Good morning. This is LEADOFF, an early look at Atlanta sports.
Both the Braves and Atlanta United had games televised on Fox's regional sports networks Wednesday night, and they drew almost identical Nielsen ratings in the Atlanta TV market.
The Braves-at-Mets game posted a 1.2 local rating on Fox Sports Southeast, meaning 1.2 percent of households in the Atlanta market watched on average as the Braves lost for the 87th time this season. That rating amounted to a local TV audience of about 29,000 homes.
Atlanta United’s home game against Philadelphia generated a 1.1 local rating on Fox Sports South, meaning 1.1 percent of households in the Atlanta market watched on average as the expansion team clinched an MLS playoff berth. That translated to a local TV audience of about 26,500 homes.
Just for comparison -- although nothing really compares with NFL TV ratings -- the Falcons-at-Lions game Sunday drew a 22.0 rating in the Atlanta market, translating to 22 percent of households or an audience of about 531,000 local homes.
ICYMI ...
As an FBI investigation shakes much of the college-basketball world, Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner tells the AJC's Ken Sugiura that he is "100 percent confident that there has been no wrongdoing at Georgia Tech." See story here.
With the Falcons' season well under way, the Braves' season days from ending, the Hawks in training camp and Atlanta United headed to the playoffs, let's check the power rankings to see where Atlanta's teams stand in their sports. See story here.
The University of Georgia Athletic Association posted a video showing the renovated Stegeman Coliseum, which features a new center-hung video board and new seats, among other changes. See story here and UGA video below.
