jam w/ Wrestlemania XXX to make up for the $20M.
Kirk27
February 16th, 2011
12:48 pm
I’ve been a season ticket holder since day one. The fans are here, and came out to support the team the first few years, even though they didn’t expect to win. We’ve just been beaten down by bad management and ownership. Finally, something positive with Big Buff signing. Just minutes ago I was on the Thrasher website noticing the new price structure for season tickets (very fair with big reductions in price). I was ready to re-new and possibly add 2 seats………….until I saw this latest article. GREAT TIMING ASG! You’re saving me a lot of money.
Sage of Bluesland
February 16th, 2011
12:49 pm
Well, well, well, Mark Bradley…How do you feel about not calling out a fraud which was in your midst earlier (i.e. Don Waddell)? You treated him like you did that other buffoon, Pete Babcock, and made multiple excuses for their incompetence.
Don’t be so foolhardy as to believe I’m blaming this on you; I’m not–and you’re simply not that important. However, your ignorance never disappoints me.
(I just hope this comment isn’t deleted, like previous ones of mine related to your ramblings?)
Beretverde
February 16th, 2011
12:51 pm
Bottom line … owning a sports team is a business pure and simple….and a good business practice is:
“Honesty is the best policy!”
Enough said!
Braves win!
February 16th, 2011
12:53 pm
1.) Sell team to Arthur Blank.
2.) Reduce ticket prices for the first couple of years- make it more economical for people to attend.
3.) Make the playoffs.
4.) Use momentum to build attendance, build revenue, and then make a couple of high visibility signings that will excite the fan base.
5.) Contunue to cultivate young talent.
There is no reason hockey cannot be successful here…it is one of the most exciting sports to watch in person.
A decent product on the ice coupled with an obviously committed local owner (not an ownership group) who demostrates that he wants to bring a winner here…that will save this franchise. Blank or Bernie Marcus are the only guys who come to mind…wonder if they are hockey fans.
Theron Sapp
February 16th, 2011
12:54 pm
This is all extremely disappointing to those of us who were here in 1980 and remember the Flames pulling out at season’s end (after saying they wouldn’t). Then, as now, the city had quite a decent base of hard-core fans, but inadequate ownership.
To the several posters here who complained about ticket prices, you’re right, times are tough — but in fairness, you can get in the building for $10. The bigger problem is ownership that won’t field a competitive club, won’t sign players, so even 10 bucks feels wasted.
My family and I will miss them. I doubt we’ll see NHL team No. 3 in my lifetime.
PMC
February 16th, 2011
12:54 pm
Oh sure, blame it on fan support. Yeah… right.
This ownership group went about as well as the partnership between Bart Simpson and Millhouse in regards to Radioactive Man #1.
No playoffs and a virtually hopeless team in 12 years and they expect to have a rabid fanbase…. sure.
The NBA side… no superstar, and no hope to get past the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Yeah that’s going to garner support anywhere.
Do these guys actually pay attention to the product at all???
Matt from MN
February 16th, 2011
12:56 pm
I am beyond angry with these moronic owners and have moved into incandescent rage. Why would any sane person with the monetary means want to invest and become PART of this ownership group? Our only hope is someone buys the team outright, but the lack of an ownership interest in the arena is the major stumbling block to that scenario.
PMC
February 16th, 2011
12:56 pm
You can’t employ guys like Billy Knight and Don Waddell for as long as they did and let them constantly wreck the franchises and then expect… to just have people plunk down money to come to the building and see a substandard pro product.
GD
February 16th, 2011
1:02 pm
This situation is a catch-22, I want to support the team, players, coaches, personnel, etc. to keep a hockey team in Atlanta, but frankly I find it unappealing to support an ownership group that is completely disinterested in fielding a competitive and exciting product.
