Trail Blazers vs. Hawks - NBA Box Score - March 3, 2023 | ESPN Thats it. Hawks owners commit $40 million to economically empower - Commissioner Coach Wilkens was named Coach of the Year for his work with the team. However, Kerner was rebuffed by the city on several occasions. The Hawks currently own the second-longest drought (behind the Sacramento Kings) of not winning an NBA championship at 63 seasons. They also traded Ennis's draft rights to the Miami Heat and Neto's to the Utah Jazz for a future second-round pick. In 1956, Bob Pettit captured the league's first official Most Valuable Player award, and the St. Louis Hawks drafted legendary Bill Russell in the first round (second overall pick). After seasons of mediocrity, Lenny Wilkens was hired as head coach in 1993. Robertson is sponsoring two bills that were passed by a Senate committee on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, that would let the Buckhead neighborhood secede from Atlanta. Atlanta Hawks on the Forbes NBA Team Valuations List Atlanta Hawks minority owner Bruce Levenson will sell his share of the franchise after the discovery of a racist email he sent in 2012. The Magic beat the Hawks in the second round of the 1996 playoffs in five games and swept their 2010 playoff matchup. Two days later, the Hawks selected Wake Forest power forward John Collins with the 19th overall pick. In mid-season the Hawks traded Mike Bibby to the Washington Wizards for Kirk Hinrich, in hopes of bringing a defensive guard to replace the defensively liable Bibby. They also returned to the red, black and yellow color scheme they wore from 1992 to 2007, while adding gray as an accent color. In this case, the team retains the player's draft rights in the NBA until one year after the player's contract with the non-NBA team ends. Also in 1972, the Hawks debuted a new logo and new colors, trading the green and blue color scheme that the team had used for two years, in favor of white, gold, and red, the same colors the Flames used. Atlanta Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler to | HoopsHype Category:Atlanta Hawks owners Help Pages in category "Atlanta Hawks owners" The following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total. They also chose point guard Raulzinho Neto with the 47th pick and small forward James Ennis with the 50th pick. On July 10, 2012, the Hawks signed guard Lou Williams. It was also the year Josh Smith won the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest. List of Atlanta Braves ownership and front office personnel One of the rare silver linings to the Atlanta Hawks saga was the opportunity for new, less racially charged team ownership to enter into the NBA. but I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority." Levenson said Hawks . Atlanta won 101-99 in overtime. Following the 1997 playoffs, the Hawks moved back to Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum, with the Georgia Dome used for larger-capacity games, until Philips Arena opened before the 19992000 season. [59][60][61] On July 12, 2016, Dwight Howard agreed to return home to Atlanta on a three-year, $70 million contract with the Hawks. In 2021, the Hawks made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals led by Trae Young and a young group of hungry players around him. [29] After the game he was dealt to the Detroit Pistons in a three-way trade with the Boston Celtics. Led by budding star Trae Young, the Hawks made the Eastern Conference finals last year, a run that will boost ticket sales, sponsorship and merchandise revenue. And the ideas and the intelligence and the genius and the brilliance that exists in those brains, never reaches the marketplace because weve never created those pathways, weve never made those connections, and thats at the heart of what we want to be able to do.. Other leagues, including MLB, MLS and NHL have made similar changes. He was voted in as a starter and was the first Hawks player to start in an All Star Game since Dikembe Mutombo in 1998. On May 11, 2018, Lloyd Pierce was hired by the Atlanta Hawks as head coach. In case you missed it, the majority owner of the Hawks, Bruce Levenson, leaked some of his own emails where he openly discussed ways to bring in the key demographic for season ticket sales in the NBA namely, middle . Cable network entrepreneur and Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner bought the team in 1977 and hired Hubie Brown to become head coach. Visit ESPN for the box score of the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball game on March 3, 2023. . The Hawks would end up with a 31-win campaign in the lockout-shortened 199899 season. It