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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
263 comments Add your comment
SportsFan
May 17th, 2011
11:55 am
There are NO local owners in Atlanta. Not Lil Wayne, not Biggie Smalls, or Mr. Miagi….sheesh.
Section 119
May 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
Native Atlantan and fan of original Flames and Thrashers STH since ‘99. The imminent departure of the Thrash is a reflection on the horrific ASG, not the city/region’s support of NHL hockey. People forget that the Flames and Thrashers have outdrawn the Hawks in attendance more times than not. What happened here is poor management plain and simple. A mediocre team that fails to make the playoffs 10 out of 11 seasons is simply not going to draw in Atlanta or be part of the “conversation” as Bradley puts it. Hawks and Braves have been there too, their sports simply have better revenue streams than the NHL. Still hoping for a miracle from Lil’ John, the “Balkan”, or whoever, but it will probably end up like the “Glen Ford to buy the Flames” rumors from spring 1980.
Yurtle_the_Turtle
May 17th, 2011
12:03 pm
And given that the idiots who run the Hawks have failed Atlanta and the Thrashers, why should I support the Hawks?
EMerckx69
May 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
@Archie
Because they are not true Southerners. Class, respect and manners are something true Southerners learn early and live by every day.
“Another zealot here, I have a question for my fellow hockey fanatics… How much more and more angry do you get with all the “who cares!” comments from the local non-fans? If you lost your job, I wouldn’t go up to you and say “who cares, I never didn’t lose mine!” If someone stole your car, I wouldn’t say “oh well, I thought your car was ugly anyway!” Nobody would say that, because it’s a terrible, cruel, a-hole thing to say! So why do all these clowns come out and say the same thing now? Who cares how many people care the team is leaving?!?!? All that matters is that some people care, the people who paid their hard earned money for 10 years to watch a team that never gave them anything in return, and the people who don’t get the money they spent back the way these owners do when they sell!”
Brandon
May 17th, 2011
12:14 pm
I just called the league office and filed a complaint about the NHL abandoning Atlanta. Someone is supposed to call me back. Here is the number if anyone else would like to complain. 212-789-2000
DawgDad
May 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
I credit the Thrashers for providing me with many memories of the worst professional ice hockey I’ve ever witnessed. There were highlights, sure, but far overshadowed by the years of glaring incompetence on and off the ice.
There were real highlights early this year – then with the team stressed due to a heavy schedule and mounting injuries – nothing. The ownership just sat back and watched the product on the ice tank. Players played hurt and got hurt worse for doing so. Minor league fodder filled the holes on the top scoring lines. Slater’s loss – virtually no attempt to fill the hole he left. This was a team loaded with raw young talent that could have easily afforded to trade a draft pick or future values for some NHL help. Alas, no one but the fans and players cared. Good-bye, good riddance.
Chelsea Fan
May 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
I lost interest in hockey when it became apparent that the ownership didn’t give two [expletive deleted] about this team. We need Mr. Blank to get an MLS soccer team in Atlanta ASAP!
The Propheteer
May 17th, 2011
12:28 pm
BRUCE LEVENSON:
Satan also sent his only begotten son to walk among us.
kamalkaze
May 17th, 2011
12:29 pm
I’m as bummed as any other fan about (most likely) losing the Thrashers, but what is with all the Canadian trolls?
I know many Canadians and they get very irritated when Americans (or others for that matter) claim to know something about Canada. Why should we have to read jabbering comments from ignorant Canucks who probably have never seen the Altantic Ocean?
Since when does being from Manitoba allow you a holier-than-thou attitude towards other hockey fans?
Go back to watching Corner Gas reruns and stop disgracing your country.
Curious George
May 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
Why didn’t Bruce Levenson’s mother END him with a wire coat hanger?
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 17th, 2011
12:40 pm
That’s because all those from the Manitoba capital are well aware of how negatively Winnipeg is perceived throughout all of the NHL. They are fighting hard to get a team back in a city that nobody wants in the NHL unlike Atlanta, Phoenix, Miami etc..etc.. You can bet most if not all veteran players on the Thrashers will be calling their agents if any move to Winnipeg happens to see how they can get out of playing in Winnipeg.
