They did it! The Atlanta Braves won the World Series on Tuesday night, ending a 26-year drought for the ballclub and sending the hometown fans into a tizzy.
The Braves have brought the city its first major sports championship since 1995, when the Braves won it all back then.
It all happened on a chilly Tuesday night on November 2, 2021, inside Houston’s Minute Maid Park. It was Game 6 and the Braves were up 4-2 in the series. When the final out was called, euphoria quickly took hold among the Braves players, but for fans, also a sigh of relief.
“I’ve been a lifelong Braves fan,” Timothy Smith said, as he watched the game from inside Hudson’s Grill in Midtown Atlanta. “This is something that we’ve been waiting for and waiting for. Well, we finally got us one again.”
That's a wrap from the #WorldSeries.
Congrats to the World Champion Atlanta @Braves! pic.twitter.com/gSOFveeM7M
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021
Yes, the Braves finally got them one. Now come the city’s celebrations and yes, a parade.
You can best believe we will keep you updated on any festivities as the city celebrates its champions… and Hawks, where ya at?
Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
If you’re familiar with NFTs, you know that they are among the hottest commodities in the world right now. An NFT (non-fungible token) is basically a piece of content stored on a digital ledger.
One Atlanta tech startup has taken the technology one step further with the launch of a first-of-its-kind motion capture NFT.
Play The Crowd, an Atlanta-based immersive tech startup, has introduced a motion capture NFT of legendary New York Yankee Mariano Rivera.
The NFTs are part of the “42 Collection,” series, which will highlight Major League Baseball stars. The first release will debut for auction on September 6, 2021. The auction will be open for bids until October 1.
The NFT unlocks access to Mariano’s Virtual 3D World and his very own Sandman Stadium.
Fans and collectors can buy these NFTs at MarianoRiveraNFT.com. You can also see the release schedule for the other NFTs in the series
“I am very happy with the amazing approach the Play The Crowd team has taken with my NFT,” Mariano said in a written statement. “The game of baseball has done so much for my life, and I am excited by how I can connect the fans to my gift through this technology. It is an honor to take my first steps into the NFT world and augmented reality with Play The Crowd.”
A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Mariano Rivera Foundation. All Play The Crowd NFTs can be displayed in augmented reality via their state-of-the-art platform.
Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
A new basketball league has chosen Atlanta as its home. The new sports league OTE (Overtime Elite) will begin play in the fall, according to a news release.
Not a professional league and not exactly semi-pro, OTE sees itself as a “comprehensive accelerator” for elite players’ professional careers, preparing them for the next level.
Atlanta was chosen after league officials visited eight cities across the nation.
“If we could construct a city that would be the perfect home for Overtime Elite, it would look just like Atlanta,” Overtime Elite Commissioner and President Aaron Ryan said in a written statement. “The city’s storied basketball history, diverse population, vibrant business community and rich culture make Atlanta a special place. OTE is looking forward to being an active contributor to the community.”
League play will take place in Midtown Atlanta. A 103,000-square-foot facility in Atlantic Station is being planned, according to the release. OTE players will train, study and compete on the site.
The construction of the facility is poised to create up to 400 construction jobs in metro Atlanta, at least 30% of which will be diverse and people of color.
Overtime Elite is a Kentucky-based company that made a name for itself by producing game videos of 4- and 5-star high school recruits.
The basketball league is a natural progression for the company, who aims to address issues like compensation of amateur athletes.
As for OTE, every player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of more than $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime, the company says.
Are you a fan of “thighs” and “breasts” at Hooters? The Hooters beauty pageant has several dates across the country, including metro Atlanta.
The Hooters Girl Pageant will be held in Douglasville, Georgia on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 6855 Douglas Blvd
Douglasville, GA, 30135. The contest all culminates in the crowning of the 2021 Miss Hooters International.
The grand event is going down in Orlando, Florida on July 29. Learn more HERE.
If you want to know what’s poppin’ at Hooters, the answer is basketball.