was Liberty's . Updated on: September 7, 2014 / 11:50 PM / CBS/AP. HomeCourt is the only institutional investor that can acquire a pool of minority stakes in an unlimited number of NBA franchises, intended to provide its investors with diversified access to the NBA's impressive growth engine. Atlanta Hawks Principal Owner Tony Ressler was not a participant in the sale and will maintain his majority stake in the franchise. Aug 2014 - Present8 years 8 months. We lose GDP every year because we have not figured out how to make the economy work and innovation work for those south of I-20. The franchise's lone NBA championship, as well as all four NBA Finals appearances, occurred when the team was based in St. Louis. The Hawks hold the draft rights to the following unsigned draft picks who have been playing outside the NBA. However, the Hawks are one of only four NBA teams that have qualified to play in the NBA playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons in the 21st century. The Hawks ended their 200304 season with a 2854 record. A mid-season trade for point guard Mike Bibby boosted the Hawks' playoff hopes. Visit ESPN for the team statistics of the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball game on March 3, 2023. . 6", Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "Tracy McGrady, Bill Self, Rebecca Lobo and Muffet McGraw Headline Class", Relocated National Basketball Association teams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlanta_Hawks&oldid=1141845675, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from June 2022, All articles needing additional references, Pages using NBA roster footer with unknown parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Torch red, legacy yellow, infinity black, granite gray, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 03:12. [98] In the 201819 season, the Hawks wore white uniforms with black and metallic gold trim as a nod to the team's 50th anniversary in Atlanta. Hawks co-owner wrote Knicks anthem. His NBA worlds collide again. New York-based Dyal HomeCourt Partners acquires nearly 6% stake in Only the Los Angeles Clippers (+20%) had a bigger year-over-year jump. Game 4, an 8980 loss, would be the last game at The Omni. Dyal HomeCourt Partners is nearing an agreement to purchase a minority stake in the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that values the NBA team at about $2 billion, according to people familiar with the negotiations. 2 mins ago - via Adrian Wojnarowski @ ESPN. Basketball; . Chairman Stephen Ross owns about 95% of the team. On September 7, 2014, Bruce Levenson announced he would sell his share of the team, after self-reporting an inappropriate email he sent in 2012. By Ryan Prete & Jordan Rubio. The Bisons were a member of the National Basketball League, and played their games at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. With stories from Basketball, Sports, California Sports, Los Angeles Sports, College Sports, New York City Sports, Texas Sports, College Basketball, American West. The Hawks won all three games at Philips Arena, which hosted its first playoff games and earned its first sellout. That same day, the Hawks traded small forward Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz for point guard Devin Harris. Additionally, Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed stated that the city might offer incentives for a prospective owner to keep the Hawks in Atlanta for another 30 years. In the summer of 2005, the Hawks completed a sign and trade deal with the Phoenix Suns to acquire Joe Johnson in return for Boris Diaw and two future 1st round picks. The team ended up 3349 for the 200102 season. From 1985 to 1989, the Hawks were among the league's elite, winning 50 games or more each season. Atlanta Hawks | History & Notable Players | Britannica [86] After McMillan took over head coaching duties, the Hawks immediately posted an eight-game win streak, putting them firmly in playoff contention. Rider missed the first day of training camp and was late for two games. See more about basketball, from player stats to team news to sneakers and slam dunks. The teams kicked off game one of the NBA finals Thursday, and regardless of who wins the best-of-seven-game duel, a private equity firm will have a hand in raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The Hawks finished the season losing their final six games. In December 2011, the Hawks signed Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Collins, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jannero Pargo, and Willie Green. The origins of the Atlanta Hawks can be traced to the Buffalo Bisons