That is what is missing here: excitement. I’ve been in Atlanta for about 6 years and I haven’t seen any excitement surrounding any of the pro teams until Jason Heyward arrived last spring and when the Falcons put together a terrific season. Braves – young, marketable talent on a team that has been supported by the city for decades. Falcons – engaged and active owner. Another common denominator of both franchises is a fanBASE. The Thrashers are still a startup, they need to be building a relationship with the people of Atlanta. Fans will not invest their time, money, and emotion in the Thrashers unless you’re in it for the long haul and serious about putting the best team possible on the ice every night.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
1:09 pm
For the Hawks’ sake, I hope the Thrashers do get sold. Not moved out of the city necessarily, but it’s clear at this point that the DASG has a hard enough time supporting one franchise.
Ted M
February 16th, 2011
1:09 pm
What if they don’t find investors or buyers?
aPOLLO_JETIC
February 16th, 2011
1:10 pm
Look to Kansas City (not Canada) who have a brand new arena desperately waiting for a franchise…Basketball or hockey…I could easily see a move there. What a depressing thought that is. We could have been a contender with the right owners.
Ted Striker
February 16th, 2011
1:15 pm
It would be awfully easy to pile on the Atlanta Spirit group. But I won’t do it. They take the risks and pay the bills. And nobody has to support them or not.
Do I think they’re the best? No.
Do I think they’re the best we’ve got now? Yes.
Until their critics step up and buy them out and provide a better product all they are is whiners. And I can’t stand whiners.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
February 16th, 2011
1:17 pm
get blank & bon jovi to pitch in and buy this team. whenver you have multiple morons running one organization, the product will be bad. i’m a huge football/baseball fan first but don’t want to see a NHL team in my city go somewhere else.
DawgDad
February 16th, 2011
1:22 pm
I believe an impending move absolutely WAS a factor in Buff re-signing. I’m resigned to them leaving. It’s truly a sad day when a signing like this is overshadowed by inevitable doom. Little benefit from signing up new investors with THIS ownership group. If someone can send the current owners packing and give the Thrashers another shot here, great, but otherwise what fool would bother?
Blaming this on the fans is a non-starter, and quite offensive. I don’t believe this ownership group is clueless, though it appears that way; I think they just plain don’t give a damn. They bought this team to flip it and screwed themselves over, which is actually quite amusing. Then they trot Don Waddell out as a marketing face to stir up the fan base – what a remarkable misstep that was. We saw in October and November what stirs up the fan base – good hockey.
tim
February 16th, 2011
1:28 pm
Does anyone trust the Atlanta spirit ownership group? Turner screwed up big time when they sold to them and not McDavid.
The Thrashers have failed to make the playoffs and generate consistant interest….courtesy of that lyin Waddell.
Why is that man employed??
DawgDad
February 16th, 2011
1:30 pm
Dr. Ken: I’ve got my fingers crossed, but there’s the multi-sport ownership issues to overcome. A Blank-Bon Jovi partnership could transform the Hawks and Thrashers (and the Arena, if they could swing that, too) into THE happenning sports venue in this town. Get some local basketball face into the mix and I’d bet they could fill the building every weekend and a good share of weeknights, too. All they have to do for hockey is support the hockey brain trust the way Blank supports the Dimitroff-Smith regime, and all the problems would vanish VERY quickly. Blank knows how to market, too.
reebok
February 16th, 2011
1:31 pm
I liked the Flames back in the day, and LOVED the Knights…the Thrashers, well…meh. I’ve been to some games, but the team has never seemed to have an identity and in the games I attended in 2009 & 2010, the players didn’t seem to be giving much effort…I couldn’t care less if they leave.
reebok
February 16th, 2011
1:33 pm
How in the world does this team sell 13,000 tix per game? Is this just corporate sponsorship & season-ticket holders? Who in their right mind would spend their entertainment $$ on such a poor product?
