From Chad (with a couple of edits): “We the citizens of Atlanta bought this building earlier this year. Not to save it would be a tragedy. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city – (1869) on the campus of one of the first African American higher educational institutions – the Atlanta University Center (Spelman, […]
Tag: Arthur Blank
Posted inWABE
Hopefully, soccer team can help unite fractured DeKalb County
Original Story on WABE By Maria Saporta Play Audio The new Atlanta United soccer franchise announced Tuesday that it had chosen DeKalb County for its headquarters and $35 million training facility. The DeKalb Commission voted earlier that day to approve the agreement with Atlanta United FC, one that would involve a $12 million investment by the […]
Posted inWABE
Atlanta’s new soccer team could be symbol for unity
Original Story on WABE By MARIA SAPORTA Play Audio Soccer fans still have to wait about a year and a half before they will be able to go to a match to see Atlanta’s pro team at the new downtown stadium. But when owner Arthur Blank officially unveiled the team’s new name – Atlanta United FC – […]
Posted inColumns, Guest Column, Main Slider
Let’s create meaningful opportunities for Westside residents
By Guest Columnist ARTHUR BLANK, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
We all believe in something.
In fact, I think believing in something drives all of our major moments in life.
Now, I am asking us to believe in the future of Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhoods.
Posted inLatest News, Main Slider
New Atlanta Falcons stadium costs rise up to $1.5 billion
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank does not know how to say “No,” and that is costing him another $100 million.
During a panel discussion at the Rotary Club of Atlanta Monday on the rejuvenation of the westside neighborhoods, Blank let it slip out that we view the “$1.5 billion stadium” as an incredible investment.
Posted inDavid Pendered
Dreams of jobs training hit reality; Atlanta vows it won’t surrender
Less than 10 percent of those who applied for a job-training program initiated by Falcons team owner Arthur Blank passed the drug test required for acceptance to the program, according to Atlanta City Councilmember Ivory L. Young, Jr.
Young cited the figure to illustrate the challenge of job training for individuals who have troubles past or present. Of 160 applicants, 18 were accepted, he said.
Posted inDavid Pendered
Atlanta’s new workforce law among possible community agreements to be addressed by city, Falcons
A central question facing the Atlanta City Council is how to harness the city’s influence in the proposed deal to help pay for the planned Falcons stadium.
Just this month, the city enacted a new law that seems to require the stadium’s builders to hire a certain proportion of disadvantaged and underemployed residents. Falcons President Rich McKay said the team is committed to such social objectives – and that they will be addressed.
In addition, some on the council want the new stadium to address blight in nearby neighborhoods, specifically along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. However, Councilmember Michael Julian Bond noted that the project can’t be a panacea for, “every social ill under the sun.”
Posted inDavid Pendered
Atlanta Council looks for ways stadium deal could be required to help residents, nearby neighborhoods
In about three weeks, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s staff expects to deliver to the city council the meat of the legislation that will enable the city council to vote to help fund a new Falcons stadium.
Given the level of support for the new stadium voiced by several councilmembers, its evident some of them will spend the next three weeks figuring out how to ensure that community benefits agreements are created to help city residents and the neighborhoods around. Such concerns were a major issue at the council’s four-hour work session Wednesday.
Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay assured the council several times that team owner Arthur Blank is committed to being a good civic partner. McKay emphasized that Penny McPhee, president of the Blank Foundation, will oversee that outreach effort.
Posted inLatest News
Gov. Nathan Deal: ‘incumbent on us’ to not lose the Falcons to Los Angeles
By Maria Saporta
Gov. Nathan Deal said Tuesday it would be a big loss for the state if the Atlanta Falcons were to move to Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, one of the top media markets in the country, has been seeking a football team for years. Reportedly, Arthur Blank has told Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and other officials that he has been approached by Los Angeles leaders who are interested in him moving the Falcons to the Southern California city.
“It’s incumbent on us to make sure we don’t lose the franchise,” Deal said after being recognized as the 2013 Georgian of the Year by Georgia Trend magazine at its annual 100 Most Influential Georgians luncheon.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta Falcons have helped revive community spirit — win or lose
By Maria Saporta
The energy — and the tension — in the Georgia Dome on Sunday captures a feeling that has been lost in recent years — a feeling of being in the game.
The last five years have been tough for Atlanta, a city used to being an economic star in the country. The Great Recession hit Atlanta harder than most other cities because it targeted the real estate and banking — two industries that had helped build Atlanta.
And yet, during Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers, the city’s troubles are put aside as people rallied behind a team that is only one win away from the Super Bowl.
Posted inMichelle Hiskey
Urban Atlanta youth use muscle, risk to master complexities of the harp
Of all the instruments, one of the biggest and heaviest, most expensive and most exotic is the harp. A performer must play each foot and hand separately, using everything but pinkies to create the ethereal notes.
That is the muscle behind the dreamy soundtrack of the Atlanta Urban Youth Harp Ensemble. Most of these young musicians have overcome major disadvantages to master the instrument’s complexity, earn gigs at local weddings and events, qualify for college scholarships and position themselves for professional music careers.
Posted inMoments, Moments Season 1
Arthur Blank’s 1978 firing led to Home Depot, Falcons re-birth and countless benefits for Atlanta
By Chris Schroder
The story of the phoenix – the mythical bird that rose from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle – is often interwoven with the history of Atlanta. Yet no phoenix-like business story has so benefited our region as that Moment in 1978 when Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus were fired.
“We were running the most successful home improvement company in the country at that time,” Arthur told us while filming our accompanying Moments video. “So when we got fired during what was supposed to be a five-year budget meeting, we were both shocked.”
Posted inMoments, Moments Season 1
Doug Hertz’ Moment was realizing so many nonprofit groups were counting on his idea
By Chris Schroder
Doug Hertz wears a lot of hats these days, but a couple of weeks ago he was worried he wasn’t wearing the right shirt. Not that there’s anything wrong with wearing a Falcons shirt – after all, he’s an owner now.
But on this day, he was supposed to be talking about Camp Twin Lakes, which he founded 20 years ago after he spotted and then solved a common issue among nonprofit groups serving children with various kinds of illnesses. These camps all needed a home – and the ability to provide custom medical services.
Posted inMoments, Moments Season 1
Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff’s Moment was seeing his mom and dad together one last time
By Chris Schroder
Thomas Dimitroff likes to live life in the fast lane. In his free time, you will find the highly successful general manager of the Atlanta Falcons pushing the limits in extreme sports, such as snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing or riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Under his management, the Falcons have had four consecutive winning seasons, made three playoff appearances and have reset expectations to be considered as one of the elite teams in the NFL.