Hooters is a great bar to catch the NBA playoffs. Find one near you.
If you like barbecue, see our list of the Best Atlanta BBQ Restaurants.
Ready for some “real” football? The Atlanta United 2021 schedule features some tough soccer matches at home and away. But the MLS champs wouldn’t have it any other way.
Plan begins Tuesday, April 13 vs. LD Alajuelense. After that Atlanta matches up against Orlando City SC on Sunday, April 17.
Atlanta United has 14 national TV matches that will be broadcast on channels like ESPN, FOX and Univision.
ATLUTD stole the hearts of Atlanta win the franchise won the world soccer championship in just their second season. In the process, Atlanta United put the city on the map as far as soccer goes. It also redeemed the city’s professional sports fanbase by bringing a title back to the ATL for the first time since 1995.
| Date | Opponent | Time (EST) | TV |
| 4/17 | @ Orlando City SC | 3:00 p.m. | UniMas |
| 4/24 | Chicago Fire FC | 8:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 5/1 | @ New England Revolution | 7:00 p.m. | TBD |
| 5/9 | @ Inter Miami CF | 1:00 p.m. | ABC |
| 5/15 | CF Montreal | 7:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 5/23 | @ Seattle Sounders FC | 4:30 p.m. | FOX |
| 5/29 | Nashville SC | 3:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 6/20 | Philadelphia Union | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| 6/23 | @ New York City FC (at Red Bull Arena) | 7:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 6/27 | New York Red Bulls | 3:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 7/3 | @ Chicago Fire FC | 8:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 7/8 | @ Nashville SC | 8:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 7/17 | New England Revolution | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| 7/21 | @ FC Cincinnati | 7:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| 7/24 | Columbus Crew SC | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 7/30 | @ Orlando City SC | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| 8/4 | @ CF Montreal | 7:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 8/7 | @ Columbus Crew SC | 7:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 8/15 | LAFC | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| 8/18 | Toronto FC | 7:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 8/21 | @ D.C. United | 8:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 8/28 | Nashville SC | 3:30 p.m. | UNIV |
| 9/10 | Orlando City SC | 7:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| 9/15 | FC Cincinnati | 7:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 9/18 | D.C. United | 3:30 p.m. | UNIV |
| 9/25 | @ Philadelphia Union | 3:30 p.m. | UNIV |
| 9/29 | Inter Miami CF | 7:30 p.m. | FS1 |
| 10/2 | @ CF Montreal | 7:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 10/16 | @ Toronto FC | 7:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 10/20 | New York City FC | 7:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 10/27 | Inter Miami CF | 7:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 10/30 | Toronto FC | 6:00 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 11/3 | @ New York Red Bulls | 7:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
| 11/7 | @ FC Cincinnati | 3:30 p.m. | BSSO/BSSE |
Atlanta, Georgia, is not just known as the City Too Busy to Hate. It’s also a major sports town. That’s why the NBA chose Georgia’s largest city to host the prestigious All Star Game.
The event will be Atlanta’s first major sports event since the COVID-19 pandemic started. If you want to know anything about the game adn the city, this is your ultimate guide!
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms has called this year’s NBA All-Star game is a made-for-TV event only, but that’s not how the multi-billion-dollar NBA is built — and we get that.
We’re going to tell you about all of the best things happening around Atlanta for All Star Weekend 2021. Ready to play?
In This Article:
The players and the league had to get on the same page regarding a date and city that was mutually acceptable to both parties. As a result, they settled on the NBA All-Star game date of Sunday, March 7, 2021 in downtown Atlanta’s Philips Arena.
When it comes to the All Star game, you may be wondering who’s playing in the game. The All Star game is filled with the best players in the league. Here are All Star game’s starters.
You’re in Atlanta for the day, what are some things to do? We want to get into some things, but not spend too much money. In fact, we want to do cheap things to do in Atlanta.
