[valentine]

Bruce Levinson is selling the Atlanta Hawks. Regardless of the racism scandal leading up to the sale, this thread is only about the future of the Hawks in Atlanta. 

What are the chances that the new owner has plans to relocate to a new market, most notably Seattle?

Atlanta has always had problems drawing crowds. They are an unappealing franchise for players and fans alike. I feel that unless there is a rich savior who has strong ties to the city, the Hawks are at risk.

Everyone knows that there’s a lot more money to be made in Seattle with an improved stadium, rabid fanbase and wealthy financial backers who have strong connections to the city. 

We’ve seen how quickly a team can relocate once the decision is made. So I’m asking you, will the Hawks be in Atlanta in 2015/2016.

If not, where will they be?

 

[kazamParticipant]

Atlanta is unable to leave until 2018 at the very earliest because of a clause or stipulation, whatever you may call it, with the county regarding Philips Arena. Not saying its unlikely they move but it’s going to be a very expensive endeavour.

 

Heres an article that explains what the deal is with the legal clause.

atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/6/24/2241349/could-the-atlanta-hawks-move-no-and-heres-why

[kazamParticipant]

Atlanta is unable to leave until 2018 at the very earliest because of a clause or stipulation, whatever you may call it, with the county regarding Philips Arena. Not saying its unlikely they move but it’s going to be a very expensive endeavour.

 

Heres an article that explains what the deal is with the legal clause.

atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/6/24/2241349/could-the-atlanta-hawks-move-no-and-heres-why

[royk927Participant]

 I’ve been rooting for this team for twenty nine years. (Been long overdue for something good  to happen) that said the ownership group should have been gotten rid of. Hopefully we keep our team.

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Been a fan, I live in Atlanta for about 25 years, we don’t deserve them! The fans show up late, they cheer for the visting team. I went to the Golden State game last year when Iggy hit the game winner and there were more Warrior fans then Hawks fans! Really Warrior fans in Atlanta??? This is a football city! When the Thrashers left no one complain, doubt anyone complain if the Hawks left. 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Been a fan, I live in Atlanta for about 25 years, we don’t deserve them! The fans show up late, they cheer for the visting team. I went to the Golden State game last year when Iggy hit the game winner and there were more Warrior fans then Hawks fans! Really Warrior fans in Atlanta??? This is a football city! When the Thrashers left no one complain, doubt anyone complain if the Hawks left. 

[royk927Participant]

 It would be a sad day for me. My dad was a lakers fan. My first game was a  hawks vs lakers game. I’ve been hooked every since. My pops not around anymore and I have since relocated to South Georgia but I still try to make games when my work schedule allows it. Only made five last year. But I watch the hawks when ever they are on tv. Life of a loser I guess. 

[royk927Participant]

 It would be a sad day for me. My dad was a lakers fan. My first game was a  hawks vs lakers game. I’ve been hooked every since. My pops not around anymore and I have since relocated to South Georgia but I still try to make games when my work schedule allows it. Only made five last year. But I watch the hawks when ever they are on tv. Life of a loser I guess. 

[royk927Participant]

 I’ve been rooting for this team for twenty nine years. (Been long overdue for something good  to happen) that said the ownership group should have been gotten rid of. Hopefully we keep our team.

[drpg913Participant]

 Seattle is a much better destination for a basketball team than Atlanta. they should move

[drpg913Participant]

 Seattle is a much better destination for a basketball team than Atlanta. they should move

[XYRYXParticipant]

I always wondered why there are so many empty seats when I see or saw the Hawks play at home. This is a traditional club but since the management and owners didnt’t manage to really make them more then a sideshow for years in the league since I followed the league (early 90s) I think a move should really be taken into consideration. 

Let’s be real, a successful team nowadays has to be a good brand with a more than solid fanbase and Seattle has that to offer. Ne all know how ugly the Sonics departure was but he give the OKC fanfase a shoutout, they loved this group with KD and Russ along with Jeff Green and Ibaka, as well as Harden later from day one and are really one of the blueprints of how to establish a new community. There is a strong bond between the players and the community and a let’s say a 2018 move could be realistically to build an arena first and don’t rush things like the Clippers sale. A franchise has to be build with a plan and a destination, this would just allow that and hell I want to see the old sonics jerseys back on tv and in my wardrobe. Imagine Schröder dishing out assists like the glove ???!!!??? Boomshakalaka!

One thing is also clear, after what Palmer had to pay for the Clippers this exclipsed a new level in the NBA and worldwide and will affect any buy from a consortium from the seattle area a very expensive one. We’ll see but I’m very excited about this idea. 

