Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter asked Falcons owner Arthur Blank to predict five future changes to Atlanta’s sports landscape.
1. Stadium technology
One of the things that you’re going to see for fans that are in stadiums is them having an opportunity to actually enjoy all of those benefits like hand-held devices, instant replays and camera angles and things of that nature. But the fans also will be able to see certain kinds of activities that ordinarily you wouldn’t be able to see at home.
2. Entertainment hubs
I think there is going to be more and more pressure to create, both in terms of stadium designs and in terms of creating areas to meet and greet, tailgate areas, etc., etc., before games and during the games, as well as the technology in the stadium. We are working to make sure that fans enjoy the game-day experience long before they enter the stadium.
3. Atlanta goes big-time
Our new stadium will not only house the traditional 10 games a year, playoff opportunities and all of the events that are currently held in the Georgia Dome. We will maintain those in the future, but will be able to compete on a national basis for things like the Super Bowl, or when FIFA comes back to the United States, World Cup soccer games and any of the national events, like the (College Football Playoff).
4. Pro soccer
The stadium will be designed to accommodate professional soccer. That could be MLS, but obviously there are other friendly matches on a world level that will come to Atlanta. There are other professional soccer teams that could play here. There are a variety of other ways we could apply soccer to Atlanta and help bring that along.
5. National sports landscape
We are going to see more national football games on television. With the stadium in place, we will be able to continue to shine the national light on Atlanta. Those are some of the changes that I would see. I would hope that our partners with the Hawks and the Braves would continue to do well and fill up Philips Arena and Turner Field.
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