First off, you may want to ride a scooter to get from Point A to B in downtown Atlanta. Your main options are Bird scooters and a new option, Spin. Let’s get started at 6 a.m. and see what we can do:
Find a MARTA station and get on the train. If you’re downtown, you can take the train to either 5 Points or Peachtree Center. Here’s a MARTA map to help you see where you are.
Once you get off the train, time to go to one of the most recognizable places in Atlanta…
Waffle House is the unofficial start of the day for thousands of people around metro Atlanta. Here’s how many Waffle Houses are in Atlanta.
Once you get something Scattered, Covered and Chunked, you should be ready to tackle Atlanta with confidence.
You’re going to want to walk off some of those grits and eggs. Why don’t you go to Woodruff Park.
If the greenery at Woodruff Park doesn’t do it for you, the daily chess game will. You can be a spectator of a wonderful chess game between strangers and the regulars that show up at the park.
Take a ride on the Peachtree Trolley in downtown Atlanta. The trolley will take you around the downtown district for 90 minutes and give you stories for all the monuments and landmarks. Book a tour here.
Tickets are $31 for an adult and $16 for a child.
After the tour, you’re going to be hungry. Now, it’s time to eat…
A lot of factors are at play when it comes to where to eat in Atlanta for lunchtime. For instance, if a restaurant is jam-packed at noon, then it’s not going to work: You’re on the clock.
You need a place that can get you in and out, and that place changes everyday, actually every hour. Here are some options:
You could opt to check out one of the spots in Peachtree Center or along the corridor behind the Healey Building.
Once you enjoy your meal, you’ll want to slow it down a bit. Rest up in a stationery place to catch your breath, so to speak. Time for a matinee.
Now, it’s time to get active again: Atlanta is full of accessible green spaces close to public transportation and the main corridors of Midtown and downtown. Here are some of the BEST Atlanta parks.
Walking the Beltline has become one of the city’s most fun activities. It offers so much access to the most beautiful things about the city, cool buildings, greenspaces and elite dining and more.
Party Feat. Mulatto
This weekend, don’t miss rappers Gucci Mane, Jeezy, Mulatto, Pooh Shiesty, Boosie and more at the official Welcome to Atlanta Shindig. Learn more.
If you go out this weekend, please be safe and observe public health guidelines. In other words, party responsibly.
Atlanta’s clubs will be on 10 this weekend. See the hottest ATL nightclubs this week and what’s going on.
Atlanta is a great place to come and have fun, but you must do so safely and responsibly. There is so much going on this weekend in Atlanta, you may forget that there’s a pandemic. Remember to mask up everywhere you go.
If you don’t have any masks or face coverings, here’s where to buy them in Atlanta.
Here are more articles from AtlantaFi.com:
It’s official: Atlanta, Georgia, will be the host city of the NBA All Star game on March 7, 2021. The NBA players union agreed to the date, making it a reality.
The event will be Atlanta’s first major sports event since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
More than a week ago, senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, tweeted that the NBA and The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) were in talks to still have an All-Star game.
The players and the league had to get on the same page regarding a date and city that was mutually acceptable to both parties. As a result, they settled on the NBA All-Star game date of Sunday, March 7, 2021 in downtown Atlanta’s Philips Arena.
Back when it was still just an idea, NBA insiders opined that a city that was also a strong TV broadcasting mecca made sense.
“One site under discussion is Atlanta, home of Turner Sports. That idea includes providing support for HBCU’s and COVID-19 relief,” Wojnarowski tweeted.
The overall plan would incorporate several other pieces to support other Atlanta institutions that are suffering due to COVID-19.
Any All Star game held in Atlanta would have to adhere to strict COVID protocols. One advantage the city has is that it is the home of Turner Sports, which has the primary TV contract with the league.
The NBA originally announced that there would postpone the All Star game for 2021:
“Public health conditions prevented the Pacers, the NBA All-Star Host Committee and the NBA from appropriately planning and executing fan-focused All-Star activities in Indianapolis that were envisioned for this February,” a league statement on Nov. 25 read, while announcing that Indianapolis would instead host the 2024 All-Star Game.
