There is no lack of sports fans in Atlanta. The same can be said for sports bars, as there seems to be one on almost every corner.
What Atlanta is sorely lacking are winning sports franchises. While Atlanta, due to its excellent host city reputation, has presented in recent years such
lauded sports events as the NFL Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four, no one is betting on seeing an
Atlanta team in any sports championship game anytime soon.
Baseball fans may be saying, "But what about the Atlanta Braves? They've been one of the top Major League teams
over the past decade." True, but local fans will remember that the Braves were only able to capture the
World Series once. Too many close, but no cigar seasons have disillusioned many Braves fans. Also, the
team is known for their low-key style, which while it has been successful for them, does not create a passionate
following. Every time the Braves begin their playoff appearance, national media are quick to point out the
rows and rows of empty seats at Turner Field, and wonder why there is such little fan support. The reasons are
many. First, the stadium is located downtown, and with games usually starting or ending during rush hour, it
makes for a disastrous commute. The city's subway system does not go directly to the stadium; one has to transfer
to a shuttle bus. This can prove to be long and tedious. Corporate sponsors tend to gobble up the majority of
good seats, especially for the playoff games, so that the idea of trekking down to the stadium for nosebleed seats
and overpriced food is much less desirable than just sitting in the comfort of your own home and watching it on TV.
And Atlantans tend to be cynical. They are all too aware of the Braves tendency to choke in September, and would
rather take a wait-and-see approach.
Another long suffering team is the Atlanta Hawks. Despite a roster full of well known veterans such as Tony Kukoc and Alan
Henderson, they continue to rank near the bottom of the NBA standings. Their new coach, Lon Kreuger, hasn't made much of an impact yet. Injuries
seem to be their main downfall. Healthy, and if their veteran acquisitions could get
in synch with the young talent, this team could make the playoffs in the near future. They made the playoffs as recently
as the 1998-1999 season. The NBA draft on June 26 will be of utmost importance for the future of this team.
It's difficult to know where to begin with the Atlanta Falcons. Longtime laughingstock of the NFL, they
shocked everyone in 1999 when they had a Cinderella season, and made it to the Super Bowl, only to get a
prime time reality check by way of the Denver Broncos who trounced Falcons' fans hopes of winning it all.
The next season, and continuing until the present, they have went back to their bumbling ways. Poor coaching,
horrible draft picks, and devastating injuries have caused fans heartache for decades. Will new owner Arthur Blank, the
Home Depot founder, be able to turn the team around? Will college superstar quarterback
Michael Vick be able to put excitement back in the game and most importantly, touchdowns on the board?
Only time will tell. If fan attendance continues at its current low turnout, the games will be blacked out in Atlanta
and fans will be forced to listen to the game on the radio. If the Falcons continue to play the way they have been,
the old saying, "Some things are better left unseen," will ring more true than ever.
Hockey is no longer just a cold weather city sport. When the Atlanta Thrashers filled the NHL void in the city,
fans came out in droves and the excitement for a professional sports team hadn't been seen at that level in ages.
While born and bred Atlantans might not be familiar with all the rules of hockey, they certainly made up for it in
enthusiasm. And Atlanta has become the home to so many former Northerners that the Thrashers have had it pretty
easy creating and maintaining a fan base. However, it is time for them to start winning. No one would hold them
accountable in their first couple of seasons, but their disappointing play this season did turn off some people.
Add to that the high ticket prices, and if the Thrashers don't create some winning seasons soon, their fan base
will undoubtedly begin to erode.
Thankfully, there are events like the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta. The largest 10k meter road race in the world,
the annual July the 4th event is as familiar to Atlantans as are fireworks at Stone Mountain. The race route goes through
the heart of the city, starting at Lenox Mall in Buckhead and finishing up at Piedmont Park. The coveted race t-shirts, only awarded to the first 10,000
finishers, is designed by the winner of the race logo contest, making it a real community event.
Of course, many Southerners would argue that the only sports worth following are college sports. If you are not
familiar with the South, and their obsession with college teams, look for an upcoming article highlighting some of
the best teams in the Atlanta area.
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