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re: Does the success of the Predators, Vegas Knights and ATL UTD make you loathe Atl Spirit?
Posted on 5/21/18 at 12:14 pm to VinegarStrokes
Posted on 5/21/18 at 12:14 pm to VinegarStrokes
I'm not saying the Hispanic population of Atlanta is THE driving force behind the team's popularity, but it's naive to say it doesn't help their popularity "at all". Hell, just look at the players management targeted when forming our team. It's not a coincidence that our heavy hitters have Central and South American decent.
Anyway, my original point wasn't why Atlanta United is popular. I was giving a reason which wasn't already expressed ITT of why soccer is more supported than ice hockey in Atlanta. Even if the Hispanic community is only 10% of the metro Atlanta population (it's probably closer to 15% now), the CSA of Atlanta is 6.5 million. That's 650,000-975,000 people in Atlanta that are MUCH more likely to support a soccer team over a hockey team, especially when the management of that soccer team is putting a concerted effort to make that group of people feel connected to the team.
Anyway, my original point wasn't why Atlanta United is popular. I was giving a reason which wasn't already expressed ITT of why soccer is more supported than ice hockey in Atlanta. Even if the Hispanic community is only 10% of the metro Atlanta population (it's probably closer to 15% now), the CSA of Atlanta is 6.5 million. That's 650,000-975,000 people in Atlanta that are MUCH more likely to support a soccer team over a hockey team, especially when the management of that soccer team is putting a concerted effort to make that group of people feel connected to the team.
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Posted on 5/21/18 at 12:44 pm to The Nino
Agree - but another big reason is that soccer was already popular with kids and families in Atlanta to begin with. Soccer is very rooted in Metro Atlanta and has been for a while. A lot of really good soccer players come out of the Metro. There are a lot of long time established youth soccer programs in the Metro. Soccer is one of the 2-3 sports almost all little kids (boys and girls) play at point growing up in Metro Atlanta. Add to that the recent growth of young people really liking US Soccer and European soccer, no built in MLS fan base and a whole helluva lot of young "soccerish" folks combined with a large Hispanic community and it was like having a pit of tinder just waiting for a match.
So, compare that with ice hockey, where almost nobody plays or has played it (outside of transplants).......with no youth teams and no built in grassroots culture.........and it makes sense.
The Thrashers needed a lightning in a bottle moment, which they got in 2007, and then needed to capitalize on it (SEE NASHVILLE). The difference is, the Thrashers had a big season and young players, and the Spirit did absolutely nothing to expand on it. Atlanta finished 20th in % of capacity attendance in 2007 (92.1%) and 2008 (89.8%). But then it continued to become clear that the Spirit didn't give a flying fvck about the organization, and attendance plummeted in 2009-2011, and that was that.
Let's just put it this way - if Arthur Blank had owned the Thrashers and run them the way that he is running the United, the Thrashers would still be in Atlanta right now. Absolutely no doubt in my mind.
So, compare that with ice hockey, where almost nobody plays or has played it (outside of transplants).......with no youth teams and no built in grassroots culture.........and it makes sense.
The Thrashers needed a lightning in a bottle moment, which they got in 2007, and then needed to capitalize on it (SEE NASHVILLE). The difference is, the Thrashers had a big season and young players, and the Spirit did absolutely nothing to expand on it. Atlanta finished 20th in % of capacity attendance in 2007 (92.1%) and 2008 (89.8%). But then it continued to become clear that the Spirit didn't give a flying fvck about the organization, and attendance plummeted in 2009-2011, and that was that.
Let's just put it this way - if Arthur Blank had owned the Thrashers and run them the way that he is running the United, the Thrashers would still be in Atlanta right now. Absolutely no doubt in my mind.
This post was edited on 5/21/18 at 12:48 pm
Posted on 5/21/18 at 1:08 pm to SummerOfGeorge
Exactly.
The Five Stripes' success is multifold, as was the demise of the Thrashers. If the Thrashers had better management and implemented better marketing & growth strategies, they'd probably still be here. But I'm pretty sure pro hockey has a relatively low ceiling compared to pro soccer in Atlanta.