Then there are the logistical concerns posed by having such a large sporting event in the city, although Atlanta successfully hosted the SEC Championship a few months earlier.
Only two times in the past 40+ years has the NBA All-Star Game been played in Atlanta. The first occurrence came in 1978 at The Omni coliseum. Years later, the game returned in 2003 at Philips Arena.
If the big game does return to the city, it would be held at State Farm Arena, which has been used a polling precinct most recently.
Back in 2003, the NBA’s biggest stars (Kobe, Lebron, Allen Iverson, etc.) converged on downtown Atlanta to have one of the largest and most congested events the city has ever had.
Here is some footage of the NBA All-Star game held in Atlanta in 2003:
Henry “Hank” Aaron was a tender soul away from the baseball diamond. But on the field, he was an incomparable lion that instilled fear in opposing pitchers.
Aaron passed away on January 22, 2021 in Atlanta. He was 86. While Aaron’s legacy is secure, we are left with his indelible record in Major League Baseball as well as many words of wisdom he shared along the way.
Let’s take a look at some of the wise words Aaron left with us as a testament to a life well lived and graciously played.
While we remember these endearing words, let’s also recall the principles that Aaron lived by, including honor, respect and integrity.
Aaron once replied to a letter from a fan way back from his Milwaukee Braves days. Author Sandy Tolan relates:
“It is very heart warming to know that you are in my corner. I will always be grateful for the interest you have shown in me. As the so called count down’ begins, please be assured I will try to live up to the expectations of my friends.”
Here’s Aaron in a heated conversation with Monte Irvin about whether MLB has been fair to African-American players.
“I don’t care if anybody believes me or not, as long as a breath is in my body, someone has to show me they’re going after a Black manager, they can have Black people working in the front office, they can have a Black trainer, I’ll say then that baseball has been fair to Blacks.”
“I remember many times as a little boy growing up that the Ku Klux Klan would come marching down the street, for no reason at all,” Aaron said in a 2010 MLB Network interview. “My mother would tell me, ‘Son, go hide under the bed.’
While Aaron was pursuing the homerun record, he shared with the Greensboro News & Record some choice thoughts on coaching legend Dean Smith.
When I was going after the record, the questions were always coming at me. ‘When are you going to break it?’ ‘Are you going to break it next week?’ ‘Will you break it tonight?’
“How would I know? You just have to try to be patient. I kept answering that I didn’t know, if not tonight, then tomorrow night, or next week, or next season.
Aaron was a beloved figure for most of America, but the constant racist threats, especially as he narrowed Babe Ruth’s homerun lead in the 1970s, left a bitter taste in his mouth. Here’s what he said about that, according to ESPN.
“If I was white, all America would be proud of me,” Aaron said almost a year before he passed Ruth. “But I am Black.”
The city of Atlanta as well as the state continue to express condolences for the loss of “Hammerin’ Hank.”
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a written statement. “This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta. While the world knew him as ‘Hammering Hank Aaron’ because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family.”
Baseball legend Hank Aaron passed away the morning of Thursday, January 22, 2021. He was 86 years old.
A private funeral will be held at Friendship Baptist Church Wednesday at 1 p.m. Local TV stations will stream the memorial service.
Aaron, one of the most iconic players in Major League Baseball history, started his career in the Negro Leagues before making his Major League team, the Milwaukee Braves.
The 23-year-old was a force of nature. Shy and reserved from a small town, Aaron didn’t give interviews in the early years of his career.
In 1958, he took the Braves one game short of a championship. By that time, Aaron’s confidence was brimming.
“I felt extremely proud that I knew all the pitches like the back of my hand, and so I thought any time that I wanted to when I walked up to the plate that I could hit the ball as hard as I wanted to or could hit it out of the ballpark,” he once said.
