Potential Atlanta NHL Expansion Team Thread

[dj4aces]

All I'm saying is, Carter's reaction was very likely read the wrong way. I'm guilty of it too. I didn't find this until last night, and this is almost a year since he posted it and it was reported.

 

[Yukon Joe]

So, as I do most mornings, I listen to the online-only Edmonton Sports Talk (it's the former Edmonton TSN1260 radio guys who started an online show after Bell pulled the plug on TSN1260 last year). Guest is ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. They talk about Atlanta.

Wyshynski was kind of negative on the Alpharetta/Anson Carter proposal, basically saying that they didn't appear to have contacted the league in advance and just sent out a press release to Sportsnet. The Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment group doesn't even have a website.

He seemed to think the Krause/Forsyth county proposal had a much better chance of actually happening. It does seem like they've had much more contact with the league.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

As a Canadian who wants Southern US teams to thrive (because Hockey is Canada's gift to the world) I don't want to see any team move and hate the hate fans throw around on this issue.

I have also come around to think that Atlanta could absolutely thrive with the right owners and building/lease. Just like Denver is a success on the second time around. Look at HockeyDB and you can see both the Flames and Thrashers had good fan support - better than more established teams some years - until ownership issues impacted.

As far as identity, if the Jets ever had to move they could go to Calgary as the Cowboys (WHA history), and the Flames go back to Atlanta. Leagues are definitely better with original identities. Then all we'd have to do is get the Houston Astros and the Houston Oilers too!!

 

[Yukon Joe]

As far as identity, if the Jets ever had to move they could go to Calgary as the Cowboys (WHA history), and the Flames go back to Atlanta. Leagues are definitely better with original identities. Then all we'd have to do is get the Houston Astros and the Houston Oilers too!!

Who cares about original identities? After 40+ years with the Flames, nobody in Calgary cares about the Cowboys. Nobody in the Bay Area is pining for a return of the Golden Seals instead of the Sharks. Colorado is quite happy with the Avs instead of the Rockies. Seattle much prefers the Kraken to the Metropolitans. I could go on...

 

[Zrhutch]

Let’s be honest with ourselves, they’re going to be the Thrashers again. Whether that’s the Georgia Thrashers or the Atlanta Thrashers remains to be seen.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Flames are definitely a better name than the Thrashers for Atlanta. The team name also has no connection to Calgary.

Sharks have already given a nod to the Seals and probably should continue that with 3rd jerseys, etc. The difference is that the Seals don't exist anymore, but the Flames do. And the Flames name has a historical tie to Atlanta's history, and they broke ground as the first southern NHL team.

Rockies don't exist, and nor do the Metropolitans. But both teams have tipped their hat to their lineage. So yes, in hockey, tradition and history matter.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Let’s be honest with ourselves, they’re going to be the Thrashers again. Whether that’s the Georgia Thrashers or the Atlanta Thrashers remains to be seen.

My vote (not that it matters) is for a rebrand as the "Georgia Firebirds"

But Thrashers is great as well. Whatever works.

 

[BMN]

Wyshynski was kind of negative on the Alpharetta/Anson Carter proposal, basically saying that they didn't appear to have contacted the league in advance and just sent out a press release to Sportsnet. The Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment group doesn't even have a website.

If this is true, then I would probably look at the situation as a "publicly, the NHL isn't expanding yet, privately they're looking at the Forsyth County proposal, and the Alpharetta group can keep working on their assembly if they want to be the fallback in case the former goes sideways." It may be that the Alpharetta people were on a slower timeline and the Forsyth situation forced their hand to accelerate their public profile (whereas if they hadn't come along, maybe they'd still be quietly assembling things).

Re: the name, it'd be interesting if they went with "Georgia Thrashers." Rather than trying to be nostalgic or trying a new brand.........taking the nostalgia brand and putting a new spin on it.

 

[Yukon Joe]

My vote (not that it matters) is for a rebrand as the "Georgia Firebirds"

But Thrashers is great as well. Whatever works.

It comes down to the Golden Rule - He who has the gold, makes the rules.

If you spend a billion dollars on a hockey team you get to name it whatever the hell you want. The exception - maybe - is if there's a strong enough fan reaction to demand a name like the Thrashers (or Kraken - apparently that was a very popular choice in Seattle). I know when the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg ownership wasn't necessarily keen on the "Jets" name but fans pretty much demanded that be the name.