Unbelievable
May 17th, 2011
12:57 pm
For anyone that wants to blame the fans, let me ask you this. What company, let alone sports team can be successful with poor ownership/management? It’s almost impossible to do. You’re talking about owners who wanted to unload the team the minute they got it. Owners that not only allowed Don Waddell to keep his job after numerous failures, but gave him a promotion! It cannot be easy to get fans to come and see something when the owners don’t care about it as well. I honestly can’t blame others for not wanting to own the team because who wants to take on the colossal mess these morons have caused? It’s not like just buying an expansion team. ASG are the worst owners in all of sports. I love the Hawks, but if ASG is still at the helm they will run that into the ground too.
"Blu" - Fan
May 17th, 2011
1:04 pm
Its terribly difficult to have a foundation for on going support when the professional hockey community in this town goes in the toilet once every decade. Flames ? left to become Stanley Cup champs at the end of the next decade…Knights ? Winners, but left way too soon. The Thrashers organization started life by excluding any of our previous professional players or entities. They could have elected to build on the foundation of history and work in references to our past, but decided to start from scratch (poor move). We could have drafted and traded for the league’s elite (oh, wait, we did that, but they all got hurt or left for greener pastures). This year had great potential, but due to injuries and inconsistent performance, we finished with only 82 games scheduled. Poor Managment and Ownership do not lead to a successful business venture. We HAVE to win games to keep people coming. Once they are in the building, treat them right. In the 80’s you got free Braves Tix from school because they couldnt fill the stadium. 90’s came in and we were winners = ticket sales increased. It has nothing to do with Markets (there were more SE and California Teams in the playoffs than Canadian Teams). Put a winner in the Owner’s Box and put winner’s on the Ice…problem solved. i hope the team stays…Nashville, Raliegh or Tampa is a LONG way to go to watch hockey.
Brent
May 17th, 2011
1:06 pm
Do you know why the Atlanta Knights were so successful in their time here? There were three things they had that the Thrashers NEVER had going for them. One, they were affordable (I had season tickets just off the glass and I was a kid in my mid-20’s back then). Two, they were actually very good; they never missed the playoffs while they were here and brought this city a professional sports championship one year before the Braves (I know the snobs don’t like to acknowledge it, since it was only minor league hockey, but as Bruce Levenson once infamously said at a Thrashers’ season ticket holder forum, “DEAL WITH IT.”).
But most importantly, they had UNITY in the fanbase here. I remember going to games and seeing folks wearing jerseys of the Penguins, Flyers, Rangers, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Bruins, Sabres, what have you…and they were ALL pulling for the Knights. You could still be a faithful fan of whatever team you left your frozen economic cesspool of a northern city in favor of Atlanta’s fairer climate and ample employment opportunities while watching (and supporting) the local team that played the same sport. The Thrashers NEVER had that chance, and as badly as they were run they never gave anyone any reason to even consider switching their alliances.
I blame the NHL’s Board of Governors for approving the sale of the team to Atlanta Spirit in the first place. I refuse to believe that the proper due diligence would not have exposed those clowns for being the shysters that we now know them to be. It was like giving custody of a foster child to Charlie Sheen or Lindsey Lohan; who in their right, rational mind could have EVER thought that was a good idea? Now the NHL fans of Atlanta, home team and otherwise, are all equally screwed. Fortunately we still have the Gladiators in the ‘burbs. If you need a hockey fix after this greasefire of an organ-eye-zation leaves, you’re more than welcome outside the perimeter. Bring your Penguins, Flyers, Rangers, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Bruins, Sabres, what have you jerseys with you if you want…we can all be united again, free of the NHL, and supporting the local team. God bless.
Tandy
May 17th, 2011
1:09 pm
I am a preds fan but I hate to see hockey teams leave the south. I am starting to see the youth get more involved around Nashville and even in Huntsville. It seems no one is trying to grow the sport in Atlanta except the 13,000 at the game. Good luck hope they stay in Atlanta!
Falafal House
May 17th, 2011
1:27 pm
To all the people trashing the peg… suk it! You lost. $9.99 for a ticket to ATL vs MTL???!!!!! Gimmee a break. Deal done by end of week.. ticket drive next week, welcome home your Manitoba jets/Falcons.. Where’s Phil Foley? HA
EMerckx69
May 17th, 2011
1:28 pm
@New Rumor – 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.