franchise, which was founded in 1946. They ended up fifth in the Central Division with a 4240 record, they would be swept by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. Hawks have seen 19% value increase in the last year. Rider's troubled conduct continued after his arrival in Atlanta. The first domino in the chain of events that forced former Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson to sell the team was minority owner Michael Gearon Jr. feeling disrespected by GM Danny Ferry. He wanted a new arena to increase revenue. After only missing the playoffs four times since 1977, they fell to seventh place in the Central Division with a 2854 record; they would not return to the playoffs for eight years. Schultz: Hawks owner wants an Atlanta title and more for the city The share of the Hawks each person owns is unknown although it's safe to assume. "Hawks Owner Bruce Levenson To Sell Team After Telling NBA About Racially Charged 2012 Email". The Hawks were one of the original franchises of the National Basketball Association (NBA) when the league was established in 1949. Bob Pettit scored 50 points in the final game of the series. Aside from the Trail Blazers, Allen also owns the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and is a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS . [80] On February 4, 2020, the Hawks were involved in a four team trade in which they acquired Clint Capela and Nen. In 1949, the Blackhawks became one of the National Basketball Association's 17 original teams after a merger of the 12-year-old NBL and the three-year-old Basketball Association of America (BAA). It was strange Tuesday night seeing Quin Snyder striding the floor in the Atlanta Hawks game against the Washington Wizards.The sight, a midseason addition to a troubled team he parachuted into . Smith and Blaylock had been two of the Hawks' most popular players during the 1990s, and Smith had recently been awarded the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his charitable endeavors, as well as being selected in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. In 1954, the Hawks drafted Bob Pettit, a future NBA MVP. They signed two proven veteran players, Bogdan Bogdanovic at the wing position and Danilo Gallinari at the power forward spot. Red and white have been a part of the team's palette for the most part since the 1950s, but the Hawks also used various accent colors as well. SPACs: What a Special Purpose Acquisition Company Means for Sports. Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler had been looking for a way to create a one-stop shop where Black and minority entrepreneurs could gain access to both capital and mentorship. When he showed up late for a March game, the Hawks released him. 2 Chainz Buys Ownership in Atlanta Hawks G League Team - TMZ [21] Oneof the bidders was a New Orleans group led by future talk show host Morton Downey Jr., but the deal collapsed and Kerner temporarily took his team off the market.[22][23]. National Basketball Association franchise in Atlanta, Georgia, 19461953: Buffalo, Tri-Cities and Milwaukee, 19541965: St. Louis and The Bob Pettit era, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Hawks look to past with new uniform set", "Atlanta Hawks Reproduction and Usage Guideline Sheet", "Sharecare and Hawks Launch Jersey Patch Partnership And Innovative Health Movement", "Group Led By Tony Ressler Completes Purchase of Atlanta Hawks", "Team that's now Atlanta Hawks bailed on Buffalo 70 years ago", "Long-forgotten Leo Ferris helped devise NBA's 24-second clock, first used 61 years ago today", "1966-68: "Sweet Lou" Makes His DebutFranchise History", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Hall of Famers", "Have You Ever Heard of William 'Pop' Gates TFB", "Turner buys the Hawks, Day After Baseball Ban", "Wallace lands in Detroit in three-team deal", "Atlanta Spirit LLC Announces Close of Sale for Teams, Arena", "Hawks Announce Sign And Trade For Joe Johnson", "Hawks Acquire Mike Bibby from Sacramento", "Report: Atlanta Hawks, Philips Arena sold", "Alex Meruelo has agreement to purchase Atlanta Hawks", "Hawks and Meruelo Terminate Agreement THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE ATLANTA HAWKS", "Hawks Lose Lou Williams For The Season NBA.com | Hang Time Blog", "Hawks' Horford to have season-ending surgery", "Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson to sell team after racist email", "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Bruce Levenson Isn't a Racist; He's a Businessman", "Breaking News: 100 percent of Hawks up for sale (updated)", "Hawks owners unanimously approve plan to sell