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Post by WpgJets2008 on Jul 11, 2008 13:36:11 GMT -5
In an effort to organize our posts, I thought I'd set up the next team to be watched, the Atlanta Thrashers. ~~~ Spirit Exec VP & CMO DePaoli Departs, No Replacement Expected www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/122269?utm_source=sbd_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=articlelink&utm_campaign=sbdemail More front office shakeup for the Atlanta Spirit as Exec VP & CMO LOU DEPAOLI Friday leaves the organization, which owns the Hawks and Thrashers. DePaoli said he is leaving to pursue other opportunities. DePaoli, who joined Atlanta Spirit in May ‘05, departs seven months after a major front office restructuring that brought the resignation of the group’s CEO BERNIE MULLIN and CFO BILL DUFFY. Team officials did not return calls for comment, but DePaoli’s departure comes as the Hawks and Thrashers look to drive business during their offseason sales efforts. Last season, average attendance for the Hawks increased 4.4% to 16,281 fans per game. The Thrashers averaged 16,230 fans per game, also up 4.4%. No replacement has been named (John Lombardo, SportsBusiness Journal). The ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE's John Manasso noted, “At this point, it appears that DePaoli will not be replaced.” DaPaoli, whose contract ended June 30, said, “My contract ended. I decided [it was] time to move on to a new challenge.” DaPaoli said that he “has been in correspondence with a number of people about future employment, including NBA commissioner DAVID STERN via e-mail” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/10). Chris |
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Post by jetsfan on Dec 8, 2008 13:53:27 GMT -5
Comment from espn.com's NHL Power Rankings: Atlanta Thrashers (Rank = 28): Ilya Kovalchuk trade rumors are gaining steam. If true, it could mean the end of NHL hockey in Atlanta. sports.espn.go.com/nhl/powerranking |
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Post by jhendrix70 on Dec 8, 2008 14:03:41 GMT -5
Yes, if he goes; there is a reason for it. I would put them in the same boat the Jet Fans were in when Selanne got traded. ( Although, we were in a lame-duck year already....)
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Post by teemu13 on Dec 19, 2008 14:22:38 GMT -5
The latest in the Atlanta Thrashers saga....
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Post by jhendrix70 on Dec 19, 2008 14:23:58 GMT -5
Oh, Thrashers are playing their last season. I'm sure Kansas City will be all over that. I'm sure there is already another franchise lined up for us!  |
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Post by teemu13 on Dec 19, 2008 15:21:25 GMT -5
I was just thinking...
The JETS won the AVCO Cup in their final season. I think it would be fitting if the MOOSE won the CALDER Cup, in their final season. Whether that be this season, or next.
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Post by edog37 on Dec 19, 2008 17:16:04 GMT -5
The latest in the Atlanta Thrashers saga.... where did you read this? |
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Post by jhendrix70 on Dec 19, 2008 17:20:58 GMT -5
Bettman poised to play the greed card in negotiationsBruce Dowbiggin, Calgary Herald Published: Monday, December 15, 2008 Atlanta's BurningTuesday, a jury awarded Texas car dealer David McDavid $281 million after deciding that Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System cheated him out of ownership of the Thrashers, Hawks, and Philips Arena operating rights. That means that the current owners are free to sell the Thrashers--when they eventually iron out their own internal ownership battle--to a buyer who will move them as soon as the vans can pull up to the gate. That makes them the most portable of all the NHL cripples. www.faceoff.com/hockey/columnists/story.html?id=7286c6f9-5769-4b7a-b0a4-1ab04058365d&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fcolumnists.atom&p=2
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Post by dbp1990 on Dec 19, 2008 17:24:01 GMT -5
This is OUR Team!
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Post by misterman on Jan 6, 2009 6:38:50 GMT -5
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sharksphan
Veteran Member
No, I'm not a transplanted Canadian... I just play one on TV
Posts: 112
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Post by sharksphan on Jan 6, 2009 18:27:55 GMT -5
Damn, that's pretty pathetic. I could sort of understand if it were intermission, but there's clearly play going on. Back in the old RHI days, we used to put more butts in the seats during a Rhinos game than I see in these pics of Atlanta.
To be fair, the Thrashers suck. How many people want to put out $80/seat to see one of the league's worst teams?
Are you sure you'd want this team in Winnipeg even if they were available?