Unfortunatley I don’t trust the ASG too give anyone a fair deal to a local buyer since they own the operating rights to Philips Arena.
According to CBC’s Elliotte Friedman “In fact, it appears that the Hawks and the Arena will be sold before the Thrashers. However, the reason the hockey team remains available is that the new ownership (which apparently is local) has no interest in buying it. That’s an enormous problem, because who is going to want to buy the Thrashers without control of the building? Nobody. Renting Philips Arena 50-odd nights a year and banking on sponsorship revenue is not a recipe for success.”
They have a number from True North and the NHL is the only one that can help save the Thrashers from leaving Atlanta. Did the Atlanta Spirit make a good-faith effort to sell to prospective purchasers to operate the club in Atlanta? You know the lease that ASG will give to any local buyer is not fair. The Dallas Mavericks (owned by Mark Cuban) and Dallas Stars (owned by Tom Hicks) are co-tenants in the arena and split arena revenues 50-50, including non-sports events such as concerts. That will not be the case in Atlanta so that makes it harder to sell.I also doubt the $20 million a year losses by the Thrashers. How are the suites and naming rights money allocated between the teams?
And where the hell is the NHL is supporting Atlanta. According to Bettman “We know that the current ownership of the Thrashers has been trying for a long period of time to try and sell the franchise and they haven’t been able to do it. If they can’t find local ownership, then we might all have to deal with that.” Well bettman ASG owners acknowledged in court documents that they have been looking to sell the team for years, but those efforts were complicated by a long running dispute with former co-owner Steve Belkin. That dispute was finally settled in December. Nobody in their right mind would buy the team when there was ongoing litigation between the owners. So really it’s only been since December.
Curt McGirt
May 17th, 2011
1:32 pm
It seems obvious, to me at least, that there is some sort of fix in. I think that unless the Thrashers are saved by some angelic investor they are gone sadly. But I don’t think we’ll be without hockey long in Atlanta.
Surely there has to be an owner who is worthwhile that would rather have his team in this market than his current one. Or maybe we get the Coyotes at a deep discount once the Thrashers leave. Of if the rumors of Comcast demanding 32 teams are true, we get a new team in a realigned NHL.
Winnipeg = Poverty
May 17th, 2011
1:35 pm
Losing is what the Winnipeg Jets did constantly and I expect another NHL team will do the same until someone with a brain decides that Winnipeg being in the NHL is a farce and it is time to move out of Winnipeg once again.
capsfan
May 17th, 2011
1:45 pm
As a Caps fan, if this news had come out last year I would be lementing with the rest of you. I have been shipping my money to the Spirit three times a year for the last six years to see my beloved team, but after the opener this year, and paying $90 for two upper deck tickets I said no more. I feel for you Thrashers fans, but I am glad that this team will go where they are wanted, and to an ownership group that will support this great game, even if it means I have to travel to Nashville to see the Caps!
fefe
May 17th, 2011
2:32 pm
Canada shamanda, they lost the Jets and the Nordiques, what makes anyone think it will be any different this time?
Andrew51
May 17th, 2011
2:33 pm
@ Kevin HOW is it obvious that Phoenix is staying put? Try delaying the inevitable.
Detroit won’t be re-aligned for next year, period.
It’s more about TV than most realize……..and when was the last time you saw the Thrashers play on NBC? That’s what I thought….
Andrew51
May 17th, 2011
2:42 pm
@fefe Um……..I’m no economist, but how about a Canadian dollar that’s worth $1.05 US ……?
Maybe some fool saw Minnesota lose a team/regain a team and go on to average 18,000 per game because it’s a real *hockey market*?
I dunno….I guess these are just speculation. Gimme a break…
Bill
May 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
There are so many people from other parts of the country that live in Atlanta that you would think Hockey would have taken off there this second time around. I don’t live there any longer, but I love Atlanta. THe Thrashers were poorly run and it’s hard to build a fan base when owners are incompetent and the team is run like a minor league team.