team", "NBA unanimously approves sale of Atlanta Hawks", "Hawks finalizing sale with billionaire Antony Ressler", NBA: "Group Led By Tony Ressler Completes Purchase of Atlanta Hawks", "Hawks win and clinch East, then act like it's no big deal (which is good)", "Jeff Teague traded to Pacers in 3-team deal", "Al Horford, Celtics agree on deal; agent says 4 years, $113 million", "Dwight Howard, Hawks reach deal; Al Horford status in question", "Hawks pick at No.19: John Collins, Wake Forest forward", "Denver Nuggets sign free agent Paul Millsap", "Hawks Part Ways With Head Coach Mike Budenholzer", "Hawks Reach Agreement in Principle With Lloyd Pierce To Become Team's Head Coach", "Sixers assistant Lloyd Pierce gets Atlanta Hawks head coaching job", "Hawks acquire Trae Young in NBA draft trade", "How the Atlanta Hawks are Trying to Rebuild in the Image of the Warriors", "Brooklyn Nets Complete Trade With Atlanta Hawks", "Schroder wanted a trade from the Hawks because he can't 'try to lose', "Three-team trade sending Carmelo Anthony to Atlanta now official", "Carmelo Anthony finalizes Hawks buyout; clearing waivers next step", "Atlanta Hawks fill out roster with additions of Vince Carter and Daniel Hamilton", "Jeremy Lin finalizing buyout with Hawks, to sign with Raptors", "Jeremy Lin Reveals The Reason He Chose To Join The Raptors", "2019 NBA Draft: Atlanta Hawks Go All In, Complete Young Core", "Trae Young announced as starter for 2020 NBA All-Star Game", "Report: Clint Capela Traded to Hawks in 4-Team Blockbuster", "Clint Capela feeling 'way, way, way better' as offseason arrives", "Report: Hawks officially sign Bogdan Bogdanovic after landing Gallinari, Rondo, Dunn; sleeper for James Harden? On March 9, 2015, Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points to help the Hawks become the first NBA team to 50 wins in 201415, scoring a season-high in routing the Sacramento Kings 130105. The RCIE was founded in 2019 by the Russell family (which includes H.J. Shaquille O'Neal (Sacramento Kings) and Grant Hill (Atlanta Hawks) are both minority owners Previously Magic Johnson had a. The NBA approved the sale of the team, which had been agreed upon in April, to an ownership group headed by billionaire Tony Ressler and including former all-star Grant Hill. The Hawks were bought in 2015 by Tony Ressler for $730 million. Dwyane Wade buys minority stake in Utah Jazz - Mail Online The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. On July 2, 2012, the Hawks traded leading scorer and All-Star Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets for Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams and Johan Petro, as well as a 2013 first-round pick. Job History. [69] It was speculated that the Hawks general manager, Travis Schlenk, was following the same plan for a rebuild that he had success with in Golden State. The Boston Celtics also sent forward Chris Mills to Atlanta to complete the deal, but Mills never had a chance to play in a Hawks uniform. This list may not reflect recent changes . However, they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in six games in the first round. Dan Snyder's secret $55M loan focus of federal investigation Liverpool owners FSG target media companies to take minority stake Atlanta Hawks controlling owner Bruce Levenson announced Sunday that he will sell the team after self-reporting an offensive e-mail that he sent in 2012. On May 28, 2013, the Hawks hired San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer as the new head coach. The "High Top Versace" rapper is a HUGE ATL fan . The season was also marred by the trading of Dominique Wilkins, who remains the franchise all-time leading scorer, to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danny Manning, who quickly left via free agency to the Phoenix Suns after the season ended. Spud Webb won the Slam Dunk Contest and Fratello won the Coach of the Year Award in 1986. In turn, Detroit sent guard Bob Sura, center eljko Rebraa, and a first-round draft pick to the Hawks. 