from Zachary Hansen of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
The newest executive for the proposed $2 billion arena and entertainment district known as the Gathering at South Forsyth made one thing clear this week in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution — they want an NHL team.
Frank Ferrara, the Gathering’s new senior project executive, said he’ll pull out all of the stops to get Georgia back into pro hockey contention. Where the Atlanta Flames and Thrashers failed downtown, Ferrara said the Gathering team thinks it can build an 18,000-plus seat suburban arena, surrounded by hotels, offices, restaurants, shops and apartments, that could woo an expansion team, should that day come.
“It’s easy to say that no city has gotten a third chance, but the circumstances are not the same,” Ferrara told the AJC. “... If and when (the NHL) decides to expand, we will have a place that’s ready for them.”
The build-it-and-they-will-come vision for a pro hockey arena 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta, coupled with an Atlanta Braves-style live-work-play district immediately made waves when it was first pitched in April.
I'll bet the Ilitches spend actual money to build their proposed District Detroit first--but both outcomes are equally likely.
Fool me once, shame on you. Feel me twice, well... Let's not go for a third time.
There are plenty of other cities I would like to see get a team.
Seriously?😖
And which team gets moved over to the western conference?
No. Next question.....
My vote would be no, but it would have been interesting to see how a winning team would have fared in ATL. They had 1 playoff season (and lost in straight sets in first round) and that's all she wrote for 11 years of hockey in ATL...for the Thrashers. Rivalries with CAR/NSH/TB/FLA/DAL could be established. Lots of expats from the northern states. I think it could do well....but I don't want expansion. Poobah makes a wonderful point - if AZ moves to ATL - who moves to the Western Conference? If they had a great expansion draft like LV, it would be interesting.
NO
As a forty year resident of Atlanta and a former Thrashers season ticket I can probably offer some pretty decent insight on this issue.
The likelihood of this project coming to fruition is closely tied to how much money will come from taxpayers. If taxpayers are asked to provide more than small percentage of the funds, the project won't happen.
The location is a little better for many of the people that are likely to go to a hockey game. There are a good number of those in the northern suburbs who were "afraid" to go downtown. A ridiculous argument, in my opinion, but a very real one. However, the new arena wouldn't have near the transportation infrastructure of the downtown arena. Traffic in the area has already outgrown the infrastructure.
Could Atlanta with a new location and new ownership support an NHL team? I have serious doubts. The last attempt left a bad taste in many a fan's mouth. The ownership group was a mess from the get go and had almost zero success on the ice. They barely gave the franchise an opportunity to grow before they were eager to move the team (contrast how far Bettman has gone to protect the Coyotes vs how quickly the Thrashers were sold to highest bidder). It really takes a generational commitment to build a fanbase and ownership needs to be committed to it long-term. There are already a ton of sports options for a fan's money. Selling hockey, especially until the football season is over will be awfully tough again. Asking big dollars for a crappy experience won't last long at all.
Would the NHL expand there? Absolutely if they thought they could get more money in expansion fees. It's why they'd prefer that over a relocation. But I imagine it is going to pretty hard to get someone to put up those monstrous fees for a pretty risky investment. Both of Atlanta previous attempts were badly hurt by economic situations. Right now the economy isn't much sounder.
Personally, I don't think the NHL should be thinking expansion any time soon. Maybe in another 5-10 years but new locations (Salt Lake, Houston, Portland, KC) make more sense than Atlanta.
Frankly, whenever I see an article like this it leaves me a little more depressed. I did my part to draw and support an NHL team in Atlanta as did many fans I know but we never got support from the ownership/management that was necessary. I can only hope that if they do it again, it's a MUCH better situation.
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