If the Thrashers leave, it won’t be because Atlanta failed them
Are the lights about to dim on ice hockey in Atlanta? (AJC photo by Jessica McGowan)
The endgame has surely begun. It’s sad, yes. Given the way this franchise has been run, it’s also inevitable.
In the three months since Michael Gearon Jr., one of the team’s many owners, said the Thrashers were for sale, no credible buyer has emerged who’s willing to throw away money to keep the team in Atlanta. And now, reports esteemed colleague Chris Vivlamore, the Atlanta Spirit has begun negotiations with True North Sports and Entertainment, which very much wants a hockey club for Winnipeg.
Some continue to hold out hope, thinking an Atlanta knight will appear to save the Thrashers. But here we need ask: Does this franchise merit saving?
Atlanta is on the cusp of becoming the first American city to lose two NHL teams, but this failure is more pronounced. The old Flames actually did well on the ice, making the playoffs six times in eight years. The Thrashers have been a continuing dud: One playoff appearance, no playoff victories. They’ve seen their two best players leave because they wanted to make more money but also because they wanted to win.
As convenient as it is to lay all blame on the ham-handed Spirit, these owners weren’t the ones who hired Don Waddell as franchise architect. Time Warner did that. Where the Spirit failed was in its basic commitment to hockey.
The Spirit was made up of businessmen from three cities, most of whom preferred basketball. In the Spirit’s corporate eye, the Thrashers were always going to be the Hawks’ little brothers. Had the hockey club been well-run, that might have been OK. But the hockey club was adrift, and ownership didn’t much care. Indeed, it kept rewarding Waddell for the rousing achievement of coming in under budget.
We now know that the Spirit sought to dump the Thrashers almost from the start, but the sideshow with Steve Belkin lasted so long the team lost its novelty. This stopped being Our New Hockey Club and became just another serial loser. Worse, it was a loser working hard not to spend money. Why should anyone subsidize such a half-hearted enterprise?
Not many among us did. The Thrashers’ attendance cratered, and even the hope inherent in last year’s makeover – new GM, new coach, many imported Chicago Blackhawks – came too late. The Thrashers wilted after New Year’s, and yet another season ended with the 82nd game.
It’s hard to miss the NHL playoffs, which include more than half the league’s teams, 10 times in 11 tries. The Thrashers have managed it. They haven’t found a goaltender or played much defense. They went five years too long with Waddell. They’ve given the bulk of the audience no reason to keep watching.
As cruel as it sounds, they’ve had their chance. Of the four teams that entered the NHL in the latest round of expansion, the Minnesota Wild has made the playoffs three times, reaching the conference finals in 2003; the Nashville Predators have qualified for postseason play six of the past seven seasons and just won a series. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets — one playoff appearance, zero victories — keep the Thrashers from being alone at the bottom.
Not since 2007-2008 have the Thrashers averaged more than 15,000 at Philips Arena. Over the past three seasons, they’ve outdrawn only the Islanders, who are the third team in the New York metropolitan area, and the Phoenix Coyotes, who were in line for export to Manitoba before voters stepped in last week. When you go three seasons and average 13,901 per home date, is there really an audience to desert?
There is, sort of. The same cluster of fans who loved the Thrashers when they arrived in 1999 love them still, but the franchise has had 12 years to attract a bigger audience and failed. For the zealots, separation would come as a blow. For the rest of us, it would mean little. Because the Thrashers have never sold themselves to us. They haven’t won big enough. They’ve been part of Atlanta, but they’ve never become part of the Atlanta conversation.
They’ve had 11 seasons, three more than the Flames did. They set up shop in a new arena and rode a wave of good will. They capitalized on none of it. If/when they leave, it won’t be because Atlanta failed the Thrashers. It will be because the Thrashers failed Atlanta.
