Atlanta Celebrates Sports Business Journal’s Best Sports City Recognition

Recently recognized as one of Sports Business Journal’s Best Sports Business Cities, Atlanta celebrated this prestigious accolade at the award-winning State Farm Arena, in collaboration with the Atlanta Sports Council for an exclusive event honoring the city’s remarkable achievement on Thursday Sept 5.

With over 200 leaders from Atlanta’s sports community in attendance, the event not only served as a prime networking opportunity with the chance to connect, fostering potential collaborations and partnerships that could further strengthen Atlanta’s position in the sports business world, it provided a glimpse into the city’s economic impact of sports on Atlanta’s economy.

The evening  kicked- off with comments from City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

The highlight of this celebratory event was the exclusive panel discussion featuring key influential figures in Atlanta’s sports scene representing the Atlanta Dream (WNBA) Morgan Shaw Parker, President and Chief Operating Officer, the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) Rich McKay, Chief Executive Officer of AMB Sports and Entertainment and Chief Executive Officer, the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena (NBA) Steve Koonin, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Atlanta Braves (MLB)  Derek Schiller, President and CEO, and Dan Corso Atlanta Sports Council at Metro Atlanta Chamber.

Adding gravitas to the proceedings, Abe Madkour, the publisher and executive editor of Sports Business Journal moderated the discussion. Madkour’s extensive experience and industry knowledge ensured a dynamic and insightful conversation, probing into the strategies and visions that have propelled Atlanta to its current status as a top sports business city.

This gathering of industry titans was not just a celebration of past achievements but also a forward-looking event that provided a comprehensive view of Atlanta’s sports ecosystem, spanning multiple leagues and fan bases while sharing future plans for growth and innovation in Atlanta’s sports sector.

Atlanta is the only city in the country to place in the top five in both years of SBJ’s BSBC rankings.  This prestigious accolade reflects the community’s ability to attract and host major sporting events, fostering economic growth and enhancing Atlanta’s global reputation. This is a true example of collective efforts from city officials, sports organizations, and Atlanta’s passionate fans.

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