Potential Atlanta NHL Expansion Team Thread

[dj4aces]

Carter is also an analyst for TNT. Is it possibe that he was at the meetings in that role and not as a rep for his Atlanta expansion group?

That would be my question. Seeing as how I don't have HBO Max streaming + sports package, I was unable to watch the recent game (Rangers v Sabres) that was on the network... so have no idea if they even discussed the BoG meeting on-air.

My *gut* says that, even if he was attending the meeting as a TNT analyst, there's nothing that says he wouldn't also be there as a party interested in bringing the league back to Atlanta. While it might seem Krause's group is ahead in this race, we also don't really know what Carter's up to. From a business standpoint, just because one is quiet doesn't mean they're not up to something.

 

[aqib]

Carter is also an analyst for TNT. Is it possibe that he was at the meetings in that role and not as a rep for his Atlanta expansion group?

Two questions:
1) Since he isn't a beat reporter/insider so would he really be at a BOG meeting as part of his analyst duties?
2) Is there a strong preference in Atlanta over one site over the other?

 

[GreenHornet]

Two questions:
1) Since he isn't a beat reporter/insider so would he really be at a BOG meeting as part of his analyst duties?
2) Is there a strong preference in Atlanta over one site over the other?

1. The NHL To Atlanta Twitter account speculates thusly, though I have to believe that if he did speak with any owners, the subject of his bid had to have come up in any conversation.



2. The only ones who might know the answer to this question with any degree of certainty are probably all members of the BoG (or perhaps Bettman and/or Daly). One thing is for sure, whatever Carter is up to with regard to his bid (which features building a new arena at the North Point Mall in Alpharetta just six miles south of Krause's proposed Gathering arena), he has held his cards VERY close to the vest throughout this whole process -- far closer than Krause, whatever that means.

 

[aqib]

1. The NHL To Atlanta Twitter account speculates thusly, though I have to believe that if he did speak with any owners, the subject of his bid had to have come up in any conversation.



2. The only ones who might know the answer to this question with any degree of certainty are probably all members of the BoG (or perhaps Bettman and/or Daly). One thing is for sure, whatever Carter is up to with regard to his bid (which features building a new arena at the North Point Mall in Alpharetta just six miles south of Krause's proposed Gathering arena), he has held his cards VERY close to the vest throughout this whole process -- far closer than Krause, whatever that means.

But among Atlanta fans, is one location more popular than the other? Like in LA it seemed like Hollywood Park was more popular than Carson as a location before you even factored in the Rams being more popular by far than the Chargers.

 

[GreenHornet]

But among Atlanta fans, is one location more popular than the other? Like in LA it seemed like Hollywood Park was more popular than Carson as a location before you even factored in the Rams being more popular by far than the Chargers.

Honestly, I'm not sure. Since the sites are only about six miles apart, I don't know that there's going to be an intense preference one way or the other for a lot of folks in the metro area.

Now, the the folks on the Forsyth side of the county line will probably overwhelmingly favor The Gathering, while the folks on the Fulton side would almost certainly favor North Point. That's not including the NIMBY types, but I think that's the general rule.

At the end of the day, I can only really speak for myself that I'd prefer North Point, only because it's a little closer to where I live (and in metro ATL, an extra six miles could mean about 30-45 minutes during rush hour).

 

[nhlfan79]

But among Atlanta fans, is one location more popular than the other? Like in LA it seemed like Hollywood Park was more popular than Carson as a location before you even factored in the Rams being more popular by far than the Chargers.

Geographically, Anson's location would be much more desirable. The current land is a mostly dying suburban mall in a very affluent area that is straddled by two established highway exits, so all of the traffic infrastructure is already in place. In addition, it is six miles closer in than Krause's development up the same highway in Forsyth County.

 

[FlyguyOX]

That would be my question. Seeing as how I don't have HBO Max streaming + sports package, I was unable to watch the recent game (Rangers v Sabres) that was on the network... so have no idea if they even discussed the BoG meeting on-air.

My *gut* says that, even if he was attending the meeting as a TNT analyst, there's nothing that says he wouldn't also be there as a party interested in bringing the league back to Atlanta. While it might seem Krause's group is ahead in this race, we also don't really know what Carter's up to. From a business standpoint, just because one is quiet doesn't mean they're not up to something.

So, the people in the know that play men's hockey here in Atlanta that initially tipped me off to Carter and his atlanta ownership group years ago way before anyone knew there was any Atlanta expansion interest have told me recently that they still think Carter and his group that plan to put the arena at a renovated northpoint mall are the still the group that end up with it.

I'm extremely skeptical of that. Krause group is just sooo far down the road in terms of local bureaucracy headway and red tape cutting that I cannot fathom a world where the new team is NOT at the arena at The Gathering development. I just recently voted in the last election last month to grant special local powers so that the development could proceed. That measure passed.

But among Atlanta fans, is one location more popular than the other? Like in LA it seemed like Hollywood Park was more popular than Carson as a location before you even factored in the Rams being more popular by far than the Chargers.

I'm in favor of the The Gathering development with Krause. Personally, it's much closer for me. There is next to no information to go on for the northpoint location and development. Hard to believe they'll be able to get that deal done and arena built before Krause has his ready.

Also, Krause's was only approved from local government with the stipulation that it would house an NHL team. He had to have received a wink and nod from the league.