The NBA lockout and the relocation of the Thrashers’ hockey franchise left the Deep South’s largest sports market void of wintertime diversions. Since the early 1970s, Atlanta has been home to at least three pro sports teams – the Braves, Falcons, and Hawks – along with intermittent stays by teams in hockey, soccer, and women’s basketball. Sports fever added by racing, golf and college sports makes Atlanta one of the nation’s prime stops for fans from near and far.
But what if A-Town lost one of its three longstanding teams? It’s fair to say the Braves and Falcons carry loyal enough fan bases to survive in the market. But the Atlanta Hawks seemingly walk a fine line between acceptance and abandonment around town, and to boot, the Hawks are now left to carry Philips Arena as a single-parent household of sorts, because the Thrashers are gone to Canada. Without its hockey counterpart sharing the load for expenses, do the Hawks stay or bolt for a town hungrier for pro basketball?
Until this year, Atlanta was one of 13 American cities with four pro sports teams. Due to the Thrashers’ move, Georgia is currently the largest state without a presence in the four major sports leagues. Not all is lost when a city scales back to teams in two sports. Cincinnati, Kansas City, San Diego and Seattle are major cities that had basketball teams and lost them. Charlotte, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville and New Orleans also crave a third option. Los Angeles is clamoring for pro football again, after both the Rams and Raiders vacated over 20 years ago. Atlanta should “rise up” and retain its status among America’s elite sports cities.
Best Sports Towns
Boston – Beantown may be the only city where fanaticism overrules recent success. Even though the city saw championships in all four major sports over the last 10 years, a hunger still exists for sitting atop the sports city throne.
Dallas – The Cowboys anchor a city that has seen its basketball (Mavericks) and baseball (Rangers) teams reach their league finals in the last two years. A city long known for its allegiance to football has morphed into an all-sports city, with new facilities for all sports built in the last 10 years.
Chicago – Despite the Cubs’ longsuffering, America’s second city makes the list behind its undying affection for the Bears, Bulls, White Sox and Blackhawks. Chicago brought home World Series and Stanley Cup trophies last decade, as well as a Super Bowl appearance in 2006. – G. Curry