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Post by jhendrix70 on Jan 6, 2009 19:42:58 GMT -5
Are you sure you'd want this team in Winnipeg even if they were available? ;D |
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Post by bettmanblows on Jan 6, 2009 19:46:24 GMT -5
Damn, that's pretty pathetic. I could sort of understand if it were intermission, but there's clearly play going on. Back in the old RHI days, we used to put more butts in the seats during a Rhinos game than I see in these pics of Atlanta. To be fair, the Thrashers suck. How many people want to put out $80/seat to see one of the league's worst teams? Are you sure you'd want this team in Winnipeg even if they were available? $80.00 on no, no, no....lets try $5.00 fine its the uper bowl but its still $5.00, or you could be a big spender and spend $15.00 for lower bowl tickets. www.stubhub.com/atlanta-thrashers-tickets/thrashers-vs-senators-1-14-2009-678344/ |
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Post by jhendrix70 on Jan 6, 2009 20:08:02 GMT -5
That's sick! Usually when I get NHL Tickets, I have to go through "Stubhub". I end up paying 2X what the normal ticket value is........unless I go to Atlanta! That's outrages! Simply ....mind warping to say the least!
Eg. Anaheim: Face Value $80.00 I paid $150.00 each
Minnesota: Face Value $75.00 I paid $140.00 each
What's happening in Atlanta is amazing..how much longer can they AND OTHERS hold out~
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sharksphan
Veteran Member
No, I'm not a transplanted Canadian... I just play one on TV
Posts: 112
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Post by sharksphan on Jan 7, 2009 4:59:53 GMT -5
Are you sure you'd want this team in Winnipeg even if they were available? ;D I guess that's a pretty definite response! Do you think the region as a whole would be willing to fill the stands, paying full face value for season tickets for 3-5 long losing years while the team rebuilds itself into a winner? I'm not prompting for any specific answer - I'm genuinely curious. Wow. That is truly amazing. I know that's not what the team sells them for, but still, there's no way that team is paying for itself. |
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Post by djk on Jan 7, 2009 15:27:41 GMT -5
Yes we would! We had plenty of losing seasons with the Jets and we only stopped filling the seats during the lame duck last season when we were all resigned to them going. This is a hockey market.
That said, hopefully the management would be changed if we did get them but still...
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Post by jhendrix70 on Jan 7, 2009 16:57:05 GMT -5
And let's not forget; Even in the "Lame Duck" year, we still averaged 11,000! Almost what Atlanta is averaging NOW with the Talent they have.....
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Post by Alex on Jan 7, 2009 19:44:05 GMT -5
Ummmm, not sure I'm with you on that one Hendrix. Atlanta has Kovalchuk, who they have seen for some years now, and are probably bored of (not that that is anywhere near alright). The team has also faced management issues. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9c6x4O93Ac Here is a video some season tickets holder made in revolt. |
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Post by jhendrix70 on Jan 7, 2009 20:35:48 GMT -5
NHL = Talent! Also, this guy from Atlanta is an idiot for 2 reasons: 1) He's burning a hell of alot of paper in a GAS FIREPLACE! 2) He's complaining about a SMALL increase. Well, he sits in: Section 320, H18 He Pays $22.00 a TICKET! And yet, he's complaining! Gimme a break....... www.seats3d.com/nhl/atlanta_thrashers/
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Post by WpgJets2008 on Jan 8, 2009 11:05:52 GMT -5
Do you think the region as a whole would be willing to fill the stands, paying full face value for season tickets for 3-5 long losing years while the team rebuilds itself into a winner? Great question!!! In defence of the fans of Winnipeg, we have been there already! The Jets didn't perform very well from the start. Hence first overall pick Dale Hawerchuk arrives at Portage and Main. If you look closely at the Jets team, it was worse than any expansion team would be now. Why worse??? An expansion team is given little in the way of talent. It must come up last or almost last for several years to build through the draft. The Jets were identical in all ways except one: They had a WHA Championship team several years that was stripped almost bare upon terms of entry into the NHL during its' "merger" with the WHA.So Jet fans one year raised a trophy and the next several wondered what the heck happened to their team. Taking a look at the Jets records and attendances, we can see almost no other team's fans that has endured its' team expansion woes and subsequent years of bad draft picks and trades. Now the numbers need to be looked at in context of league averages over the time period. Even the Leafs didn't draw 16,000 fans up until the last decade or so. So all in all, past Jet history speak volumes about the great fans in Manitoba. Rebuilding years led to one playoff season then another several years of "young guns" on the rise. There was no sustained building effort, it was up one year, down next year. Also, another point about expansion in the era of the salary cap: with $40 million to spend upon entry and many teams are up against the cap max already, it would be very quick for an expansion team to become competitive as they have the ability along with liberated free agency rules to build a playoff contender within one summer.This is why the choice for GM carries the most weight in how successful your team will be. Look around the NHL to see which teams are building and winning and who their GM is. It's actually pretty simple, but most owners don't seem to get it. May he rest in peace, but JBF didn't help the Jets much and Mr. Mike Smith did little as well. That blame goes right back to ownership, either not wanting to fund the team right (which reduces the number of good GM candidates who want the job in the first place) or simply kept picking the wrong guy to lead "The Charge fo the White Brigade". Not good choices, if your team had off-ice financial issues worsened by an old rink where most of the revenues went to the city government not the team. Chris |
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