Potential Atlanta NHL Expansion Team Thread

[Tawnos]

Here's the logistical thing I've been bumping around in my mind since yesterday. This location would be great for me personally, as I live in Roswell, about 15 minutes away, door to door. However, if this arena becomes home to an NHL team, I would think it would be a major ordeal for visiting teams to get back to Hartsfield-Jackson on the south side of the metro area to make their flight to wherever is next. Even without traffic, that's roughly an hour's drive by team bus. I would think that players facing a back-to-back would get grumpy that it'll take so long to get out of town after a game.

If the game ends at roughly 10 pm, they're not taking off until midnight at the earliest.



I tend to disagree. I would think events like The Cure, Duran Duran, Paramore, Stevie Nicks, John Mayer, etc. would all be a much easier sell in the northern suburbs than downtown.

I guess I'm not sure about this exactly, but I know most teams fly charter. Do they fly regional jets on charter or 737 sized jets charter?

If it's the former, it looks like PDK can handle it.

 

[Tawnos]

Yes, but if instead of population density, you look at the map of Atlanta area (Atlanta is the red box).. the proposed Arena is basically in the middle of the darker spots (aka, richer spots).


View attachment 690852

Eh, not really. Here's a better look.

 

[sneakytitz]

I said this in the Buccigross thread but Ted Turner and Stan Kasten originally scouted the land that became North Point Mall (2 exits south of this proposed spot) when it became clear the Omni needed to be replaced. I don't know what decisions kept them adjacent to the CNN Center (probably because Ted just relocated Turner/CNN HQ there) but even in the late 80s/early 90s there was serious consideration to put a big arena up there.

 

[Yukon Joe]

I guess I'm not sure about this exactly, but I know most teams fly charter. Do they fly regional jets on charter or 737 sized jets charter?

If it's the former, it looks like PDK can handle it.

All Canadian teams (and some US-based teams) use Air Canada Jetz, which is a subsidiary of Air Canada and whose primary clients are sports teams plus other business uses. Jetz uses Airbus A320 and A319 configured with business class seats.

Air Canada Jetz - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A320 is the competitor to the Boeing 737.

 

[Tawnos]

All Canadian teams (and some US-based teams) use Air Canada Jetz, which is a subsidiary of Air Canada and whose primary clients are sports teams plus other business uses. Jetz uses Airbus A320 and A319 configured with business class seats.

Air Canada Jetz - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A320 is the competitor to the Boeing 737.

Ah yeah, that makes sense. I'm not sure if PDK or another regional airport in the ATL area can handle those. They do have a 6000 foot runway which is the minimum for the A320.

 

[Major4Boarding]

Ah yeah, that makes sense. I'm not sure if PDK or another regional airport in the ATL area can handle those. They do have a 6000 foot runway which is the minimum for the A320.

Adding that some charters are Boeing 757-200's (@6,800ft).

Regarding even further delayed departures. Thinking out loud, I'm sure scheduling could perhaps go along these lines:

Begin Southeast Road trip in ATL (then some combo of TB, FL, CAR) or ATL ends the Southeast Road trip (returning home where next day is a scheduled off-day).

 

[Yukon Joe]

Adding that some charters are Boeing 757-200's (@6,800ft).

Regarding even further delayed departures. Thinking out loud, I'm sure scheduling could perhaps go along these lines:

Begin Southeast Road trip in ATL (then some combo of TB, FL, CAR) or ATL ends the Southeast Road trip (returning home where next day is a scheduled off-day).

I think the bigger question is that it doesn't look like PDK has a customs/immigration facility, which means Canadian teams couldn't fly directly there from Canada.

 

[sexydonut]

I think the bigger question is that it doesn't look like PDK has a customs/immigration facility, which means Canadian teams couldn't fly directly there from Canad

Major Canadian airports have US customs preclearance.

 

[GreenHornet]

I said this in the Buccigross thread but Ted Turner and Stan Kasten originally scouted the land that became North Point Mall (2 exits south of this proposed spot) when it became clear the Omni needed to be replaced. I don't know what decisions kept them adjacent to the CNN Center (probably because Ted just relocated Turner/CNN HQ there) but even in the late 80s/early 90s there was serious consideration to put a big arena up there.

If memory serves, it was actually Richard Adler and Dave Berkman, the owner of the IHL's Atlanta Knights, who first pitched the idea of an arena in the area that became North Point Mall. IIRC, they called the project Royal 400, and it also included what became Verizon Wireless (now Ameris Bank) Amphitheater. In fact, I think they eventually unveiled an architect's rendering of their vision. That's when Turner and Co. became involved and both groups applied for a team in that particular round of NHL expansion, and of course, Turne and Co. got the team that eventually became the Thrashers. You know how they say money talks? Well, to paraphrase Chris Rock, Berkman and Adler were rich, but Turner and Co. were WEALTHY.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

They’ve also been a better team. There last few years in Turner Field they were below .500. If you go back to their last contending year at Turner Field attendance was about to same as their first few seasons at Sun Trust (attendance subsequently shot up with the WS win)

Not much better...they left Turner Field with like 13 or 14 straight division titles. And even before they won the WS, their attendance was up about 6-7K. They generally averaged 23-26 at Turner and was getting 30-33 at SunTrust. That said, there is also a "new stadium" effect as well.