By Mark Bradley
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263 comments Add your comment
Seriously
May 17th, 2011
6:41 am
Anyone else just pissed off that the NHL is turning a blind eye to the complete failure of owners in ATL? No wonder the NHL is having problems with its image…if they let this happen then to hell with them. Sooner or later all of the teams will go bankrupt as they will never produce like the MLB and NFL.
reebok
May 17th, 2011
7:28 am
Buh-bye, Thrashers. Attending your games, which I gave up on about 2 years ago, was a colossal waste of time and money. You will not be missed and you will be forgotten quickly.
sports fan
May 17th, 2011
7:28 am
What exactly has Arthur Blank done for the Falcons? A payroll consistently in the lower tier of the league, very little playoff success, can’t sell out the dome, etc. Yep, sounds just like the Thrahsers. Yet people are snowed by the AJC to believe he is a great owner. The economics of hockey (no tv deal, few southern fans, bloated payroll) ensure that no owner could succeed here. No matter how rich you are, throwing $20 million per year into a hole gets really old. Look at Tampa. Headed toward perhaps the Stanley Cup finals and yet going to lose $20 million this year. Mark, after all these years, you still know very little about the business of sports.
Not Don Waddell
May 17th, 2011
7:42 am
Don Waddell should be burned in effigy by anyone who wants Atlanta to be a hockey town. That numbnuts should have mercifully retired at some point and not continued stealing the Thrashers’ money. What a monumnetal boob that guy is. I imagine that the first thing the Winnipeg group will do is fire Waddell from whatever role he is currently in.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
May 17th, 2011
7:48 am
i feel sorry for the support staff that worked so hard at the practice facility and the arena as there will be few places for them to go.
Winnipeg, Canada
May 17th, 2011
7:51 am
`
If the Hawks should also come to Winnipeg,
they would be the Thrashers’ little brothers.
.
joe
May 17th, 2011
7:56 am
hello gladiators
Hatfieldgeoff
May 17th, 2011
7:58 am
The Atlanta Spirits indifference is the only possible reason Don Waddell could keep his job for so long with no positive results. Billy Knight was terrible but at least they finally got rid of him. But Waddell remained in place and incompetent. Several NHL teams rose fell and then rose again while Waddell’s inept moves kept the Thrashers floundering. Once again Atlanta will get a bum rap as a lousy sports town, but this franchise never did anything to deserve support.
joe
May 17th, 2011
8:03 am
i could probably get to winnipeg easier than atlanta from acworth anyway.
Shug
May 17th, 2011
8:05 am
Good riddance.
Yeti Lee
May 17th, 2011
8:05 am
Of course you people in Atlanta failed them, there is no other excuse. The team has never made money the whole time they have been here and have lost on average 20 million per season. It’s not really all that surprising though just look at this paper as an example. The Thrashers are listed 10th under the sports heading, behind high school sports, golf and the Peachtree road race. Seriously even your local papers don’t support them and treat them like they are nothing. Southern US is just not a hockey market and you’ve failed twice now to prove that statement. Now let’s move them to Winnipeg where they WILL BE supported and where the media WILL treat them as the major professional sports team they are. We in Winnipeg welcome the Thrashers with open arms and will show you players how you should have been treated.
bobbyg
May 17th, 2011
8:11 am
@Yeti Lee…hey smart guy…your doing your country and city proud..they must have really good education in Winnipeg……the sports teams go in alphabetical order…nothing to do with importance…
bobbyg
May 17th, 2011
8:13 am
@Yeti Lee not to mention the media will support them and so will the fans cause there is nothing else entertaining about Winnipeg…we can’t help it that our city is full of fun and entertaining things and we have options..stop trolling…
The Real Thrash
May 17th, 2011
8:13 am
Well the great Kincaid said it wasn’t the owners, it was the fans that lost
Atlanta this team.
Of course we know who pays that station. The Spirit.
What a joke!
Howard
May 17th, 2011
8:15 am
The problem of course is the Spirit. I hope that now that the Thrashers are leaving fans don’t take their money and go to the Hawks games. I am a homer and will watch the Hawks on TV but I will avoid spending money on the Hawks until the Spirit sell them. I hope other fans take the same approach. The best way to get winning teams is to get rid of the Spirit. Send a message and don’t buy tickets. Then maybe these fools will sell to someone who is willing to make the necessary commitment and know how to run a sports franchise.
The Real Thrash
May 17th, 2011
8:17 am
As someone said to get to anything worth seeing in Winnipeg you have to drive
for six hours out of town.