 

[dj4aces]

Wyshynski was kind of negative on the Alpharetta/Anson Carter proposal, basically saying that they didn't appear to have contacted the league in advance and just sent out a press release to Sportsnet. The Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment group doesn't even have a website.

The big question in my mind then, is why wasn't the Krause group ever really talked about outside of local circles? I don't recall seeing Wysh put pen to paper and write up an article about KS&E. It all flew under everyone's radar. Even the AJC has been kinda absent from the whole thing with Krause.

If Carter/AS&E spoke out-of-turn, then that's a huge mark against him. At this point though, I say come whatever may.

Flames are definitely better than the Thrashers for Atlanta. The team name also has no connection to Calgary.

Sharks have already given a nod to the Seals and probably should continue that with 3rd jerseys, etc. The difference is that the Seals don't exist anymore, but the Flames do. And the Flames name has a historical tie to Atlanta's history, and they broke ground as the first southern NHL team.

Rockies don't exist, and nor do the Metropolitans. But both teams have tipped their hat to their lineage. So yes, in hockey, tradition and history matter.

From a historical context, I understand completely where you're coming from. And honestly, I agree -- the Flames are an amazing team name, which fits with the origin story of Atlanta and many metro communities around the city.

I'm a minority in all this it seems, but I'd prefer whatever new team shows up here *not* be called the Thrashers. It just feels like a cursed name to me, in that nothing at all went right from the very start. Everything from Turner's idea of hockey payroll being "whatever the Braves and Hawks don't use", Turner Broadcasting/AOL breaching the agreement to sell to McDavid to instead sell to a group that included his son, and on down to the eventual move, and everything in between.

The Flames name would be amazing to have, but since that's not likely to happen, just call the team something else and build a new identity and new culture, one that shows players and fans alike that you genuinely care about making the team a long-term success in the region.

 

[sneakytitz]

Wyshynski was kind of negative on the Alpharetta/Anson Carter proposal, basically saying that they didn't appear to have contacted the league in advance and just sent out a press release to Sportsnet. The Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment group doesn't even have a website.

He seemed to think the Krause/Forsyth county proposal had a much better chance of actually happening. It does seem like they've had much more contact with the league.

Telling y'all - this was a rushed reaction to Krause's announcement.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Telling y'all - this was a rushed reaction to Krause's announcement.

That Krause's group has a better chance? I dunno...sounds like they're actually moving dirt on that site. I'd put them in 1st right now, too.

 

[DethOfDragnz]

If the NHL goes back to Atlanta they are the most stupid bastards on the planet. I like how if you are a American franchise you get 3 chances to have a franchise. Or you can be the Coyotes have terrible attendance and lose your arena and still the NHL will keep you but if you are Quebec city, GTFO, and people wonder why fans say the NHL and Bettman hate Canadian franchises.

 

[sneakytitz]

That Krause's group has a better chance? I dunno...sounds like they're actually moving dirt on that site. I'd put them in 1st right now, too.

No, Anson's reaction was a rushed one. I agree, Krause's group has the better chance. Better location too IMO.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

If the NHL goes back to Atlanta they are the most stupid bastards on the planet. I like how if you are a American franchise you get 3 chances to have a franchise. Or you can be the Coyotes have terrible attendance and lose your arena and still the NHL will keep you but if you are Quebec city, GTFO, and people wonder why fans say the NHL and Bettman hate Canadian franchises.

You know that Bettman was in Winnipeg a couple weeks ago trying to help sell season tickets, right? And that QC has also had two teams...right?

 

[tucker3434]

If the NHL goes back to Atlanta they are the most stupid bastards on the planet. I like how if you are a American franchise you get 3 chances to have a franchise. Or you can be the Coyotes have terrible attendance and lose your arena and still the NHL will keep you but if you are Quebec city, GTFO, and people wonder why fans say the NHL and Bettman hate Canadian franchises.

Yes, truly a mystery. Can't imagine why the NHL would want to add an economy over 10x the size of QC.

 

[Yukon Joe]

So, as I do most mornings, I listen to the online-only Edmonton Sports Talk (it's the former Edmonton TSN1260 radio guys who started an online show after Bell pulled the plug on TSN1260 last year). Guest is ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. They talk about Atlanta.

Wyshynski was kind of negative on the Alpharetta/Anson Carter proposal, basically saying that they didn't appear to have contacted the league in advance and just sent out a press release to Sportsnet. The Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment group doesn't even have a website.