Matt
February 16th, 2011
1:34 pm
I’ve supported the Thrashers since they got here. I purchase Centre Ice just to watch the out of, and sometimes in-town games we don’t broadcast locally. I own merchandise, I go to practices, prospect camps, etc. just to watch this team, and I am officially done. I just can’t support this product anymore. It is such a shame. It has nothing to do with the players, the prodcut on the ice, or the lack of the love I have for this game, and has everything to do with the men that own this team. They will never get another dime from my pocket. Not for the Thrashers. Not for the Hawks. I cannot and will not support these men. You don’t need investors, Michael, you need to leave town.
Thrasher
February 16th, 2011
1:42 pm
Yeah if Turner had sold to McDavid none of this would be happening now, but only because they would have been the Houston Thrashers today. David McDavid is all about Houston and could care less about Atlanta.
WTF?
February 16th, 2011
1:44 pm
This just isn’t a sports town unless it’s tractor pulls, mud bogs, dirt track racing or some event associated with guns or bows and arrows. Atlanta probably needs to lose the Thrashers so they can once again be on the outside looking in as another hockey team leaves Atlanta to move on to a better city with loving fans and better chances of being a winner.
Atlanta is a sad town when it comes to sports.
GT Alum
February 16th, 2011
1:46 pm
Hey, SBNation has the solution…Arthur Blank Should Buy Braves, Hawks, Thrashers, MARTA, Paul Hewitt’s Contract, And The BeltLine Project. Not really, but you do have to love that headline considering how many Blank should buy this team and save it posts you see.
Main Street Magic
February 16th, 2011
1:47 pm
I agree with bluelander – It is shameful that the owners are trying to put the blame on the fans. Perhaps that is in the NHL owners manual “section 23, subsection 12, A. – “If your team goes downhill and you cannot put quality players on the ice, BLAME THE FANS! and threaten to move the team.”
Old Time Hockey
February 16th, 2011
1:50 pm
1- The Ownership group can NOT move the team of their own volition. Even if they sell to a canadian owner, THEY can NOT just up and move the team. That is a process that involves the NHL board of governors. So the Buff re-sign is just to make the team more attractive talk is moot.
2- Ticket prices are high league wide, because without a television contract, the only revenue is directly related to ticket sales. People show and bills get paid, people don’t show and financial problems abound.
3- Television revenues are coming. Bettman will do what he can to keep the team in the number 8 market in North America. Not sure where Winnipeg is on the list, but my guess is the number starts with 3 digits.
No Yankees?
February 16th, 2011
1:54 pm
If anyone thinks there are not enough “yankees here to support the team” I invite you to attend a Braves vs. Red Sox or Braves vs. Yankees game where the “Yankees” who live here outnumber the “redneck” Braves fans. Its pathetic.
Not enough people here care about hockey – I do not know why – there are likely several valid reasons, but that doesnt matter. The bottom line is the team is not viable here which is why in searching for 6 year nobody has stepped forward. Even the last guy who tried to buy the team and won a big law suit vs ASG doesnt want to buy in anymore. The truth is that anyone who buys the team should plan to bleed money and use the team as a tax loss – even the uber wealthy dont want to make a charitable deduction like that – you dont get rich being stupid….
WTF?
February 16th, 2011
1:56 pm
most people who say they don’t care about having a hockey team in Atlanta would be hooked on the game if they went to just one game, regardless of which team won. The action is unrivaled by any other sport. Go buy some cheap seats and watch one game and I guarantee you’ll be going to every home game from that point onward. Then you’ll be doing like us diehards and actually travel to see some games. Keep the Thrashers here and change the ownership.
juvenal
February 16th, 2011
1:57 pm
Speaker of the House says US is going broke-gas 4$/gal-even the Romans ran out of money for chariot races & gladiators…even some dauug fans i know only make a few games because still a market for their tix, 80+K, but not the same 80……..
DAN BOUCHARD
February 16th, 2011
2:04 pm
GARY BETTMAN & THE NHL SHOULD BE SUED FOR LETTING THESE IDIOTS BUY THIS FRANCHISE WE CALL THE THRASHERS!!!! WHERE’S THAT CAR DEALER ON DALLAS THAT GOT SCREWED OUT OF BUYING THEM NOW?