Whisky Breath
May 17th, 2011
8:21 am
Isn’t it generally blamed on the fans for a failing franchise? What kind of media guy are you?
Kdawg
May 17th, 2011
8:24 am
Why sell out to another country? Send the Thrashers to Hartford. Bring back the Whalers!
Yeti Lee
May 17th, 2011
8:25 am
@bobbyg – Nothing entertaining about Winnipeg? Another typical dumbass who has never stepped foot here thinking they know what the deal is. We have Football, Baseball, Hockey, Numerous Museums, Great parks, Great beaches, amazing music festivals, folklarama, Amazing fishing, camping, boating, Great restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, Tons of golf courses, The world famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet and so much more. So like most ignorant individuals who comment when they have no clue what they are talking about, you’re so very wrong. Don’t worry all the Thrasher players will be having a good time and will find tons to do in this great city, and most of all they will have support and actual real fans filling the arena each and every night.
RGP
May 17th, 2011
8:30 am
I hated losing the Flames and will hate it if we lose the Thrashers.
Thanks from Winnipeg
May 17th, 2011
8:32 am
Seriously a big big thanks to the city of Atlanta and it’s citizens. Thank you for once again showing that you guys have no idea how to support a hockey team. Thank you for once again letting your franchise leave and move to another Canadian city. It must feel really good and make all 7 of you fans happy to know that you’re the first city to lose a team twice, maybe the third time is the charm for you guys? Then again I wouldn’t mind if you guys took another shot in 10-15 years because after a few years you’ll fail a 3rd time and another Canadian city will swoop in and save the day. Again thank you so very much!
Sanjeev
May 17th, 2011
8:37 am
Can’t the ASG move to Winnipeg instead? Hockey can work here with the right ownership. Florida has 2 teams.
Dave28
May 17th, 2011
8:41 am
@Sanjeev – Florida has two teams yes, but one is miserably failing (Florida Panthers) and will be the next rumored relocation, after Columbus.
Dave
May 17th, 2011
8:50 am
The problem with having sports teams in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Florida is that you have a huge transplant population that aren’t true to the city. I know many family and friends who have moved south to Atlanta, St.Petersburg and Phoenix, and still root for our Philly teams. The only time these teams are popular are when they compete for a title and that just isn’t reasonable every season, as only huge markets teams like the Yankees can keep spending to stay competitive. I feel sorry for the diehard Atlanta Hockey fans who are seeing their team leave yet again, but I just don’t believe that Bettman should have expanded in the first place. There are too many teams in sports, and a good chunk of the cities just can’t support them on an even level that the big market teams can. Even with the invention of revenue sharing, salary caps, and other things to help the ‘little guy’ it still doesnt work in the end. All sports should have about 20 teams, and the level of play would be better, and we wouldn’t be watching a dilluded product. If the Thrashers move to Winnipeg, they are going to face the same problems of keeping big free agents. Those who don’t study history, are doomed to repeat it. Putting teams in Atlanta and Winnipeg twice?
G Connor
May 17th, 2011
8:53 am
Hockey is by far the most entertaining sport in the world, but has to be promoted in non traditional areas, such as Atlanta.
Many N.H.L teams in non traditional areas have trived because of grass roots promotions, start at recreational hockey to progressive hockey, get kids and families involved to create a fan base.
Texas has one of the largest minor hockey Silver Stick Tournaments in North America, because N.H.L. and other Pro Leagues in that state ensured this type of promotion was started and they continue to follow through with it.
Fans of any sport are drawn to these sports by watching and participating, teams must participate with the communities to ensure the sports following is achieved. Players must get into the community and promote their game.
In Canada, we are seeing hockey taking a back seat to soccer, why because of the demogaphics of our population, new Canadians from non hockey countries. The thing is many of these kids are also taking up hockey and we are seeing these kids making it to C.H.L. (OHL, QMHL, WHL)
Kids continue to playstreet hockey and in our neighbourhood, when Andrew Brunnette comes home for the summer he will play with the kids as well. The game does not have to be played on ice to make a fan of the game, but must be played in some form.
Many Canadian kids could have made any pro sport, but most focused on hockey rather then baseball, football, basketball or soccer, why because hockey is a Canadian Tradition and PASSION.
