Arthur Blank Discusses What it Takes to Run a Successful Company and Football Team at the Atlanta Press Club

October 9th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized

Humble and Hungry — the motto of the 2009 Atlanta Falcons — were the overriding themes when Falcons owner Arthur Blank discussed his football team and a possible new gridiron home several years from now during Thursday’s Atlanta Press Club luncheon.  The luncheon was made possible, in part, by presenting sponsor The Home Depot, Blank’s previous business address. A long list of Table Sponsors listed below helped to nearly fill The Commerce Club Lane Room.

“We have confidence in ourselves,” Blank said about his 2009 version Birds.  “We know we need to improve.  We know we need to get better.” The Falcons come off a bye week this Sunday when they play in San Francisco.  They are seeking to rebound from their only loss two weeks ago in New England.  Atlanta is second in the NFL South with a 2-1 record.

These Falcons have come a long way since the disastrous 2007 season that featured the Michael Vick and Bobby Petrino implosions.  A new general manager (Thomas Dimitroff), a new head coach (Mike Smith) and a rookie quarterback (Matt Ryan), enabled Atlanta to achieve an 11-5 record last season before they lost to Arizona in the playoffs.  
“Smitty was Smitty Who?  There was Thomas Who?  Matt was a very big question,” Blank said as he reflected on starting the 2008 season.   Nevertheless, Dimitroff earned Executive of the Year, Smith earned Coach of the Year and Ryan earned Rookie of the Year, the first time in NFL history that a franchise won all three honors in the same season.
“We’re satisfied with last year. We’re not where we need to be,” Blank said.  Starting with San Francisco, the Falcons play five of their next seven games on the road.  Success in 2008 earned them the league’s  fourth toughest schedule this year.
Blank touched on many subjects, including the process to build a new Falcons stadium. The Georgia Dome has been home since 1992, and the Falcons pumped in $40 million to refurbish the property, even though it is owned by the State of Georgia.  But the Dome is ancient by NFL standards.  There are only so many ways to polish an antique.
Blank said sites within Atlanta proper and other locations will be considered for a new Falcons home. His own money will be in the game, and he promised the outcome will be a public - private partnership.  The Falcons have a Dome lease through the 2020 season, but the lease could terminate whenever bonds are repaid, possible within six to eight years.
The Falcons owner also took several minutes to discuss his other big priority.  Blank said “Atlanta’s non-profit community is struggling as it never has before” because the poor economy created “a non-profit version of a perfect storm.  When you leave this building today, think about what else you can do, what else we can do to help people in need, folks who are really struggling today.”
After leaving the Press Club luncheon Blank flew to Kansas City to receive an award Thursday evening for entrepreneurial leadership. That seems so appropriate for someone who co-founded The Home Depot, created one of the city’s greatest foundations and then brought dignity and respect back to Atlanta Falcons football. 

Written by Mike Klein
APC Board Member

 

 

 

 

 

Arthur Blank Table Sponsors Included:
Atlanta Daybook / What’s Up Interactive
Atlanta Journal - Constitution
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta
Georgia Pacific
Georgia Public Broadcasting
McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLC
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Schroder Public Relations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reminder:
Two Press Club Newsmaker luncheons and one evening event are scheduled next week.   CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts on Tuesday and Pulitzer Prize winning author Taylor Branch on Wednesday will address luncheons scheduled for noon at The Commerce Club.  APC is also hosting a Thursday evening October 15 evening program: Using Social Media to Connect with Your Audience and Sell Your Book.  Additional information about all three events is located on this website.

 

 

 

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