Who do you think would end up as the owner of a possible new Sonics team and what would the price tag be after the Clippers have just been sold for this whopping 2 quadrilzillion dollars?

[XYRYXParticipant]

 Yeah 700 posts!

Love spreading my thoughts on here and it’s totally daily business for me checking this forum out – I’m lovin it!

You guys are really one hell of a knowledgeable fanbase and the discussions on here are pure gold #joewolf and where the hell is #cynthia???

[XYRYXParticipant]

 Yeah 700 posts!

Love spreading my thoughts on here and it’s totally daily business for me checking this forum out – I’m lovin it!

You guys are really one hell of a knowledgeable fanbase and the discussions on here are pure gold #joewolf and where the hell is #cynthia???

[XYRYXParticipant]

I always wondered why there are so many empty seats when I see or saw the Hawks play at home. This is a traditional club but since the management and owners didnt’t manage to really make them more then a sideshow for years in the league since I followed the league (early 90s) I think a move should really be taken into consideration. 

Let’s be real, a successful team nowadays has to be a good brand with a more than solid fanbase and Seattle has that to offer. Ne all know how ugly the Sonics departure was but he give the OKC fanfase a shoutout, they loved this group with KD and Russ along with Jeff Green and Ibaka, as well as Harden later from day one and are really one of the blueprints of how to establish a new community. There is a strong bond between the players and the community and a let’s say a 2018 move could be realistically to build an arena first and don’t rush things like the Clippers sale. A franchise has to be build with a plan and a destination, this would just allow that and hell I want to see the old sonics jerseys back on tv and in my wardrobe. Imagine Schröder dishing out assists like the glove ???!!!??? Boomshakalaka!

One thing is also clear, after what Palmer had to pay for the Clippers this exclipsed a new level in the NBA and worldwide and will affect any buy from a consortium from the seattle area a very expensive one. We’ll see but I’m very excited about this idea. 

Who do you think would end up as the owner of a possible new Sonics team and what would the price tag be after the Clippers have just been sold for this whopping 2 quadrilzillion dollars?

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 I can not see a team moving from Atlanta to Seattle.  Seattle might deserve a team buit not at the cost of Atlanta. Theyboth are similar in market size but Atlanta is a little bigger.

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 I can not see a team moving from Atlanta to Seattle.  Seattle might deserve a team buit not at the cost of Atlanta. Theyboth are similar in market size but Atlanta is a little bigger.

[Toronto16Participant]

 No offense, but do fans in Atlanta even care about the Hawks?

[KHAM83Participant]

Atlanta is a mecca for people all over the US. The sports teams hear have to compete with these die hard fans from elsewhere, who many tend to jump on bandwagons. I’m born in Brooklyn, lived about 8 years in South Florida and have been in Atlanta since 2002. I can tell you this, native Atliens love the Hawks, they are just outnumbered in Atlanta believe it or not. Up until the LeBron went to Miami, I was a Heat fan. As for the Hawks, I couldn’t root for a team that always made bad decisions. I came around with the hiring of Ferry, thinking finally a basketball mind to help build things here. 

[KHAM83Participant]

Atlanta is a mecca for people all over the US. The sports teams hear have to compete with these die hard fans from elsewhere, who many tend to jump on bandwagons. I’m born in Brooklyn, lived about 8 years in South Florida and have been in Atlanta since 2002. I can tell you this, native Atliens love the Hawks, they are just outnumbered in Atlanta believe it or not. Up until the LeBron went to Miami, I was a Heat fan. As for the Hawks, I couldn’t root for a team that always made bad decisions. I came around with the hiring of Ferry, thinking finally a basketball mind to help build things here. 

[Toronto16Participant]

 No offense, but do fans in Atlanta even care about the Hawks?

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Braves are moving their stadium to Cobb County.

I was in Atlanta in early August.  Downtown was really busy and looked nice, and so was the Cobb County area where the Braves want to move.

FANS will come out if the team is good and the marketing is done right.  The Hawks don’t have anybody with star power. 

Should they move the stadium north to Cobb Co. area?  That won’t necessarily help.  The stadium looks good (haven’t been there though) and Atlanta’s downtown is similar to others.  Not sure they attract more fans if they move to the northern part of the metro area.  

But, there are definitely more people with money NORTH of downtown than SOUTH of downtown, so the northern suburbs are better. 

Fans would go downtown though if the team gets good again. 