This passion can be created anywhere, State of Minnesota, Michigan are examples and it can be done in Atlanta and Georgia.
Bull Doggy Dog
May 17th, 2011
8:59 am
Can we at least keep the Thrasher’s Name, like Seattle kept the Super Sonics title, because it is our State Bird, and just in case we get a new hockey team, with a real owner, in the future.
Really Thrashed Off
May 17th, 2011
9:04 am
There is no way a city the size of Atlanta should lose another hockey team. A large percentage of the residents of metro Atlanta are transplanted northerners, who do show up for Thrasher games. The only problem is, they all show up wearing their former home team jerseys and only show when “their” team is in town.
The failure of the Thrashers lies solely at the feet of the Atlanta Spirit. Their ineptness has whittled the season ticket base down to nothing and alienated everyone else that even had a passing interest in hockey.
By the way, who does Don Waddell have compromising photos of? He must have something on someone to have been the person constantly rewarded for mediocrity or worse.
ASG: Atlanta’s Sad Geezers!
kovy
May 17th, 2011
9:08 am
any last minute attempt to save the thrashers would have to include the words: the entire asg is out as well as their hired management team. then you may generate some real community interest.
NHL or Bust
May 17th, 2011
9:12 am
If the Thrashers do bolt, forget going to see the Gladiators: A minor league team in a minor league facility, with minor league promotions. No thanks.
Thrashers, Jets & Moose Oh My | Toronto Sports Media Blog
May 17th, 2011
9:22 am
[...] That says it all to me. [...]
Keep Hockey in Atlanta
May 17th, 2011
9:26 am
I will go the Gladiators more so than what I have since they have been here. I’m a hockey fan so I have to get that fix somehow.
PMC
May 17th, 2011
9:30 am
If we’re such an awful town and all how are there two other cities worse in attendance?
Shouldn’t we have retraction if it’s that bad?
The amount of outright lying is disgusting. If there were Karma……..
PMC
May 17th, 2011
9:33 am
I hope Winnepeg enjoys having thier second AHL hockey team.
AceUnderwood
May 17th, 2011
9:39 am
I’ve gone to Thrasher games in the past, and it used to be a fun/entertaining experience years ago. I went a couple of times last season and not only were the empty seats depressing, but the lack of enthusiasm and involvement from the PA announcers to the mascot made it a fairly mediocre event.
On the other hand, I got to see a Predators home game, and wow, what a difference! The fans were engaged the whole time, cheering, chanting, heckling, the team played their butts off and it showed. And it gave me a new understanding and appreciation for the sport. So, while I am sad that the Thrashers might leave, I’ve been converted to a Preds fan.
If Thrashers ownership did half of what the Preds’ have done, there would be a lot more enthusiasm. Tho, to be fair, the Predators came very close to leaving Nashville…and they’ve made the playoffs more often than not since they came into existence in ‘98. Hockey thriving in Nashville because it’s a great experience and it’s fun. And the only other options are the Titans (who were awful this past season), Vandy (who are perennially awful), and minor league baseball.
If we had hockey ownership that cared, I guarantee hockey could do so much better in ATL.
Fillin' up @ Juniors
May 17th, 2011
9:43 am
lets be perfectly clear. I am boycotting anything the ASG does starting with the Hawks. If I see one of them around town I will punch them in their face…I am going to double my support for Arther Blank and the Falcons…
U-Haul
May 17th, 2011
9:47 am
Let’s Go, THRASHERS !!!
oldschoolodgers
May 17th, 2011
9:56 am
Agree with some others on here…as long as the ASG owns the Hawks and/or Philips, neither will get a dime from me. No more concerts (unless they are at a different venue), no more Hawks game…not even watching on TV. They can all rot in h*ll.
And I’m done with the NHL as well…I was nearly done with them back in the day prior to the Thrashers what with Gary’s endless attempts to make the league as pansy as possible (no hard hits, instigator rules, etc.)….but then I got a team of amy own….well, that is ending, so back to watching MMA, some Glads games, etc. Honestly…I love the game of hockey…but it barely even resembles what it did back in the 80s and 90s…there are far better things to do with my time and money.
