Atlanta: Third Time's a Charm?

[Section315]

Pardon, but I take great offense with your leading comments. Great offense.

As people in St. Louis should KNOW, being two-time NFL franchise losers (three if you count Jacksonville), it MATTERS GREATLY WHAT YOU GET, the ownership, the ties to the City, how the team is operated. Fans, frankly are secondary (why are the "they don't get support" Hawks still in town otherwise?).

The Thrashers got the #1 overall to launch their franchise and he was bust. The rest of the roster was AHL waiver fodder, it was the worst hockey I recall seeing in the NHL since the Washington Capitals. It soon became apparent the ownership was only interested in hockey to fill arena dates when the Hawks weren't playing, then they tried to sue each other off the planet. Easily the most dysfunctional ownership group I've seen, and that includes the criminal in Arizona. When the team was up for sale it was anchored in Downtown Atlanta; none of the politicians or money people wanted anything to do with it. Bettman was more than willing to take a cut on sale to Winnipeg, he helped engineer the deal. As for Atlanta, keep in mind they ran the BRAVES out of the City. I could say why, truthfully, but I'd likely get banned from the forum.

Like the Liberty Battery development around the Braves Stadium this proposal appears on the surface to be intelligently constructed. Very good location, though it won't work well for South and West suburb fans. People have adjusted to the Braves in Smyrna. Much more to read and absorb before drawing any final conclusions.

It's my belief this group deserves fair consideration with a forward thinking perspective. Bury the biases, most of them are tied to the City of Atlanta (I live here and haven't been to the City in over a decade), past mistakes, and very, very poor leadership. Not to us hockey fans.

Four times if you count the Patriots.

[George Zipp]

This idea is beyond crazy. Two strikes. Two failures and two movements. And does anyone in leadership pay attention to the typical Atlanta professional sports team support. There is not a bigger collection of bandwagoners for such a large market anywhere in the US> If the teams are winners they get support. Those Braves teams of the 90s and early 00s, sure they drew great. The Braves have been better recently and draw some. They are brutal this year. I haven't paid attention but I suspect it's more like the Cardinals right now than a Tuesday night at Chavez Ravine.

The Hawks, they don't get support. The Falcons, fans show up when they are doing well. Most NFL markets sell out most games because of the limited quantity of home games. Not the Falcons, and good lord that is in the heart of football country. And now they want to go back. Good news for Quebec I suppose. Just give it five years.

Pardon, but I take great offense with your leading comments. Great offense.

As people in St. Louis should KNOW, being two-time NFL franchise losers (three if you count Jacksonville), it MATTERS GREATLY WHAT YOU GET, the ownership, the ties to the City, how the team is operated. Fans, frankly are secondary (why are the "they don't get support" Hawks still in town otherwise?).

The Thrashers got the #1 overall to launch their franchise and he was bust. The rest of the roster was AHL waiver fodder, it was the worst hockey I recall seeing in the NHL since the Washington Capitals. It soon became apparent the ownership was only interested in hockey to fill arena dates when the Hawks weren't playing, then they tried to sue each other off the planet. Easily the most dysfunctional ownership group I've seen, and that includes the criminal in Arizona. When the team was up for sale it was anchored in Downtown Atlanta; none of the politicians or money people wanted anything to do with it. Bettman was more than willing to take a cut on sale to Winnipeg, he helped engineer the deal. As for Atlanta, keep in mind they ran the BRAVES out of the City. I could say why, truthfully, but I'd likely get banned from the forum.

Like the Liberty Battery development around the Braves Stadium this proposal appears on the surface to be intelligently constructed. Very good location, though it won't work well for South and West suburb fans. People have adjusted to the Braves in Smyrna. Much more to read and absorb before drawing any final conclusions.

It's my belief this group deserves fair consideration with a forward thinking perspective. Bury the biases, most of them are tied to the City of Atlanta (I live here and haven't been to the City in over a decade), past mistakes, and very, very poor leadership. Not to us hockey fans.

You cite St. Louis and bad ownership and you want to play the sympathy card? Sorry, don't care. Two times there were teams in ATL and two times they fled the city. You can make all of the excuses you want about (bleep) poor ownership. Bottom line is the City of ATL really mostly sucks at supporting sports teams unless it's time to hop on the ole bandwagon.

I have no idea why the Hawks haven't moved. Maybe they have an airtight lease. Maybe there just aren't that many markets around to support an NBA team right now bc the NBA product itself right now isn't very good IMO.

The Falcons are much better proof about how lousy the ATL fanbase is. 8 or 9 home games a year and nobody is going. If they don't draw this year when will they ever draw. They have a butt load of talent on offense. They may not stop anyone on D but Pennix, Bijon and London are one heck of a trio. Last year and in the previous few years they didn't draw. Arthur Blank lowered the food prices to really cool levels and still couldn't get people to show up.

I'm sorry you took offense. It's not a hidden fact that ATL doesn't support anything other than a winner or UGA football. You can get the best ownership group, the bestest stadium location but if this rumored team doesn't start winning people won't show and the team will end up in Quebec or Boise or Nome.

This team would not be located in Atlanta. Like with the Braves, that makes a HUGE difference. HUGE. I know, I live here now and have for 27 years.

Fair enough. I guess in a way I hope it happens and if it does I want it to be successful, my cynicism aside. Maybe that will help the Bengals leave Cincy and move here.