The Falcons are staying downtown.  The Hawks are probably a good anchor for downtown too.  I would touch up the area around the arena maybe more shops and bars and a hotel or something, but I don’t think moving would help that much… the higher end part of Atlanta is more into baseball.  Maybe hockey. 

Maybe the Hawks should copy what the Lakers did.  The Lakers moved their team downtown, to an area that is actually closer to Watts than to the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills area.  BUT, they put in a bunch of shops and bars and hotels there to make it more of a destination.  … The Grizzlies have a similar setup in Memphis, fewer hotel rooms but more bars and things.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Braves are moving their stadium to Cobb County.

I was in Atlanta in early August.  Downtown was really busy and looked nice, and so was the Cobb County area where the Braves want to move.

FANS will come out if the team is good and the marketing is done right.  The Hawks don’t have anybody with star power. 

Should they move the stadium north to Cobb Co. area?  That won’t necessarily help.  The stadium looks good (haven’t been there though) and Atlanta’s downtown is similar to others.  Not sure they attract more fans if they move to the northern part of the metro area.  

But, there are definitely more people with money NORTH of downtown than SOUTH of downtown, so the northern suburbs are better. 

Fans would go downtown though if the team gets good again. 

The Falcons are staying downtown.  The Hawks are probably a good anchor for downtown too.  I would touch up the area around the arena maybe more shops and bars and a hotel or something, but I don’t think moving would help that much… the higher end part of Atlanta is more into baseball.  Maybe hockey. 

Maybe the Hawks should copy what the Lakers did.  The Lakers moved their team downtown, to an area that is actually closer to Watts than to the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills area.  BUT, they put in a bunch of shops and bars and hotels there to make it more of a destination.  … The Grizzlies have a similar setup in Memphis, fewer hotel rooms but more bars and things.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Hawks have had too many mediocre teams and no marketable superstar since Dominique Wilkins. 

Not a whole heck of a lot to build on.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Hawks have had too many mediocre teams and no marketable superstar since Dominique Wilkins. 

Not a whole heck of a lot to build on.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The NBA is leaving BILLIONS on the table by not adding an expansion team in Seattle.  They can also add one in San Jose.  Those two teams would have sellouts even with crappy records.

THEN the NBA would get an even BETTER TV deal since the NBA would have more media markets.

They can then also move a Western Conference team to the Eastern Conference.  Probably either the Grizzlies, Pelicans, or Timberwolves. 

As far as the Hawks go, other towns are building up the areas around the NBA arena to make it more of an experience.  Same thing the Braves will do when they move.

Now, they aren’t going to be able to just stick a basketball arena on some farm land and make some money.  They will have to do a bigger complex with restaurants, bars, hotels, and convention space too.

So, they might as well do it downtown. 

What I would do is build the thing up with the Hawks then have the WNBA team as a secondary attraction.  I would ALSO build a minor league baseball stadium there.  Hank Aaron Field or something which would get people to go to that part of town in the summer (tourist season).  Call it Sports Town or something then put some convention space and a hotel or two (LA has TWO high end chains next to the Staples Center and Memphis has one right across the street from FedEx Forum.  I think Dallas has the same deal too). 

They would get more tourists to go to games, get people to go to games after work and also get some leftover Braves fans who don’t want to go to Cobb County.  I actually stayed a couple of miles from where they want to put the new Braves stadium and its just a bunch of malls, and traffic BLOWS.  Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead are WAY better. 

All the rich kids are moving to downtown and midtown and younger people like the NBA more.  The Hawks’ best chance is to leave the team downtown where it is, but just build up the area.  If done right, and with a AAA team, I think the minor league ball club could draw as well as any minor league team in the country. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The NBA is leaving BILLIONS on the table by not adding an expansion team in Seattle.  They can also add one in San Jose.  Those two teams would have sellouts even with crappy records.

THEN the NBA would get an even BETTER TV deal since the NBA would have more media markets.

They can then also move a Western Conference team to the Eastern Conference.  Probably either the Grizzlies, Pelicans, or Timberwolves. 

As far as the Hawks go, other towns are building up the areas around the NBA arena to make it more of an experience.  Same thing the Braves will do when they move.

Now, they aren’t going to be able to just stick a basketball arena on some farm land and make some money.  They will have to do a bigger complex with restaurants, bars, hotels, and convention space too.

So, they might as well do it downtown. 

What I would do is build the thing up with the Hawks then have the WNBA team as a secondary attraction.  I would ALSO build a minor league baseball stadium there.  Hank Aaron Field or something which would get people to go to that part of town in the summer (tourist season).  Call it Sports Town or something then put some convention space and a hotel or two (LA has TWO high end chains next to the Staples Center and Memphis has one right across the street from FedEx Forum.  I think Dallas has the same deal too). 