Thrash
May 17th, 2011
10:11 am
Nothing about the deal to put a team in Winnipeg makes sense. There’s barely a million in the entire province of Manitoba, Winnipeg is half that, about the same population as Gwinnett County alone. A TV market that if in the US, wouldn’t be in the Top 75… And Phoenix is saved? The only team in Phoenix anyone cares about is the Suns. The Coyotes have had much longer of a chance to make it and failed. Send them to Winnipeg.
J.D.
May 17th, 2011
10:19 am
I don’t live in the area at all (I’m a Caps fan and live in Baltimore), but as a fan of a division rival, it would be awful to see you all lose your team. For the zealots especially, but for Atlanta in general. It’s a city that could easily support a hockey team if it weren’t constantly mismanaged (I’m an Orioles fan, so I understand THAT as well). I hope someone comes in and can keep the franchise in Atlanta while not running it into the ground. You all deserve better.
Questions for the ATL Mayor - Video
May 17th, 2011
10:23 am
We are upset. Many of you are upset. The video asks some questions of our leadership that have most likely been running through many of your minds. Not sure the term “leader” even applies in this case.
http://www.keepthethrashers.com/videokeepthrashersATL.html
Great job ASG – you ran hockey right into the ground and right out of town!
schmeckdawg
May 17th, 2011
10:24 am
Awesome article Mark. Couldn’t agree with you more!!!!!!!
Chris
May 17th, 2011
10:26 am
I like the Thrashers and usually go to a game or two each year.
That said, if they leave it is not a bad reflection on our city. Hockey is not a top 5 sport. All you have to do is look at the television broadcasting fees, and that speaks volumes.
1. NFL 2. MLB(?) 3. College Football 4. NBA 5. College Hoops 6. NASCAR(?) 7. Soccer (MLS + English Premier League) 8. Anything else that makes more than $0 9. Hockey
My order isn’t exactly correct up there, but the point is valid. ESPN spends more to broadcast Major League Soccer than NBC does for NHL Hockey. Because NBC pays $0 for that programming and it’s still a bad deal for them….
I’ll be sad to see the Thrashers go if it turns out that way though
ManitobaMooseFan
May 17th, 2011
10:44 am
I am in Winnipeg and I am hoping something happens where the team does not leave Atlanta becuase the team will last maybe 1 year in Winnipeg.
Really?
May 17th, 2011
10:45 am
@ Chris – NBC pays $0? They just made a 10 year 2 billion dollar deal to be able broadcast the nhl, so I have no idea where you get your facts from.
Cobb Dawg
May 17th, 2011
10:51 am
Seems owners in every sport these days think that just because they invest, they should make tons of money. That doesn’t happen in any business. Businesses start with an investment, then money is made when the business is BUILT. And as one who has built a successful business, I can say it took a lot of blood, sweat, and toil (maybe even some tears). I don’t think that’s happened recently with the Thrashers ownership.
Cobb Dawg
May 17th, 2011
10:52 am
BTW, the Green Bay Packers are publicly owned. Pony up Thrasher fans!
New Rumor
May 17th, 2011
10:57 am
Reports state that Lil Jon and Jerry Bruckheimer are working on a deal to purchase the team and keep them in Atlanta. That loud sound you just heard was a million hearts breaking in Manitoba.
Hamilton Bulldog
May 17th, 2011
11:21 am
Put the Thrashers in the Golden Horseshoe. Over 6.5 million people. Most are hockey fans with very low expectations.
The Leafs have been mismanaged for 43 years and contunue to sell out every game.
Put the Thrashers in Hamilton/Burlington/Mississauga and they will make money regardless of how poorly managed they are.
Pete Ham
May 17th, 2011
11:36 am
Very sad. I came down to Atlanta from Toronto to catch the Leafs play the Thrashers this past February, and was very impressed with the enthusiasm the fans had for the Thrashers, the Phillips arena, and how everywhere I went in the city, someone was willing to talk about the team.
HallPlante
May 17th, 2011
11:54 am
Don Waddell will have the rare “honor” of being there at the start and end of a franchise. If he sees a mirror, he should walk on past it.