The Five Stripes' success is multifold, as was the demise of the Thrashers. If the Thrashers had better management and implemented better marketing & growth strategies, they'd probably still be here. But I'm pretty sure pro hockey has a relatively low ceiling compared to pro soccer in Atlanta.
Posted on 5/21/18 at 1:23 pm to The Nino
quote:
I'm not saying the Hispanic population of Atlanta is THE driving force behind the team's popularity, but it's naive to say it doesn't help their popularity "at all". Hell, just look at the players management targeted when forming our team. It's not a coincidence that our heavy hitters have Central and South American decent.
I see it as them getting the best players that they can possibly get.
The vast popularity of the team is from young white people. Period. If you were to completely ignore the hispanic population, there would be absolutely no difference in the magnitude of the support that this team is receiving.
Posted on 5/21/18 at 2:40 pm to tylerdurden24
quote:
It was widely considered to be outdated by the time construction wrapped up
Are you aware of the some of the hockey venues during that time?The Detroit Olympia or Chicago Stadium or the
Boston Garden?Those places were built in the 20's and 30's and mainly for boxing.Not close to outdated compared to those dumps.
I kinda get the point about club level but the lack of of more corporate suites had a far bigger impact on revenue.Still wasn't the reason for Cousins selling the team and they were still financially viable when they were sold.
Posted on 5/21/18 at 5:51 pm to tylerdurden24
quote:
The Omni was a total dump even before the Flames got there,
The Omni was awesome.
Posted on 5/21/18 at 8:36 pm to tylerdurden24
The Atlanta Spirit were a real life major league situation. They never wanted the thrashers but had to buy them as a package deal with the hawks and Phillips. I'll never forget their GM lapdog Don Waddell answering this question by a fellow season ticket holder: "Why don't the owners spend more money?" Waddell- "I like employment."
Worse yet is the situation was so toxic and inept that Gary Betman didn't put up much of a fight to keep the team here unlike in Phoenix. Of course the government in Atlanta could care less about hockey.
If the team and arena were part of the battery with good ownership it would be a success.
Worse yet is the situation was so toxic and inept that Gary Betman didn't put up much of a fight to keep the team here unlike in Phoenix. Of course the government in Atlanta could care less about hockey.
If the team and arena were part of the battery with good ownership it would be a success.
Posted on 5/21/18 at 8:43 pm to The Nino
quote:
Nashville is further North and likely has more northern transplants, thus hockey is more popular there. They also have fewer pro sports than Atlanta. As for why soccer is more supported than hockey in Atlanta: Atlanta is in the south and has a large Hispanic community. Soccer fits those demographics more than hockey
This is one of the dumbest posts I've read in a while. Metro Atlanta has more northern transplants than native southerners, and has grown two fold over the last twenty years, majority of those people come from the north. Nashville is four hours away and very much the south. The Thrashers only failed because of bad ownership, they actually out performed the hawks in attendance most years they were here despite the lousy product. The years on either side of the single year they made the playoffs they were packing 15-17k per game with several sellouts, I would know because I was at every game.
This post was edited on 5/21/18 at 8:44 pm
Posted on 5/21/18 at 8:47 pm to meansonny
quote:
Does the success of the Predators, Vegas Knights and ATL UTD make you loathe Atl Spirit? by meansonny Atlanta is a hockey town. How many here were at the playoff series against the Rangers? If you werent there, you don't know what the town is capable of. But in 11 years, the Thrashers made 1 playoff series. And blew up the team days afterward. How many GMs get 11 years to make 1 playoff series. How many franchises would keep that GM the entire run? We are cursed with shite in Atlanta. shite that Tom Cousins lost his arse in the real estate market in the 80s and had to liquidate the flames for capital. shite that we had the spirit group who instantly began infighting within years that they were formed. So much so that it neutered any decision making and left us with a eunoch as a GM for 11 freaking years. I have loathed Waddell and his superiors for a long time. The preds, knights, and United aren't needed for that.
Spot on post about both franchises. Hockey has grown so much that many high schools have hockey teams now.
Posted on 5/21/18 at 8:54 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
So, compare that with ice hockey, where almost nobody plays or has played it (outside of transplants).......with no youth teams and no built in grassroots culture.........and it makes sense.
All of the local arenas are at full capacity because of club hockey.