They would get more tourists to go to games, get people to go to games after work and also get some leftover Braves fans who don’t want to go to Cobb County.  I actually stayed a couple of miles from where they want to put the new Braves stadium and its just a bunch of malls, and traffic BLOWS.  Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead are WAY better. 

All the rich kids are moving to downtown and midtown and younger people like the NBA more.  The Hawks’ best chance is to leave the team downtown where it is, but just build up the area.  If done right, and with a AAA team, I think the minor league ball club could draw as well as any minor league team in the country. 

[LOFTYParticipant]

how would it work sending a team to the west? add another team? team numbers would have to stay even in the west and even in the east.

[LOFTYParticipant]

how would it work sending a team to the west? add another team? team numbers would have to stay even in the west and even in the east.

[HitsterParticipant]

 How did the league operate before the Charlotte Hornets (Bobcats) were added in 2004, there were only 29 teams then?

The Hawks were the 3rd lowest attendance in the NBA last season with only Philly and the Bucks below them. The later two teams were the worse performing on court last season whilst the Hawks were in the play offs. With Jabari in situ, I’d figure the Bucks add a fair few to their average attendance next season. 

The Hawks have been in Atlanta 46 years, so the team has a long tie to the city but there are very valid points above by people indicating the city is perhaps more a Gridiron and Baseball town.

The Hawks would be an attractive purchase as they have been in the play offs for the last 7 years after 8 years in the lottery, they also have a respected GM in Danny Ferry and a good coach in Mike Budenholzer so if the team did relocate the receiving city would get a competive team.

I wonder if a consortium based in Atlanta might look to buy the team with a view possibly to sell it on when the Arena clause has run out and the new TV deal has kicked in. Essentially the team may be worth a lot more in 4 or 5 years time, these investors can then look to sell at a profit to another Atlanta consortium or maybe someone who would relocate the team. At least this way it gives the Hawks a chance to consider strategies whilst still in the city and the city gets a chance to make a strong pitch to keep the team.

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 How did the league operate before the Charlotte Hornets (Bobcats) were added in 2004, there were only 29 teams then?

The Hawks were the 3rd lowest attendance in the NBA last season with only Philly and the Bucks below them. The later two teams were the worse performing on court last season whilst the Hawks were in the play offs. With Jabari in situ, I’d figure the Bucks add a fair few to their average attendance next season. 

The Hawks have been in Atlanta 46 years, so the team has a long tie to the city but there are very valid points above by people indicating the city is perhaps more a Gridiron and Baseball town.

The Hawks would be an attractive purchase as they have been in the play offs for the last 7 years after 8 years in the lottery, they also have a respected GM in Danny Ferry and a good coach in Mike Budenholzer so if the team did relocate the receiving city would get a competive team.

I wonder if a consortium based in Atlanta might look to buy the team with a view possibly to sell it on when the Arena clause has run out and the new TV deal has kicked in. Essentially the team may be worth a lot more in 4 or 5 years time, these investors can then look to sell at a profit to another Atlanta consortium or maybe someone who would relocate the team. At least this way it gives the Hawks a chance to consider strategies whilst still in the city and the city gets a chance to make a strong pitch to keep the team.

 

 

 

 

[username_takenParticipant]

 If the fans over the next few years seem to continue not to care about the Hawks, I could definitely see it happening.

[username_takenParticipant]

 If the fans over the next few years seem to continue not to care about the Hawks, I could definitely see it happening.

[JNixonParticipant]

 Man I live in Atlanta and have been to a bunch of Hawks games, and everybody on this post is exactly right. Especially about their not being alot of diehard Hawks fans in the city. Only times Hawks game sell out is if a big name player/team plays at Philips, and there are a bunch of times when the fans will cheer louder for the other team than them lol. Its pretty crazy to see, because this is the only arena I’ve seen like that. Every other home team I watch on TV has wayyyy more support than the Hawks do. Wouldnt be surprised if they left town.

[JNixonParticipant]

 Man I live in Atlanta and have been to a bunch of Hawks games, and everybody on this post is exactly right. Especially about their not being alot of diehard Hawks fans in the city. Only times Hawks game sell out is if a big name player/team plays at Philips, and there are a bunch of times when the fans will cheer louder for the other team than them lol. Its pretty crazy to see, because this is the only arena I’ve seen like that. Every other home team I watch on TV has wayyyy more support than the Hawks do. Wouldnt be surprised if they left town.

[Author]

Posts