ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An operating group has stepped forward with hopes of bringing an NHL team to metro Atlanta, a release issued Tuesday by the group said, in what marks a second organized effort to reestablish pro hockey in the region.
Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin confirmed the news to 11Alive and sent a release issued by Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group. The group is being led by former NHL player and businessman Anson Carter and they said they had made a formal request with the league to "commence an expansion process aimed at bringing an NHL franchise back to Atlanta."
The release did not include specific details about financing but said the group has "received considerable support from county and local leadership" and named insurance company New York Life as a partner in pursuing an arena-centered redevelopment of the North Point Mall site. The release further named Alpharetta Sports Group & Entertainment partners, including Neil Leibman of Top Tier Sports, Peter Simon of Simon Sports and Aaron Zeigler of Zeigler Automotive Group.
The arena, according to the group, would be designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
The Alpharetta effort is not to be confused with the one eyeing an NHL team and development deal called "The Gathering" in Forsyth County.
Carter said in a statement with the release that he has "been in dialogue with (NHL) Commissioner (Gary) Bettman since 2019 about an expansion team returning to Fulton County Metro Atlanta market, knowing that NHL franchise decisions are exclusively decided by the NHL Board of Governors."
11Alive's Maria Martin reported last year about the Alpharetta possibility, with Mayor Jim Gilvin saying, "We think it makes sense here."
"The City of Alpharetta is excited for the possibility to be home to NHL hockey, one of the fastest growing and most exciting sports experiences in the world," Mayor Gilvin said in a statement with Tuesday's release.
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts also had a statement in the release, stating he was "thrilled to support former NHL star Anson Carter's bid to bring a National Hockey League team to Fulton County." You can find the full statements of Mayor Gilvin, Chairman Pitts and Carter at the bottom of this story.
The mayor said they had worked over the last year closely with Carter "and have been impressed with his vision and passion for growing hockey."
The Alpharetta rumors were sparked just a little more than a year ago when ESPN's John Buccigross posted on X about the NHL coming back to Atlanta.
According to Tuesday's release by Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group, the North Point Mall redevelopment plans would include "practice and community facilities, alongside a professional-level outdoor stadium for soccer and/or lacrosse" as well as "hotels, a performing venue, an esports facility, and various residential, retail, dining, conference and community spaces."
The group's release additionally promised a "commitment to cultivating a sustainable hockey ecosystem in Georgia" to support youth hockey, collegiate programs and initiatives around inclusivity and accessibility.
Anson Carter statement
"I've lived in Atlanta since 20009, and I have no doubt that the best league in the world will thrive in its return to Metro Atlanta. The ASE Group is a hockey-first ownership team, which will include partners Neil Leibman (Top Tier Sports), Peter Simon (Simon Sports), and Aaron Zeigler (Zeigler Automotive Group), all of whom have a tremendous passion for our sport. I have been in dialogue with Commissioner Bettman since 2019 about an expansion team returning to Fulton County Metro Atlanta market, knowing that NHL franchise decisions are exclusively decided by the NHL Board of Governors. The ASE Group is also delighted to partner with New York Life, a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest life insurers in the world, in the potential mixed-use development at the North Point location in Alpharetta."
Mayor Jim Gilvin statement
"The City of Alpharetta is excited for the possibility to be home to NHL hockey, one of the fastest growing and most exciting sports experiences in the world. Our city is at the geographic center of the fan base in Metro Atlanta. Easy access provided by Georgia Highway 400 and planned expansion of MARTA public transit in Alpharetta, guarantees hockey fans an easy commute and a world class experience. Over the last year we have worked closely with former NHL star player Anson Carter and have been impressed with his vision and passion for growing hockey."
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts
"I am thrilled to support former NHL star Anson Carter's bid to bring a National Hockey League team to Fulton County. The location of an NHL franchise, as currently proposed in Alpharetta, would bring an exhilarating sport to our community's thriving professional sports lineup. I have no doubt the citizens of Fulton County and the Metro Atlanta region will be strongly supportive of professional hockey's return to our region. We are a sports town who has hosted the Super Bowl, NCAA National Championships, and the forthcoming 2026 World Cup. I believe an NHL team will contribute to the already-strong cultural vibrancy of our community, create opportunities for local businesses and further enhance Metro Atlanta's reputation as one of the preeminent sports regions in the country. We look forward to embracing the team and fostering a strong partnership that will enrich the fabric of our area for years to come."
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