Atlanta has probably lost Hockey for the 2nd time. Many people have always said that Atlanta only supports Pro teams that are winning. There may some truth to this, but I think the fans can’t be blamed at all for the Thrasher fiasco.Shame, because unlike Tampa or Miami fans that goes to games when the are only winning, Thrasher fans had a better base of loyal supporters. I would be safe in saying that if Atlanta won the Cup instead of Tampa, there would have been significantly more people celebrating a parade than the Thousand that showed up in Tampa a few years back. It was the fault of the fans that the Flames moved, but not this time.
EMerckx69
May 17th, 2011
3:49 pm
This article is from October 2009, but it states WHY the NHL needs to make it in the US.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/716539–tv-ratings-glowing-for-the-u-s
“The holy grail of professional sports – routine access to 115 million American television households– has long eluded the NHL despite efforts dating back to the infamous glowing puck of the 1990s. ”
Professional hockey’s long-term growth ultimately lies south of the border, Pilson says.
“I have great respect for cities like Hamilton and the idea of a second club in Toronto. But if hockey retreats back to Canada, that would begin to diminish the game here in the United States and the future of hockey is with the 300 million who live here, not the 30 million who live in Canada.”
Hope
May 17th, 2011
3:56 pm
Kevin Allen tweets a local group makes offer.
http://twitter.com/#!/kausatoday/status/70569998925578240
Elephant in the room
May 17th, 2011
4:01 pm
While the talk goes round and round the real question is simple:
Why after what we are told is at least two years of searching has not one buyer come forward interested in buying and keeping the team here in Atlanta?
This is not a leading or biased question – just an obvious one. If a team in Atlanta is such a good idea how come nobody else with big bucks seems to agree? And its not like the team would sell for a premium – in fact, it seems that buying the team would equate to getting a home that is in foreclosure.
EMerckx69
May 17th, 2011
4:08 pm
Normally, N.B.A. telecasts outdraw N.H.L. telecasts by somewhere between a 3-to-1 and 4-to-1 margin in America.
2009 Data
For example, while Versus was registering a network-record viewership of 2.96 million for Tuesday night’s Game 3 between the Pens and Wings, TNT had a cable playoff-record 10.1 million viewers for last Thursday’s Game 4 of the Orlando-Cleveland N.B.A. semifinal.
2010 Data
According to Nielsen’s special-ordered program-based “Fast National” ratings, the “NBA Finals on ABC – GM 2” overcame its competitors during primetime, including NBC’s broadcast of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, to qualify as Sunday night’s No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (15.5 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (6.4 rating), A18-49 (6.3 rating) and A25-54 (6.3 rating). The primetime portion of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 on NBC between the Blackhawks & Flyers cored a 2.4 adults 18-49 rating from 8-11pm. That was up 33% from the fast affiliate ratings for last year’s Game 5 (Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings on Saturday 6/6/09), which posted a 1.6/6 in the Fast Nationals before rising to a 1.8/7 in the Finals.
Prior to the game on ABC, the Jimmy Kimmel Game Night special drew a 2.6 adults 18-49 rating, and the NBA pre-game special drew a 3.4 rating.
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/07/tv-ratings-sunday-nba-finals-and-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-both-up-from-last-year/53289/
Go to the bottom and look for ratings of all TV shows. It shows the ratings every half hour.
Time Network Show Rating(18-49) Viewers(millions)
8:00 ABC NBA Finals #2 4.0 10.031
8:00 NBC NHL Stanley Cup #5 1.7 4.689
8:00 Fox The Simpsons 1.6 3.784
10:30 ABC NBA Finals #2 6.3 14.867
10:30 NBC NHL Stanley Cup #5 2.5 6.358
10:30 CBS Cold Case (repeat) 1.3 6.055
snottrocket
May 17th, 2011
4:10 pm
Great read….spot on points being made.
I keep seeing people respond to the threat of the Thrashers leaving by saying “well, it just shows you Atlanta isn’t a Hockey town” which I immediately jump on and say BS! Case in point: the Gladiators who’s attendance gotten better each season putting them in the top with the exception of one year and every team’s attendance went down then. Sure, it may be apples and oranges comparing minor league teams to NHL, but I say it still says something about hockey interest in GA.