2 Chainz is no stranger. However, the Hawks traded Larkin to the Dallas Mavericks for the draft rights of Mike Muscala and Lucas Nogueira (originally drafted by the Boston Celtics), as well as guard Jared Cunningham. AP source: NFL owners to discuss Snyder at upcoming meeting That same day, the Hawks traded a future 2nd-round pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jeremy Tyler, who was waived 15 days later. That success, coupled with a planned $5 billion real estate development next to the arena, helped boost the teams valuation 19% over the past year, according to Sporticos numbers. Again they were pushed to a Game 7 in the first round but capitalized on home-court advantage earning their first playoff series win since 1999 against the Miami Heat. The RCIE was founded in 2019 by the Russell family (which includes H.J. Previously, official game socks were primarily either white or black, depending on a team's preference. Four years ago, the. Who Is This Hawks Minority Owner With Insane Business - deadspin.com They lost in the First Round to the Washington Wizards in six games. [102] The Hawks then revisited the peachtree theme in their 202223 "City" uniform, once again wearing black uniforms but with white/peach gradients on the striping and numbers, and a script "Atlanta" in white.[103]. This marked the first time in team history that they had used navy blue as one of their colors. Hawks minority owner wrote letter, pressured Bruce Levenson to get rid Heat Notes: Lowry, Love, Haslem, Cain | Hoops Rumors By JD King Feb 26, 2023, 8:24pm EST . Hawks owners commit $40 million to economically empower Black - ajc Bill that could let Buckhead split from Atlanta advances Atlanta Hawks owner addresses front office overhaul | Yardbarker As part of the NBA's switch to Nike, the home and road designations were replaced by "Icon", "Association" and "Statement". In the Eastern Conference first round, the Hawks defeated the Brooklyn Nets in six games. On behalf of everyone at the franchise, we are thrilled to partner with Dyal HomeCourt as we continue to invest in the franchise and serve as a leader in the community. r/SouthAsianMasculinity - Atlanta hawks minority owner mit shah Atlanta business icon Herman J. Russell, who died in 2014 and was one of the initial owners of the Hawks. Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler had been looking for a way to create a one-stop shop where Black and minority entrepreneurs could gain access to both capital and mentorship. After a year-long dispute, Dan Snyder bought out FedEx founder Fred Smith,. The club's US ownership group has announced this month that it is examining a partial sale which it is . They've lingered at or below .500 for much of the season, which prompted Hawks owner Tony Ressler to make a change to the front office. 2023a's Complete List of All NBA Team Owners A Atlanta Hawks, LLC B Sara Blakely C Tom Cousins G Jami Gertz H Grant Hill K Ben Kerner R Tony Ressler T Ted Turner The Hawks today are worth more than double that with a value of $1.52 billion (up 17% from last. [28] In his lone game for the Hawks, Wallace scored 20 points, had 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists and a steal in a loss to the New Jersey Nets. Dyal HomeCourt Partners has purchased a nearly 6% stake in the Atlanta Hawks, the third NBA team the fund has invested in since last summer. They won the division title and a bye to the division finals after defeating the Minneapolis Lakers and Fort Wayne Pistons in one-game tiebreakers. The Omni was designed with weathering steel that was intended to rust into a seal around the arena so it could last for decades. They also picked up rookies Donald Sloan and 27-year-old Ivan Johnson. Other statistics (regular season) (as of the end of the 202122 season)[117]. In 2001, the Hawks drafted Spanish star Pau Gasol 3rd, but his rights were ceded to the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade involving Shareef Abdur-Rahim. [17][18][19], In 1957, the Hawks finished four games under .500. The playoffs, however, were a reprise from the previous year. Although they finished with a losing record, they managed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. [82] Nen was waived by the Hawks on February 6, 2020. On January 21, 2013, following Lou Williams' season-ending injury in a game against the Brooklyn Nets,[41] the Hawks signed guard Jannero Pargo to a 10-day contract.[42]. The NBA recently changed its ownership rules to allow for private equity investment, a way for owners to access capital more easily, and make minority stakes easier to offload. The following season Bob Pettit led the Hawks to a Western Division-best 4923 record, helping him capture his second MVP award.