FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Metro Atlanta's two-pronged push for an NHL team saw another development Wednesday, as the group in Forsyth County behind "The Gathering" development announced an operator for an arena at the center of the proposal.
Krause Sports and Entertainment announced ASM Global -- which already operates NHL arenas such as Crypto.com Arena and T-Mobile Arena -- would be the operator for any future Forsyth County arena. Additionally, the group announced a public participation meeting with their development team on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Lanier Technical College in Cumming.
The announcement came a day after another group, led by former NHL player and businessman Anson Carter, announced it had formally initiated the process for requesting an NHL expansion team that would be based in Alpharetta.
11Alive has previously reported that the Forsyth group visited NHL headquarters in New York and toured the arena built in 2021 to house the New York Islanders.
Wednesday's announcement of an arena operator also comes about two weeks before the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will have a special meeting on The Gathering. That's happening March 26 at 5 p.m. If the NHL approves a team for Forsyth County, the county government would offer $350 million toward the arena and an additional $40 million toward a single-arena parking deck. The county board of commissioners voted in January to enter into an agreement in principle with The Gathering and continue the process toward formally launching the project.
The meeting on March 26 would regard a more formal memorandum of understanding. In January, the board of commissioners heard from an Ernst & Young representative about "topics such as the overall economic viability of the project, funding options for debt... whether issuance of debt to finance the project would affect the County’s bond rating, if the debt would increase property taxes, how economic feasibility estimates were derived, the utility of redevelopment powers and a tax allocation district" according to a summary of the meeting that gives some insight into how the development would be financed.
The announcement Wednesday by Krause Sports and Entertainment, meanwhile, said ASM Global would be "involved in all aspects of the the arena’s design and planning and will enhance the fan experience for concertgoers, sports enthusiasts and attendees of various events hosted at the arena, including high school graduations and other local occasions."
“We are honored to have been selected to collaborate with Krause Sports and Entertainment, in managing what promises to be one of the world's premier arenas," Liam Thornton, an ASM Global executive, said in a statement. "Our goal is to set a new standard for excellence in Georgia's entertainment landscape and create memorable moments for all who visit The Gathering at South Forsyth."
Krause Sports and Entertainment CEO Vernon Krause said in a statement that "selecting ASM Global as our operating partner reinforces our commitment to excellence."
"We trust their ability to deliver exceptional experiences to fans and elevate the cultural landscape of Forsyth County," Krause added.
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