Outlook Bleak For Thrashers Fans
May 17th, 2011
4:12 pm
[...] Read Jeff’s AJC column Read Mark Bradley’s column from Tuesday’s AJC. 0 comments print Filed Under: atlanta sports, Atlanta [...]
EMerckx69
May 17th, 2011
4:14 pm
@Elephant in the room -While the talk goes round and round the real question is simple:
Why after what we are told is at least two years of searching has not one buyer come forward interested in buying and keeping the team here in Atlanta?
This is not a leading or biased question – just an obvious one. If a team in Atlanta is such a good idea how come nobody else with big bucks seems to agree? And its not like the team would sell for a premium – in fact, it seems that buying the team would equate to getting a home that is in foreclosure.
Because ASG owners acknowledged in court documents that they have been looking to sell the team for years, but those efforts were complicated by a long running dispute with former co-owner Steve Belkin. That dispute was finally settled in December. Nobody in their right mind would buy the team when there was ongoing litigation between the owners. So really it’s only been since December. Add to the fact that they own the operating rights for philips and the deal to lease the arena from them is not financially worth it.
bobbyg
May 17th, 2011
4:19 pm
THE BALKIN HAS BEEN REVEALED…..Venture Capitalist J.B Smith
urban redneck
May 17th, 2011
4:56 pm
whoever says atlanta didn’t fail the thrashers never went to a home game and saw all the empty seats. maybe like 500 atlantans didn’t fail the thrashers.
EMerckx69
May 17th, 2011
5:21 pm
@urban redneck – whoever says atlanta didn’t fail the thrashers never went to a home game and saw all the empty seats. maybe like 500 atlantans didn’t fail the thrashers.
Sure make up numbers. Obviously you have never been to a game. Weekend games were packed. Weeknight games over the last few years the number of people have decreased to a couple thousand (5-8k).
I care
May 17th, 2011
5:37 pm
Does anybody out there know how many local jobs that will be lost if the Thrashers move? Also think about local hotels and resturants that will lose money from visiting teams and fans. Nobody is really talking about this.
icedawg
May 17th, 2011
5:37 pm
Nothing more than Atlanta professional sports mediocrity. For all the good years the Braves had in the 90’s they came up with one series. The Falcons. Well, they have been underachievers. How many championships have the Hawks won? Atlanta is a mediocre sports town.
Winnipeg Got the Thrashers
May 17th, 2011
5:58 pm
I love the idiot who claims Winnipeg = poverty and all 7 of you Thrasher fans trying to bash Winnipeg as a poor city. Well maybe if you guys took the time to actually read and do some research you would find that the average median family income in Winnipeg is $70,510 and in Atlanta the average median family income is $38,748. Also when you consider that the American $ is worth less than the Canadian dollar it makes it an even larger gap. So once you look at the facts per capita Winnipeg citizens are far wealthier than you people in Atlanta.
GoWhale
May 17th, 2011
6:12 pm
FINALLY, hockey is moving back to where it belongs!!!
The Coyotes will eventually fail, let’s move them to Quebec.
The Panthers are dead, let’s move them to Hartford.
I could go on and on… the Ducks, Predators, and Lightning should move too. How about to Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Kansas City?
Sorry Atlanta, as a Whalers fan I know the pain of losing a beloved team. But at least yours is getting a good home.
scott
May 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
I hope the Thrashers do leave. One less loser team in Atlanta. Now get rid of the Hawks and we will be good to go. Oh and the Braves too.
Atl Resident
May 17th, 2011
6:52 pm
The only thing failed was this sorry so-called ownership, have as much drama as real housewives….end of damn discussion.
Trey
May 17th, 2011
6:53 pm
Dang, I would start selling lemonade to raise money if I thought it would help keep the Thrashers here.
