Atlanta: Third Time's a Charm?

[John Cocktoastin]

Atlanta group eyeing NHL expansion team has arena deal approved

The Forsyth County Commission approved agreements for a $3-billion project that includes construction of an NHL-ready arena.

The vote Wednesday clears a major hurdle for the CEO of Krause Sports and Entertainment, Vernon Krause, who is eyeing an NHL expansion franchise in the Atlanta area.

"This vote marks a pivotal moment," Krause said, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. "We can go to (NHL commissioner Gary Bettman) and ask him to start a process (for expansion), which we're hopeful he will do."

Link

[DawgDad]

I have heard about this group and their effort, read similar update on fox5atlanta.com. The location makes sense. Will disconnect from a lot of potential fans on the south and west sides of Atlanta but most of the northern States transplants are in the northern suburbs. It's accessible from my NW suburb via secondary roads, actually a good thing not having to get on the interstate highways.

Here's my two cents, having lived here since 1998, through the debacle known as the Thrashers: Hockey does not belong in the City of Atlanta. It's akin to putting a scoop of ice cream in a mug of bathtub gin. It was not a hospitable environment for hockey, I think you would need to have experienced an NHL game in a northern city and then Atlanta to understand what I mean. They didn't even let fans into the arena until 15 minutes before game time, fans lined up through the CNN Center and outside. Insanity. As a longtime hockey fan I like to get there early and watch the teams during their warmup skate - not in Atlanta. All the local business people and politicians were interested in was the NBA, NFL, and College sports, they even ran the Braves out of town because they didn't want Liberty purchasing property with tax abatements and doing the Battery development in the City.

So, I'm all for the guys in Forsyth County. A well-funded ownership group with solid political backing and supporting developments dropping an NHL team in the middle of the suburbs up off 400 highway sounds about as good as it could get down here. Will keep an eye out for more info.

[Pierre McGuire]

Yeah..the smoke on this has been brewing for sometime. Bettman and the boys want that Atlanta market. I’m guessing Atlanta and Houston are next up on the list.
I hope they come up with something better than the Thrashers this time.

[moose-and-squirrel]

Yeah..the smoke on this has been brewing for sometime. Bettman and the boys want that Atlanta market. I’m guessing Atlanta and Houston are next up on the list.
I hope they come up with something better than the Thrashers this time.

houston should get a shot before trying atlanta again

[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.

[Boomac]

Good news for Quebec I suppose. Just give it five years.

Ha! That was my thought, too.

If Bettman wants another Canadian team, he knows it has to go through Atlanta first

[DawgDad]

May be behind a paywall, if so I will shoot out highlights later.

https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/06/forsyt ... ion-team/#

[somni]

Personally, I'm tired of expansion. I'm tired of monitoring a player grow on a team only to lose them in an expansion draft.
I'm tired of playing division rivals only 3 or 4 time a year.

Sorry to be a downer, I'm just not a fan.

[Backesdraft]

Personally, I'm tired of expansion. I'm tired of monitoring a player grow on a team only to lose them in an expansion draft.
I'm tired of playing division rivals only 3 or 4 time a year.

Sorry to be a downer, I'm just not a fan.

I’m with ya somni. I get it from a business perspective, and the money is always going to win unfortunately, but it’s watering down the game and that’s what bugs me.

[DawgDad]

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.

[Aesa]

The NHL is going to expand themselves into a bad spot. 32 teams is already stretching the talent pool thin.

[DawgDad]

The NHL is going to expand themselves into a bad spot. 32 teams is already stretching the talent pool thin.

This I do tend to agree with, though I believe there are metro areas that can make a case they deserve a team.

[somni]

So now we have the reason why the Blues signed Texier!!!

[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.

[Cahokanut]

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.

If you are saying Atlanta leadership doesn't care about hockey. I'm with you. But Atlanta has become a top us city over the last 20yrs tops on many list and the first us city on the EUI rankings. So maybe there's another reason you are believing what clearly isn't true. No offense.

I think any team can make it just about anywhere. If they put a winner on the Field, Ice, Court, whatever. But in those tough times. Location, Ownership, and local leadership makes the difference.

I also agree that 32 is already pushing it. And maybe a different way to, "be a leagie" will need to come about for more expansions.

I would love to see a league that figures out a way to allow as many metros as possible in the league.

[DawgDad]

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.