After having another disappointing season and a fire sale of talent, including players like Rasheed Wallace, Theo Ratliff, and Abdur Rahim, the Hawks continued to suffer with attendance. They have not been able to resurrect the glory days when Dominique Wilkins brought his "human highlight reel" to Hotlanta. There have been rumors the team will be moved to a new location to Nashville and Kansas City. If the Hawks cannot land a big name this summer or next summer, do you see them moving and will it help this franchise? Selling an average of 13,500 a game just doesn't cut it.
They did bring back Dominique to the front office to give him more of a hand in operations, after shutting him out for a while. They barely managed to do anything productive in this offseason and have to wait until next season to start signing free agents. In the meantime, though, they'll collect another lottery pick and possibly even get the #1 - which could resurrect the franchise. I don't think they'll move. Aside from all of the NBA-related complications, there's the practical reason that there are few other markets that are open. (They could move up to NJ since the Nets are moving to Brooklyn? Or, they could try to get into Las Vegas, or Virginia.) Thus moving would probably not improve their sales if they were moving to a smaller market. I think Atlanta merely suffers from a lack of star players and the fact that they were mostly destroyed during the buy-out process. The reasons they might move? I don't mean to bash the fans there, but even the Braves haven't been selling out their playoff games. Will Atlanta fans be receptive to this rebuilding Hawks team for much longer? I'd think that if things got worse, Atlanta fans would realize that the Hawks have a bright future and fight back to keep the team, but I also don't think it's even to that point, yet.
They SHOULD move, as nothing is working in Atlanta...but that has been due to the poor work of the GM/Owner in making the Hawks a competitive basketball team...quite frankly, they suck, every year, and it is the responsibility of the GM and owner, as well as the coach, to put a quality product on the floor...
I'm not sure how complicated it would be for the Hawks to re-locate. The NBA has had many teams move their franchises, most recently the Memphis Grizzlies. The rules are set in place and it's just a matter of time to work off the checklist. Atlanta has never been a strong supporter of their pro teams. The Braves, Falcons, and Hawks, have all suffered low attendance numbers, even when the teams have been successful. Georgia is a great city for sports, but the sports they follow religiously are their college teams, namely Georgia football and Georgia Tech basketball. I'd like to see St. Louis land the Hawks. This city supports has some of the best fan support nationwide and they put pressure on owners to build them a championship team. The Cardinals and Cubs have a great rivalry and baseball, and I could see the same type of rivalry develop between the Hawks and Bulls. Both teams are currently in the rebuilding stage, and I could see a J-Chill vs. Luol Deng be a selling point.
St.Louis.. The hawks have already been in St.Louis if I remember correctly, they should go back there. If they get on track they could have much higher seating attendance and a better team with the additions of Harrington,Childress,J.Smith, Ivey, and D.Smith.
Well the Hawks need something, and maybe a move would be the next best thing for them. Jason Terry cannot lead a team, and his team has been in the 'rebuilding' mode for ages now. The signing of Al Harrington was decent, but not good enough to change the teams outlook. Josh Childress, Al Harrington, Jason Terry & Co. will not sell tickets nor win ballgames. I say - Sell the team, generate some hype, and spend some cash. Start fresh.
Hawks Moving? ouch yes moving will probally be best for atl. I also believe they should get a new gm and owner. hope everything goes well for the Hawks. <font size="4"><u>And lastly they need to murder that hawk and start fresh. there unis are not cute at all.</u></font>
where did yall hear this rumor? the hawks are not going anywhere. They already had an owner change and they are looking better than last year.
Moving to a new location could possibly remove the negative aura that surrounds this organization, so it?s defiantly worth a try and it could be somewhat a fresh start. But this franchise is arguably one of the worst franchises of all-time, so they will have nothing to lose if they decided to relocate themselves. But that doesn?t necessarily mean that it will revive the franchise. Till the day they get that box-office star, I believe this franchise won?t be anything but a mere graphic overhaul.
Atlanta hawks wouldnt seem right to me in any other city. Though ticket sales have suffered and the team did lose alot of money in that "we make the playoffs or season ticket holders get there omoney back" thing last year, but I cant see them leaving atlanta for another city espcially nashville or kansas the kansas hawks?!?!? I cant imagine that unless they change there name. Though come to think about it a couple of years back I never thought I could picture the new orleans hornets instead of the charlotte hornets and that happened. Personally I would like to see them move if they do to pittsburg even though they have said they dont need a bball team. Or to another city close to philadelphia. Or possible some were around the illionois area seems like every state these days have two bball teams or more. New York, Texas, California,and mabye if they move another city could be added to that list.
They need to stick with a system and not keep changing coaches and players every time. The have some decent players who can play but they need to stick together and work together so they can win some games.
Nashville Hawks? Why should they move they have been the Atlanta Hawks for years? When/If they start winning these talks will fade out and they will be the Atlanta Hawks...
I am not very close to the Hawks situation, since I live on the other end of the country. But I like what they are doing there. I think if they hired Eric Musselman as head coach the Hawks would be playoff competitors, easily, in the East. They'd be a mixture of the Heat and the Bucks from last year. Draft very well, hire a good coach, have some solid players and you can make the playoffs in the East doing so; look at the Bucks, Celtics, and the Heat last year. Jason Terry/Childress/Diaw/Al/Rebracca(or maybe Dampier) is a good lineup. They eerily remind me of the Pistons, especially if they get Dampier and he plays as well as last season. Terry and Billups aren't true PG's but they can do the job and play defense. Childress is a defensive freak with some offense along with Diaw(Hamilton and Prince), and Al Harrington is a good high potential risk in a way since he has yet to prove himself that much, but he has so many good tools(Rasheed Wallace) and then add Dampier who is a top notch center when ready to play like Ben Wallace. I won't bet too much against this team right now. I don't know anything about their new coach, Eric Musselman would have helped(especially with Jason Terry, like Eric did with Arenas in Arenas' second season). But if their new coach can get things done well, they can be good. But then again if their coach isn't that great unlike a Musselman, Stan Van Gundy, Terry Porter, Byron Scott etc. It could be a long season. But they do have some players in my opinion. And I guess on moving, I would think it would depend on the people of Atlanta and the people from another city and if that other city would really want a basketball team. I don't know how much the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia really want the Hawks. But I do like the players they have.
The Hawks have developed an already underrated nucleus. They have Milwaukee of 03-04 written all over them... (Remembering they were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league)
GREENBAY GREAT FAN BASE i love it there. I know it wont happen but i would like that lol. It would probally St Louis.