Roderick Johnson
May 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
Another failed hockey team in Atlanta. Maybe Atlanta needs to give up on Pro Hockey
JR Francis
May 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
So, wait… they have terrible leadership so we should give up on the hope that someone else buys them and changes how they are run? Really horrible logic there. Someone else buys them, fires Waddell, puts a winner on the ice (they only lack a few key pieces) and this is a huge success story. Yes, we should save the Thrashers and yes we should care. The NHL is a major league, and without a team, Atlanta is not considered a major city. Keep the Thrashers.
mowogo
May 17th, 2011
6:55 pm
Atlanta can support hockey as long as the owners actually care. Even Raleigh the capitol of College Basketball can support a strong hockey team. The difference is that the owners care about the product and the legacy of the team. Unfortunately, the Thrashers need to go north, just to bream ties from its incompetent history. Atlanta deserves a different team (maybe take over the Coyotes with new ownership) that is not saddled with the baggage of the previous owners who have done everything they can to ruin Hockey in Atlanta.
hmmmm......
May 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
While we are getting rid of teams does any one really care about the atlanta dream?
OHL
May 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
Will you people please stop making the market size argument? Green Bay has an NFL team, Los Angeles doesn’t. While some of you are making good comments about the northern fans, you are missing a key point. Those fans will go to 1 game a year when Detroit is in town, the other 40 they stay home. Granted there are other groups of fans that support either Pittsburgh or Buffalo, but it won’t work for a 41 game home schedule. Transplants don’t support local teams. Winnipeg is not a transplant city. If Glendale didn’t pony up 25 million dollars then Bettman wouldn’t be helping them. Atlanta isn’t going to pony up. Bettman didn’t have to help Pittsburgh or Buffalo, they had local owners step in and the fan base was already there. Those teams didn’t get into trouble because of the hockey market either, it was due to other financial problems that Winnipeg won’t have and those cities were able to work out. Atlanta will never work them out.
Atlien
May 17th, 2011
8:52 pm
A collective group of owners in a market like Atlanta spells failure. You need an owner who knows the market of the sport the team plays and build around it with hockey-minded or basketball-minded officials. This is why Atlanta recieved the distinction of being one of the worst sports cities in the country. Put a competitive team on together and the fans will come. You can move the Thrashers to Walla Walla, Washington and if they are a winning, people will watch.
JC
May 18th, 2011
3:46 pm
Got my first taste of hockey in Tampa, and got hooked immediately. Then became a fan of the Orlando Solar Bears and they folded when the IHL folded and it was so sad. We won the final Turner Cup and celebrated, but knew Orlando was done. We had our Save the Bears rallies, but it didn’t work. Briefly switched to the Panthers, now a Lightning fan again. Really really feel bad for you Atlanta hockey fans, but it’s too late now. It just seemed the team was hexed from Day One. From Damian Rhodes. The Dany Heatley accident which sadly took Dan Snyder’s life. Marc Savard not resigning, the Coburn trade, Hartley fired, Kovalchuk and Hossa not wanting to stay. The fluke goal off the boards in the franchise’s first playoff game in 2007 against the Rangers. You deserve much better. Growing up, I remember the Flames very well and thought the league sabotaged it’s future by moving the Flames north. I remember the Flames were a far better team and drew much more than the Hawks. Calgary should have gotten an expansion team as well as Houston from the WHA-NHL merger. My only hope I see is your television market size, and that MLB gave Washington DC a third chance at MLB with the moving of the Expos to our nation’s capital. I’m so sick of hearing “Hockey doesn’t work in the Sunbelt.” It was impossible to get a ticket when Tampa went to the Finals in 2004, and it’s hard to get a playoff ticket now. The Atlanta franchise should have from Day One copied the Dallas Stars’ marketing model. You wouldn’t be having any Save the Thrashers rallies if that had happened.
Orlandostan
May 20th, 2011
12:09 pm
Not having read all 230+ comment (and not planning to) I’m going to assume some Winnipeggers (like I am) have climbed on here and acted like jerko**s. No doubt we’re excited about getting back into the show, but these circumstances are far from positive. The way the yotes were and are bizarrely gifted millions by a bankrupt city, I wouldn’t be shedding tears if/when they move, but it sounds as though the Thrasher situation in atl has been a disaster. I’m sorry for its fans, who likely would have been more plentiful had a decent braintrust been in place (this includes the nhl). If hockey’s our game, and the nhl is the face of it, we should be embarrassed. I’m torn, however, for having said that, I’ll be the biggest Winnipeg Thrashers/Jets/Moose/Weasels fan there is.
morons
May 21st, 2011
8:59 pm
moron owners and management from the beginning—failure was guaranteed. good riddance!