AC
February 16th, 2011
2:12 pm
what a joke these “owners” are. they’ve done nothing but hold back two franchises- soon to be one.
Matt from MN
February 16th, 2011
2:21 pm
I used to think that Islanders fans had it bad with their nutty owner, but it’s actually worse here because these ASG Clowns just don’t give a rip about this franchise.
illputitoncspan
February 16th, 2011
2:31 pm
Just wondering… If the Thrashers leave town, will they be leaving Atlanta or “The ATL”?
DAN BOUCHARD
February 16th, 2011
2:38 pm
@ The OMNI, Yes, we had a better team that the Thrashers before moving to Calgary.
DAN BOUCHARD
February 16th, 2011
2:39 pm
@ da bommer, Tom Cousins was a good owner of our team, just got caught in the real estate downturn of the late 70s!
ATLSN
February 16th, 2011
2:41 pm
If you’re an Atlanta/Georgia Sports fan and want to talk with other fans, check out our NEW message board.
http://www.atlsportsnation.com/forum
We have team forums for the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, Thrashers, etc. Please register and post! Be apart of a huge site in the early days of existence. See ya there! We’re looking for posters, moderators, bloggers/writers. Join up if interested.
Smoothie
February 16th, 2011
2:42 pm
Bradley – Thanks for your years of heartfelt support you ass clown. And fix the obvious typos in your article…you can’t even keep the Hawks and Thrashers straight. Don’t you proof-read??
GT Alum
February 16th, 2011
2:55 pm
WTF? -
I’ve been to both Gwinnett Gladiator and Atlanta Thrasher games, and I really don’t have any particular interest in watching hockey. Get used to the idea that just because you think something is great doesn’t mean that everyone else will. Especially since there aren’t deep hockey roots in this area.
For one, it’s not like a lot of Georgia kids play ice hockey in the winter. Hell, when I was growing up, the only ice rink I was aware of in this area was at Stone Mountain. So we don’t have the connection to the sport that a lot of northerners do.
Compare that with most lifelong Georgians (and even people throughout the Southeast and across the country) who were able to watch EVERY Braves game and Hawks game on TBS. Even though those teams weren’t terribly good, they are part of our lives. And most people in the area grow up UGA (sic) or Tech fans and have multi-generational ties to the school. A lot of them even go to one or the other. Add to that the fact that football is king in the South, and Georgia sports fans have a lot stronger ties to any of the other major teams in the Atlanta area than they do to the Thrashers.
Considering the Hawks have performed better than the Thrashers as of late and have deeper roots in Atlanta and they still can’t draw well, it’s not really a surprise the Thrashers have a hard time drawing fans.
brett
February 16th, 2011
2:57 pm
http://arthurblankbuythethrashers.com/
GT Alum
February 16th, 2011
2:58 pm
No Yankees? -
Yeah, but I think that’s part of the problem Atlanta sports teams have. The numerous transplants don’t adopt the local teams. They just continue to support their old teams. Not sure if the Thrashers have the same kind of swings in attendance based on their opponent that the Hawks and Braves do, but a lot of the “yankees” only go to games when their team is in town. It’s hard to muster consistent support for a team based on people showing up to watch the opponent.
Iron League 13
February 16th, 2011
3:08 pm
Fine addition Mr. Bradley, thanks for chiming in. That last line WAS GOLD!!!
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2011
3:13 pm
Thanks, Iron League. I really do feel for Thrashers fans. Never have so many be so loyal for such little reason.
PMC
February 16th, 2011
3:16 pm
I don’t think they bought the team to flip it. I think they underestimated the amount of money it was going to cost to run the teams and they put far too much trust for far too long in two GM’s that were not very adept at thier jobs.
These guys wanted a basketball team, Not a hockey team, but the Arena came as a package deal…. so who knows, maybe Phillips wants out of that 10 million a year naming rights deal anyway.