ATLANTA (AP) — The owners of the Atlanta Hawks have ended their exclusive talks with a prospective buyer, but there is no indication that change will affect efforts for the same group of owners to sell the NHL’s Thrashers.
Michael Gearon Jr. said Monday the owners no longer are granting rights only to John Moores to buy the Hawks. Moores owns about 50 percent of the San Diego Padres.
The development has the potential to impact the ownership group’s ongoing talks to sell the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment, which would relocate the team to Winnipeg.
The group, which includes Gearon and Bruce Levenson as lead owners, can again entertain offers for one buyer interested in the Thrashers, Hawks and operating rights to Philips Arena.