He seemed to think the Krause/Forsyth county proposal had a much better chance of actually happening. It does seem like they've had much more contact with the league.

I went back and listened to the Wyshynski interview from this morning.

Just to be clear - he didn't say the Krause/Forsyth proposal had a better chance. He referenced it only in passing.

But that was my clear implication of what he said.

 

[The Hobgoblin]

Sorry, life has been keeping me away from here and the FPHL forum and the Jets forum.

My sources are in lockstep (it is just two people but still) that the Krause/Gathering group is the one the NHL has already agreed to putting an expansion team in Atlanta with. The Anson Carter group is only going to raise the expansion fee cost but they have no real chance IMO of getting the nod.

The Gathering is already underway with a state of the art hockey first arena with all the surrounding area's buildings (hotels, stores, restaurants) owned by the same ownership. It means all the funds are going to help fund the NHL team and the arena. You could literally just go hang out there or spend the night there for non hockey reasons and the same owners still get revenue.

This is exactly the kind of arena/stadium situation all the major sports are trying to get for their owners. The Atlanta Braves have done this already and are making mint out of their control over the stadium plus the other stores.

The Carter group has no arena. They have a guy that will build an arena...somewhere? Meanwhile, the Gathering is already going up and will be ready for NHL games far, far sooner than what the Carter group could do.

The best solution is for them to join forces instead of competing against each other.

 

[dj4aces]

The Gathering is already underway with a state of the art hockey first arena with all the surrounding area's buildings (hotels, stores, restaurants) owned by the same ownership. It means all the funds are going to help fund the NHL team and the arena. You could literally just go hang out there or spend the night there for non hockey reasons and the same owners still get revenue.

Any photos of the site that aren't actually photos of GA-400 road work? The last photos I saw were the latter, and folks on Twitter pointed that out to the poster. Not that I don't believe it's happening, I just want to see it's happening, not hear about it.

The Carter group has no arena. They have a guy that will build an arena...somewhere? Meanwhile, the Gathering is already going up and will be ready for NHL games far, far sooner than what the Carter group could do.

Redevelopment of North Point Mall. It was in the press release.

 

[BMN]

and people wonder why fans say the NHL and Bettman hate Canadian franchises.

I know that a new version of this person like this turns up on the thread every two weeks or so but I have to admit I'm extra amused when the "Gary Bettman Hates Canada" sentiment comes from an EDMONTON fan. Tell me you don't know the history of your own favourite team without actually saying it directly......

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

Business wise, balancing the amount of "new brands" in a division is good. And more important than how many miles apart cities are, because the ORDER of games dictates the miles you travel, and that's always going to be weird based on arena availability anyway.

Florida, Carolina, and Tampa are ~30 year old teams. They aren’t new teams anymore like they were in 2000.

 

[dj4aces]

Florida, Carolina, and Tampa are ~30 year old teams. They aren’t new teams anymore like they were in 2000.

To be fair though.... for many folks (myself included), I still think of teams like Carolina as "new". But for some reason, I'm still stuck in my early-20s, despite having aged a good 20 years since then.

 

[cowboy82nd]

If the NHL goes back to Atlanta they are the most stupid bastards on the planet. I like how if you are a American franchise you get 3 chances to have a franchise. Or you can be the Coyotes have terrible attendance and lose your arena and still the NHL will keep you but if you are Quebec city, GTFO, and people wonder why fans say the NHL and Bettman hate Canadian franchises.

Quebec had two NHL teams. Just like Atlanta. Atlanta doesn’t have a third one ...yet.

 

[sneakytitz]

Any photos of the site that aren't actually photos of GA-400 road work? The last photos I saw were the latter, and folks on Twitter pointed that out to the poster. Not that I don't believe it's happening, I just want to see it's happening, not hear about it.

I posted a flyover video in a tweet earlier in this thread. The video was recorded shortly after The Gathering was announced. Google Satellite and Street View photos now show the site in the grading phase with construction trailers and equipment on site.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

The best solution is for them to join forces instead of competing against each other.

I hope Krause doesn't do this. The Gladiators have been a disaster on and off the ice this season. Anson may be a great hockey player and broadcaster, but an effective owner he is not. Ticket sales are down and STHs are fleeing in droves. The Gladiators have done everything they can to spurn the faithful. Anson and Alex are essentially the minor league ASG at this point in this city.

 

[Reaser]

Probably helps Anson's group that he gets to talk about the proposal on TNT -- which he's doing right now.