NHL open to another expansion franchise in Atlanta (Alpharetta, Duluth: transplants, live)

[Carolina Knight]

The National Hockey League is open to a third attempt with a team in Atlanta.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...nchise-atlanta

Atlanta previously had the Flames (1972 - 1980; relocated to Calgary, Alberta) and Thrashers (1999 - 2011; relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and became the Jets).

Questions:

• How has Atlanta improved to be among the NHL's potential cities for a team?
• Where could a hockey specific venue in the Atlanta area be vialble for an NHL team?

[585WNY]

Sounds like Halifax’s future NHL team will be coming to Atlanta soon!

In all seriousness, I welcome it but hope they don’t place the venue in Forsyth County. It would be a disservice to fans in the southern part of the metro and would alienate a large chunk of the market.

[blue_line]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

The National Hockey League is open to a third attempt with a team in Atlanta.[*]How has Atlanta improved to be among the NHL's potential cities for a team?[/list]

Atlanta metro has grown a lot since the last team both population and wealth wise.

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

The National Hockey League is open to a third attempt with a team in Atlanta.[*]Where could a hockey specific venue in the Atlanta area be vialble for an NHL team?[/list]

Looks like they are settling on Alpharetta/South Forsyth and it makes sense i guess as Alpharetta is in the middle of northern arc wealthy suburbs where most of NHL fans may be(they must have done some research). Hockey just like Baseball(hence Braves move to cobb) is much more of a suburban fanbase sport as opposed to more urban Football , Soccer, Baseketball.

Biggest issue will be transportation.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by blue_line

Atlanta metro has grown a lot since the last team both population and wealth wise.



Looks like they are settling on Alpharetta/South Forsyth and it makes sense i guess as Alpharetta is in the middle of northern arc wealthy suburbs where most of NHL fans may be(they must have done some research). Hockey just like Baseball(hence Braves move to cobb) is much more of a suburban fanbase sport as opposed to more urban Football , Soccer, Baseketball.

Biggest issue will be transportation.

How are the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators doing at Gas South Arena in Duluth?

Transportation would be a commute up GA 400 from I-285. An interchange is being created with McGinnis Ferry Road in conjunction with its widening.

MARTA is developing bus rapid transit along GA 400. I wonder if that will come close to the Gathering at South Forsyth.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

The National Hockey League is open to a third attempt with a team in Atlanta.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...nchise-atlanta

Atlanta previously had the Flames (1972 - 1980; relocated to Calgary, Alberta) and Thrashers (1999 - 2011; relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and became the Jets).

Questions:

• How has Atlanta improved to be among the NHL's potential cities for a team?
• Where could a hockey specific venue in the Atlanta area be vialble for an NHL team?

1. People keep forgetting that the thrashers not staying was due to internal business squabbles, not because of support of the team.

2. I think the NHL venue for Atlanta should be located at perimeter center.

[Citykid3785]

I think it would work now. Not too unlike soccer, the sport is gaining more mass appeal, and we have a lot of northern transplants.

I think Cumberland, Alpharetta, perimeter area would be good.

[primaltech]

Dude, put it downtown. The State Farm arena. Make Downtown Great Again.

I wish Atlanta would turn the CNN Center into the regional train passenger terminal, and build the whole gulch up with skyscrapers, and the Falcons/United/Hawks/NHL team all connected to that and MARTA. And extend the MARTA green line to the Battery in Cumberland so that the Braves are connected as well.

And all that connected with the airport. I mean, Atlanta, get the infrastructure, and embrace and love your downtown! Forsyth County is a boring pile of suck. And it's way out of the way for a lot of people.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by aries4118

1. People keep forgetting that the thrashers not staying was due to internal business squabbles, not because of support of the team.

2. I think the NHL venue for Atlanta should be located at perimeter center.

Is Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth undergoing redevelopment? That could be the next closest development site to Perimeter Center.

I do not know if Gas South Arena is large enough to host an NHL team.

[arjay57]

I thought the plan was to put it in South Forsyth. There's a lot of big money up there.

https://www.11alive.com/article/news...4-21645f9887cf

[testa50]

As we discussed in the other thread, Atlanta United flipped the script on expansion teams. It's not so much about the tangible attributes of the fanbase as it is about the ability to generate a brand and fan experience that attracts people to the games.

In the early 2010s, the narrative was that Atlanta is an innately bad sports city, and our one storied franchise (the Braves) was middling in fan support; the rest were on the lower end.

The new Braves stadium propelled the team into the top-tier of fan support, and Atlanta United (which many people doubted could ever catch on--"Atlanta's just not a soccer city") is evergreen top-end of the league in fan support, even seasons when we're mediocre on the field.

NHL can survive. But it needs the right ownership and strategy.