The Atlanta Braves said Friday they will “no longer contest” the location of the Hank Aaron statue at Turner Field, clearing the way for the monument to the Hammer to remain in downtown Atlanta.
The statement comes two days after the Braves and the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority clashed publicly about the fate of the monument, and a day after Aaron and his wife told the team and the city to decide where the bronze should go.
In their statement Friday, the Braves took a shot at the authority over the “divisive” nature of the conversations concerning the monument.
The Braves statement reads:
“Nothing could be further from the character of Hank Aaron than the divisive conversations that are occurring over his iconic statue. As such, the Atlanta Braves have decided that we will no longer contest the eventual location of the statue and will instead focus on how to best showcase Hank’s impact and legacy at SunTrust Park. Part of this will include commissioning a new statue for all baseball fans to see. Hank Aaron is, and will always be, a significant part of the Atlanta Braves and our proud legacy. Our sincere hope is that the existing statue will continue to be preserved and displayed in a manner befitting his legacy as the greatest Brave of all time.”
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