Look how many high school teams there are now.
GSHL
Posted on 5/21/18 at 9:06 pm to JCdawg
quote:
All of the local arenas are at full capacity because of club hockey.
Look how many high school teams there are now.
Sure, it's played, but it's not part of the culture and it's nowhere near as widely played as soccer.
Hockey would have been fine here with good ownership, and there would probably be even more local teams and leagues.
Posted on 5/21/18 at 9:38 pm to JCdawg
quote:
This is one of the dumbest posts I've read in a while. Metro Atlanta has more northern transplants than native southerners, and has grown two fold over the last twenty years, majority of those people come from the north. Nashville is four hours away and very much the south
I always enjoy these Nashville people comparing their town to Atlanta.Do they not realize Metro Atlanta is 3 times their size and have 3X as many Fortune 500 companies?
This post was edited on 5/22/18 at 11:47 am
Posted on 5/22/18 at 6:35 am to VinegarStrokes
quote:
I see it as them getting the best players that they can possibly get
This. They started with the best coach they could get (Tata Martino). Just so happens that Tata has a huge pull in South America. He played at and managed one of Argentina's largest clubs, took Paraguay to the quarterfinals of the world cup, managed Argentina, and managaed Barcelona (one of all South American's dream clubs).
Before hiring Tata, AUFC had signed Chris McCann (Irish) and Kenwyne Jones (Trinidad and Tobago).
Posted on 5/22/18 at 7:33 am to RD Dawg
quote:
I always enjoy these Nashville people comparing their town to Atlanta.Do they not realize Metro Atlanta is 3 times their size and have 3X as many Fortune 500 companies?
Sometimes I wonder, Nashville isn't even in the same realm, and that isn't a knock on Nashville.
Posted on 5/22/18 at 7:40 am to JCdawg
Blank running things and hiring the best and most expensive options certainly helped, but even if they'd gone the Minnesota route I think support would be sky high.
The city might not have jumped on board as a whole, but they would have still had excellent support.
The city might not have jumped on board as a whole, but they would have still had excellent support.
Posted on 5/23/18 at 9:25 pm to Korin
quote:
The Omni was awesome.
Behold the splendor of this janky-arse tribute to Atlanta's athletic inadequacy
This post was edited on 5/23/18 at 9:26 pm
Posted on 5/23/18 at 10:38 pm to tylerdurden24
And yet it held the first Wargames. 
Posted on 5/24/18 at 7:56 am to tylerdurden24
Damn...that is one ugly arse building.
My only real memories of it (born in 85) are attending several UGA/Georgia Tech basketball games (back when that rivalry actually meant something...now the games are very blah, regardless of who wins, mainly because both programs generally stink). I also went to a Barnum & Bailey circus there once, and I saw Jordan's last game there in the 97 playoffs. Another example of an Atlanta team choking away an opportunity at home. They actually beat Chicago on the road in game 2-2 to take home court advantage and proceeded to lose 2 straight at home.
I'm just glad they connected Phillips Arena and the CNN center when they got rid of the Omni. I remember the "breezeway" between the Omni and CNN and it was cold as shite in that small area in the winter time. I remember standing in line there to get in for the circus and it was incredibly cold and windy.
My only real memories of it (born in 85) are attending several UGA/Georgia Tech basketball games (back when that rivalry actually meant something...now the games are very blah, regardless of who wins, mainly because both programs generally stink). I also went to a Barnum & Bailey circus there once, and I saw Jordan's last game there in the 97 playoffs. Another example of an Atlanta team choking away an opportunity at home. They actually beat Chicago on the road in game 2-2 to take home court advantage and proceeded to lose 2 straight at home.
I'm just glad they connected Phillips Arena and the CNN center when they got rid of the Omni. I remember the "breezeway" between the Omni and CNN and it was cold as shite in that small area in the winter time. I remember standing in line there to get in for the circus and it was incredibly cold and windy.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 2:30 pm to meansonny
quote:
How many here were at the playoff series against the Rangers?
I went to one of the two. I've never experienced such an electric atmosphere for pro sports outside of braves/dodgers September series in 1991 and early 90s Braves postseason.
I went to one United game at bobby dodd last year and was blown away by the atmosphere and support.
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