 

[BMN]

If memory serves, it was actually Richard Adler and Dave Berkman, the owner of the IHL's Atlanta Knights, who first pitched the idea of an arena in the area that became North Point Mall. IIRC, they called the project Royal 400, and it also included what became Verizon Wireless (now Ameris Bank) Amphitheater. In fact, I think they eventually unveiled an architect's rendering of their vision.

Adler was basically two decades ahead of the Braves wanting to put major league sports in Cobb County. From October of 1996:

Cobb County Officials OK Arena Site Purchase​

 

[tarheelhockey]

"The Gathering" sounds a bit creepy

 

[MMC]

Another upcoming hockey development in Georgia

 

[sneakytitz]

If memory serves, it was actually Richard Adler and Dave Berkman, the owner of the IHL's Atlanta Knights, who first pitched the idea of an arena in the area that became North Point Mall. IIRC, they called the project Royal 400, and it also included what became Verizon Wireless (now Ameris Bank) Amphitheater. In fact, I think they eventually unveiled an architect's rendering of their vision. That's when Turner and Co. became involved and both groups applied for a team in that particular round of NHL expansion, and of course, Turne and Co. got the team that eventually became the Thrashers. You know how they say money talks? Well, to paraphrase Chris Rock, Berkman and Adler were rich, but Turner and Co. were WEALTHY.

You're almost certainly right; I heard this second hand. Thanks for the insight!!

 

[sneakytitz]

Another upcoming hockey development in Georgia

The owner of the Ghost Pirates also owns the Jacksonville ECHL franchise too. He has phenomenal products/success. I think Savannah sold out 33 of 36 dates this year.

 

[RoyalAir]

The owner of the Ghost Pirates also owns the Jacksonville ECHL franchise too. He has phenomenal products/success. I think Savannah sold out 33 of 36 dates this year.

Selling out one night in the ECHL is hard to do. 33 dates? That's insane.

 

[GreenHornet]

Adler was basically two decades ahead of the Braves wanting to put major league sports in Cobb County. From October of 1996:

Cobb County Officials OK Arena Site Purchase​

True, but as I mentioned, Adler and Berkman first looked at the 400 corridor near North Point Mall before trying in Cobb County. In both cases, both those guys had plenty of foresight.

 

[Headshot77]

If the NHL gets their way: Arizona gets some long-term stability, Atlanta will get team #33, and Houston would get #34.

 

[Roadrage]

"The Gathering" sounds a bit creepy

Honestly, so does "The Battery"

 

[aqib]

I don't normally agree with Field of Schemes but this take s hilarious: Car dealer says he’s building $2B NHL arena project 30 miles north of Atlanta, not nearly enough people laugh

 

[MMC]

 

[nhlfan79]

I don't normally agree with Field of Schemes but this take s hilarious: Car dealer says he’s building $2B NHL arena project 30 miles north of Atlanta, not nearly enough people laugh

I don't get it. Why would they laugh?

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

I don't get it. Why would they laugh?

Well, I do think there is one good point...I'm a bit disappointed to see this car dealership guy I've never heard of being the face of the project. I was hoping for an investment owner/group with some clout and big $$ backing.

I also hope he's got a backup plan for all that proposed office space. No way they sign the leases for that amount of space that far up 400. Office market isn't doing so well to begin with.

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

Well, I do think there is one good point...I'm a bit disappointed to see this car dealership guy I've never heard of being the face of the project. I was hoping for an investment owner/group with some clout and big $$ backing.

I also hope he's got a backup plan for all that proposed office space. No way they sign the leases for that amount of space that far up 400. Office market isn't doing so well to begin with.

I assume the idea is to get a major partner backer, and he's the face of the development.

Like Chipman in Winnipeg is exactly the same - car dealership guy - but he partnered up with David Thompson, who we never hear from at all.

Very weird the project is still so far along yet appears to be still trying to court that person though, but I don't know if that's par for the course for US major developments like this.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Very weird it's in this phase and appears to be trying to court that person though, but I don't know if that's par for the course for US major developments like this.

I'm no real estate professional, but having lived in multiple sunbelt boom-cities, it's not that unheard of for someone to make a lot of noise around a sports-centered development with the expectation of getting someone else to bankroll it.

Of course the scheme is usually to get public money, not private.