Five things we learned in Atlanta sports business this week:
1. The Braves' revenue declined by $10 million in the third quarter this year to $109 million, compared to the same period last year, team owner Liberty Media disclosed. The team's operating profit before depreciation and amortization decreased by $14 million in the quarter to $16 million. Liberty attributed the declines to fewer home games than in the same period in 2015. The company also disclosed that the Braves' debt increased by $75 million in the third quarter to $220 million "primarily as a result of additional borrowings … for funding the ballpark and mixed-use development." Full story here.
2. Third-quarter results notwithstanding, Liberty Media investors heard a bullish scouting report on their baseball team at a meeting in New York. Liberty Chief Financial Officer Mark Carleton said it would be "not unreasonable" to value the Braves at about $1.5 billion. Carleton said "history tells us" to expect a 15 to 25 percent increase in revenue with the move to a new stadium, adding: "Some of that will flow through to the bottom line, and some of it will prudently go into our on-the-field talent." Braves CEO Terry McGuirk spoke highly of the team's minor-league system and SunTrust Park. Full story here.
3. Continuing to gear up for business in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Falcons organization has signed an outside company to handle merchandise sales there. Fanatics Inc., a leader in the field of officially licensed sports merchandise, will operate sales for all events in the new stadium. That will include running a two-story, 9,000-square-foot team store to be built off the fan plaza on the stadium's east side. Full story here.
4. The Hawks have acquired an NBA Development League team that will play in College Park, starting in the 2019-20 season. College Park agreed to build a 3,500-seat arena in which the Hawks' D-League team will be the primary tenant. The arena will be built at the Gateway Center as part of the Georgia International Convention Center. Full story here.
5. Hawks CEO Steve Koonin signed a new three-year contract with the team during the summer. Full story here.
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