ATLANTA FALCONS

The Falcons play their second season under owner Arthur Blank. Promising third-year quarterback Michael Vick is set as the starter, working with running backs Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett. In the offseason the Falcons re-signed linebacker Keith Brooking and brought in several high-caliber free agents. Fans are expecting the improvements to bring an air of excitement to the Georgia Dome, home of the Falcons.

Season tickets: Call 404-223-8444 or 404-223-8000. Individual game tickets: Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, 1-800-326-4000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

On the Web: www.atlantafalcons.com

TV/radio: Fox (WAGA), CBS (WGCL), ESPN; WZGC-FM (92.9) is the flagship station.

ATLANTA BRAVES

One of the top teams in baseball for the past decade, the Braves underwent major personnel changes during the offseason. Gone are starting pitchers Tom Glavine and Kevin Millwood -- both 18-game winners in 2002. New acquisitions Mike Hampton, Shane Reynolds and Russ Ortiz joined Greg Maddux and rookie Horacio Ramirez in the starting rotation. The Braves play home games at Turner Field, an old-style ballpark with sports games and a museum.

Tickets: Visit the ticket office on the north side of Turner Field or call the Braves office at 404-522-7630 and ask for customer service. Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, 1-800-326-4000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

On the Web: www.atlantabraves.com

TV/radio: TBS, Turner South, Fox Sports Net (on Wednesdays), ESPN, Fox; WSB-AM (750) is the flagship station.

ATLANTA HAWKS

The Hawks failed to make the playoffs for a fourth straight year last season and will start this season with a new coach and general manager after Lon Kruger and Pete Babcock were fired. Led by All-Star forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim and high-scoring guard Jason Terry, they play at Philips Arena, adjacent to the CNN Center in downtown Atlanta.

Tickets: Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, 1-800-326-4000 or www.ticketmaster.com. For group tickets or schedule information: 404-827-3865.

On the Web: www.nba.com/hawks

TV/radio: Fox Sports Net, WUPA, Turner South; WSB-AM (750) or WFOX-FM (97.1).

ATLANTA THRASHERS

Named for the brown thrasher, Georgia's state bird, this National Hockey League team hit the ice in 1999 and boasted two of the sport's best rookies last season in Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley. The Thrashers, playing in Philips Arena, fired coach Curt Fraser at midseason and were vastly improved under his replacement, Bob Hartley, who is expected to get the Thrashers into the NHL playoffs next season for the first time in franchise history.

Tickets: 404-584-7825.

On the Web: www.atlantathrashers.com

TV/radio: Turner South, WUPA; WQXI-AM (790), WLKQ-FM (102.3), WZGC-FM (92.9), the latter on Saturdays.

ATLANTA BEAT

The Beat, runner-up in the Women's United Soccer Association championship game in its inaugural season, lost in last season's semifinals to eventual league champion Carolina. The Beat plays its games at Herndon Stadium on the campus of Morris Brown College.

Tickets: 1-877-762-2371. Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, 1-800-326-4000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

On the Web: www.theatlantabeat.com

TV: WPAX, WATL.

ATLANTA SILVERBACKS

This professional soccer team, which began in 1999, competes in the A-League's Southeast Division. Jacenir Silva was named interim coach for the 2003 season and hopes are high the Silverbacks will make the playoffs. The Silverbacks play at DeKalb Memorial Stadium on the Georgia Perimeter College campus in Clarkston.

Tickets: 404-770-248-0492, Ext. 227. Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, 1-800-326-4000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

On the Web: www.atlantasilverbacks.com

GEORGIA FORCE

Atlanta's second-year Arena Football League team has moved its home games from Philips Arena to the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The games, played by eight players on each team, are extremely fast-paced and high-scoring.

Tickets: 770-813-7610. Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, 1-800-326-4000 or www.ticketmaster.com

On the Web: www.georgiaforce.com

TV/radio: WXIA (NBC), Turner South, TNN; WQXI-AM (790).