Playing for nearly two decades, Aaron would rewrite the history books to become one of the most prolific hitters of all time.
The night he broke the homerun record in Atlanta-Fulton Stadium — smashing his 715th — remains one of the most electric feats in all of sports.
His record as the homerun king continues to stand in the MLB pantheon. His offensive prowess is unparalleled. Aaron holds many offensive records. He is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least 15 times.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Aaron always engendered himself to regular folks and never hobnobbed with the elite.
But despite his success, Aaron said he spent years suffering racially motivated death threats and ridicule from opposing fans and people intent at hating him.
Aaron said the years of abuse took a toll on him.
“I never thought that playing baseball would bring out so many negative and bigoted thoughts in people’s minds. I thought that they would be behind me 100%, but that was not the case,” he said.
Even on the fateful night he broke Babe Ruth’s homerun record, indicative of the racial climate at the time, his bodyguards had instructed the ushers to turn to face the crowd rather than the field during his record-breaking feat.
He spent his latter years as a vice president of the Atlanta Braves, his hometown team.
Funeral arrangements have been confirmed. He was to be laid to rest in a private ceremony on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 in a humble Baptist church.
Around Atlanta, the state and baseball world, condolences poured in for Aaron, a true son of the South.
“This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement. “While the world knew him as ‘Hammering Hank Aaron’ because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family.”
The Atlanta Braves also released a statement, commenting on the gentle nature that Aaron always displayed.
“We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank,” Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk said. “He was a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts. His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world. His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts.
Former Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn wrote an emotional letter to Atlanta just days after he was let go. He especially shouts out the players and the Falcons organization.
To almost no surprise, Quinn was fired hours after his team’s fifth loss of the 2020 season, which dropped the Falcons to 0-5.
In the letter, which is posted on AtlantaFalcons.com, Quinn says:
“I will miss so many things, but none more than the men in the locker room. From pro bowlers to practice squad players, it was an honor to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with you and be a part of your lives on and off the field.”
The former star defensive coordinator got the job because of the staunch Super Bowl-winning defense he built in Seattle. But he was never ever to replicate their success in Atlanta.
The closest Atlanta got was a historic collapse three years ago after surrendering a 25-3 lead to the New England Patriots.
Here is Quinn’s letter in its entirety.
To the city of Atlanta,
How fortunate am I that I close this chapter the very same way I opened it – with gratitude.
Being the Head Coach of your Atlanta Falcons has been the privilege of a lifetime. I can’t express my appreciation enough to Arthur Blank for the opportunity to represent this organization for the past six seasons. It truly has been my family. My wife Stacey and I will forever be grateful for every single person in this organization who made our lives better and fuller.
I will miss so many things, but none more than the men in the locker room. From pro bowlers to practice squad players, it was an honor to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with you and be a part of your lives on and off the field.
Finally, to the people of Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere. I can’t thank you enough for making this Jersey boy feel right at home. I know there are great things ahead for this team and I’ll continue to root like hell for them, and for you. I hope I represented your team with the grace and character you deserve.
In Brotherhood,
DQ
The Falcons have appointed former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as interim head coach for the final 11 games. if Morris can show some substantial improvements across several facets, including winning games, he has a shot at the permanent position.
The Falcons are an organization that has never had the elite talent it has now, especially at wideout in Julio Jones. Although much of their history has been subpar, the recent decade with quarterback Matt Ryan at the helm has been among their most glorious.
Increasingly, Ryan has become the subject of trade rumors as some see the quarterback more valuable to other teams at this point.
Relationship with head coach Kyle Shanahan ✅
Year-to-year contract situation with Jimmy G. ✅@foxworth24 and @DanGrazianoESPN both think Matt Ryan to the 49ers makes a lot of sense. pic.twitter.com/Plg1Mszl4E
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 14, 2020
While they have never won a Super Bowl, they made two appearances at the end of the 1998 and 2016 seasons. The Falcons have won division titles the following years:
Will they win the division again soon? Time will only tell.