[20]. During the off-season, the Hawks sent Jason Terry, Alan Henderson, and a future first-round draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Antoine Walker and Tony Delk. player Chris Webber, who has a home in Atlanta. On June 25, 2012, the Hawks hired San Antonio Spurs Vice President of Basketball Operations Danny Ferry as President of Basketball Operations and General Manager. Antetokounmpo is not the only NBA star getting involved in the MLS. Russell & Co., the largest minority-owned real estate and construction company in America, and Concessions International LLC, the largest Black-owned airport concessions company in the U.S.) is named for Atlanta business icon Herman J. Russell, who died in 2014 and was one . A representative for Dyal HomeCourt didnt respond to a request for comment. Led by Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, the team expanded voting rights by turning State Farm . Despite the success, Kerner became weary of the Hawks' longtime home, Kiel Auditorium. [44] The 'Pac-Man' logo (placed in a roundel) would become the team's primary logo after the conclusion of the team's 201415 season. In 1992, the Hawks acquired guard Mookie Blaylock from the New Jersey Nets; he would spend seven years of his career as a Hawk, leading them in career steals and three-point field goals while earning an All-Star appearance in 1994. All three describe Jesse Itzler's life, and those aspects will collide again Wednesday when the team he owns faces off against his beloved hometown team in. The Hawks and the Orlando Magic have an intense rivalry, mostly stemming from playoff competitions and the rising stardom of Dwight Howard and Josh Smith, both from the 2004 NBA draft and who were both raised in Georgia. After the change in ownership, the Hawks still struggled. Managing Partner of the Atlanta Hawks from 2005-2006 to 2005-2006. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, WL% = Winning percentage, Throughout the club's history, the team has undergone several uniform changes. The Rap or Go to the League artist announced today that he is a minority owner in the Atlanta Hawks' NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks. In early 1967, Kerner briefly put the Hawks up for sale. I was like, why would we ever try to reinvent the wheel? Ressler said. Exclusive Q&A: Hawks owner Tony Ressler on recent changes within team In the 197980 season, the Hawks finished with a 5032 record and won the Central Division. Dyal HomeCourt, which partnered with the NBA last year, already holds stakes in the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. The club was organized by Leo Ferris and the Erie County American Legion and was coached by Nat Hickey. They won a hard-fought seven-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks, but they were swept by the Orlando Magic in the second round, with every game a one-sided contest. The Hawks sent Kukoc to the Milwaukee Bucks for All-Star Glenn Robinson in 2002, Robinson lead the team with 20.8 ppg. The St. Louis Hawks moved to Atlanta in 1968, when Kerner sold the franchise to Thomas Cousins and former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders.[10][11]. They achieved this feat between 2008 and 2017. It was their first division title in the Central Division and second in the city of Atlanta. They have what I want to support and, frankly, make bigger and better.. Turner's ownership was instrumental in keeping both teams in the region. The sale of the team as well as the operating rights to Philips Arena was handled by Goldman Sachs and Inner Circle Sports LLC. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. With almost an intact lineup from the previous year, the Hawks manage to take a step forward in their development. The current ownership group, known as Atlanta Spirit, bought the Hawks, the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and operating rights to Philips Arena for $250 million in 2004. The Atlanta Braves are the only team in Major League Baseball that is publicly traded on the stock market . Atlanta Hawks controlling owner Bruce Levenson has decided to sell his stake in the team amid an NBA investigation into an "inappropriate and offensive" email he wrote in 2012 about black. The fund had $200 million in assets under management as of October, according to an investor presentation. The Hawks finished the 199596 season with a 4636 record, fourth in the Central Division. The Atlanta Hawks have a Trae Young problem; Quin Snyder is there to In 199798, forward Alan Henderson won Most Improved Player award. [63] On July 13, 2017, Paul Millsap left the Hawks by signing a multi-year deal with the Denver Nuggets.[64]. After the All-Star break, the Hawks traded Mutombo to the Philadelphia 76ers for Theo Ratliff, Toni Kuko, and Nazr Mohammed. (AP Photo/David Tulis) [12] Their first game a 5039 victory over the Syracuse Nationals was played on November 8, 1946. Cousins' firm soon developed the Omni Coliseum, a 16,500-seat, state-of-the-art downtown Atlanta arena, for the Hawks and the expansion Atlanta Flames ice hockey franchise, which opened in 1972 as the first phase of a massive sports, office, hotel, and retail complex, most of which is now the CNN Center.