Get out your tuques (and parkas). Hockey is back in the 'Peg!
RedHeart54
Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
Atlanta Thrashers? Buh bye. Hockey is back in Winnipeg, Manitoba where it belongs!
Joe Daley, as seen above in his sports card store, was a goalie for the old Jets in the WHA and he was on all of their Avco Cup championship teams.
He's a great guy and I have great memories of going to his store. (It is right across the street from where the Winnipeg Arena once stood on St. James. You haven't experienced cold unless you walked across that arena's parking lot in the winter; the arena's entrance may as well have had pearly gates.)
Joe Daley, as seen above in his sports card store, was a goalie for the old Jets in the WHA and he was on all of their Avco Cup championship teams.
He's a great guy and I have great memories of going to his store. (It is right across the street from where the Winnipeg Arena once stood on St. James. You haven't experienced cold unless you walked across that arena's parking lot in the winter; the arena's entrance may as well have had pearly gates.)
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Seriously though...I wish them the best. I was a Thrasher fan, but did not attend many games, mostly because of scheduling, distance to Phillips Arena and the fact that no one else around here would go and I refused to go alone!
That would be some good hockey with the golden jet.
From a business standpoint, you have got to be kidding. They will struggle. Sure they will sell out the place. But the real reason it is back is because they have a deep pocketed owner who will supplement the bottom line. The team will lose $20M per season but the new owner has more than enough to cover that and he seems to have passion for the game.
However, the NHL left there for a reason some time ago.
But they are back now and I hope it all goes much better this time around for the team and their fans.
Dave
Always buying Bobby Cox inserts. PM me.
<< <i>I would like to say, as a long-time Atlanta resident, that we are happier about this than folks in Winnipeg are. More concerts at Phillips.... >>
I'm sure there are some hard core Thrashers fans who would disagree with you. Hockey is by far the best sport to play and watch IMHO. Unfortunately for them, there weren't enough to make hockey succeed in Atlanta which is o.k. as not every market should have a particular sport if the demand is not there.
Let me know when Rush is playing.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
<< <i>I haven't heard and I guess it's really small on the importance level, but are they keeping the name, or changing to something else? Will it be the Jets? >>
I read it is still be discussed, but I tend to think it will end up being the Jets.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
Wheat Kings colors. That would be very cool.
Brandon Wheat Kings jersey
<< <i>I would like to say, as a long-time Atlanta resident, that we are happier about this than folks in Winnipeg are. More concerts at Phillips.... >>
Speak for yourself, "we" are not happier...........
<< <i>
<< <i>I would like to say, as a long-time Atlanta resident, that we are happier about this than folks in Winnipeg are. More concerts at Phillips.... >>
I'm sure there are some hard core Thrashers fans who would disagree with you. Hockey is by far the best sport to play and watch IMHO. Unfortunately for them, there weren't enough to make hockey succeed in Atlanta which is o.k. as not every market should have a particular sport if the demand is not there.
Let me know when Rush is playing.
Hockey could have been successful in Atlanta. I personally never followed Hockey, but open mindedly bought season tickets the first year, grew to love it, and probably attended 75% of the home games in Thrasher history. Watched or listened to 99% of all games. I had actually increased my season tickets for next season.
In a metro area the size of Atlanta there are likely thousands similar to me, but who never gave the game a chance because the team never sustained a competitive streak due to alot of bad luck and alot of poor management. The missed season didn't help.
Although Winnepeg is hockey crazy and the team will probably flourish with owners who care, and the games will be sold out for a while, The NHL is probably worse off in the long run with the team there than in a well run situation in Atlanta. Instead of tapping a huge source of new fans, not just in Atlanta, but in the southeast US, they are just catering to thousands of fans who already follow NHL hockey - minimal growth for the NHL.
The Thrashers had an ownership group that flat out did not care about the team and was hurt by internal litigation which ended up in the loss of one of the partners. The remaining group couldn't (didn't want to) sustain the supposed losses that were "probably" inflated by a portion of Hawks and Arena expenses. The ONE year the team made the playoffs, they had excellent attendance, packed the house in the two home games, and the place was absolutely rocking. Unfortunately the team was badly mismanaged and couldn't sustain a competitive product for a long enough period of time to capitalize and build a larger base.
I've typed too much already.......................
I am a southerner with two daughters that literally grew up with the Thrashers and let's just say there was alot of crying in my house when the announcement was made.
<< <i>Were there any other places in Canada that were more viable than Winnipeg? >>
Maybe Hamilton or Quebec City in terms of fan support, but the key factor in Winnipeg getting the team was simply the fact that they had an arena and potential owners.
<< <i>
<< <i>Were there any other places in Canada that were more viable than Winnipeg? >>
Maybe Hamilton or Quebec City in terms of fan support, but the key factor in Winnipeg getting the team was simply the fact that they had an arena and potential owners. >>
There was basically an NHL team on the sale rack and only one legitimate purchaser in North America.
I believe that the Coyotes own the rights to the name Jets, so something will have to be worked out with them if Winnipeg wants the name back.
<< <i>I believe that the Coyotes own the rights to the name Jets, so something will have to be worked out with them if Winnipeg wants the name back. >>
Shouldn't be a problem since the NHL is basically running that team anyway.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
<< <i>I've typed too much already....................... >>
Isn't that what the board is for Tonyo.
I knew that we had to have some hard core Thrashers fans on the board. I am sorry for all the diehard hockey fans in the Atlanta area. It is a great sport to watch...and play too.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
<< <i><<<I read it is still be discussed, but I tend to think it will end up being the Jets.>>>
I believe that the Coyotes own the rights to the name Jets, so something will have to be worked out with them if Winnipeg wants the name back. >>
The NHL owns them and have told TNSE that they can have the name and jerseys for free.