It’s been a big week for professional hockey. The Florida Panthers just repeated as champs. And more importantly, from a regional perspective, Forsyth County has made its blueprints and desires for the NHL’s return to metro Atlanta officially official.
Does it mean the NHL in north metro ATL is a sure thing? Not by a long shot.
But according to Vernon Krause, the car dealership entrepreneur turned developer who’s behind megaproject proposal The Gathering at South Forsyth: “We’re closer than we’ve ever been to bringing NHL hockey back to our region.”
Krause was reacting last week to the Forsyth County Commission’s vote to approve definitive documents outlining plans and agreements for The Gathering. But the projected $3-billion mixed-use development anchored by an NHL-suitable arena won’t move forward—at least not without substantial, $350-million county tax incentives—without a pro hockey franchise.
The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, SCI Architects
Krause first announced plans to lure the NHL to the prosperous, north OTP suburb in early 2023. The latest county vote, as he sees it, was crucial for bringing The Gathering vision to life. Next steps including a meeting with NHL brass and collaborations with local and state shareholders in Georgia.
“Our team is more energized than ever as we prepare to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss possible expansion,” Krause said in a statement. “We own the land in a robust and growing market with a development that will include an NHL-caliber arena ready to be built.”
Alfred John, Forsyth County Commission chairman, said the board’s decision marks “a monumental period for Forsyth County and passionate hockey fans in the area.”
Bettman, the NHL commissioner, said during a news conference in May that Atlanta’s past two failures to keep NHL franchises here (the Flames and Thrashers) won’t count against the region, should an expansion move forward. He acknowledged the league has talked to “a couple of groups” striving to bring the NHL back to the metro, noting that Atlanta is a different market than when both previous teams fled north, in 1980 and 2011, respectively.
Where the Gathering at South Forsyth arena and other buildings would be located next to Ga. Highway 400. The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, Nelson
However, the NHL boss said there’s currently no timetable for ownership groups to submit applications, and the league hasn’t entered a formal expansion phase. The NHL reportedly won’t even vote on an expansion beyond its current 32 teams until ongoing negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement conclude.
In another twist last month, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau voted to fund a $150,000 study that will examine the viability of turning the moribund North Point Mall and surrounding parking lots into a pro-grade arena—one that could thrive when hockey isn’t in season. (That analysis is expected to take about five months.) Last year, a group called Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group comprised of city officials and influential sports figures announced their intention to lure pro hockey to the mall site.
The Gathering calls for swapping 100 acres of empty land near the Fulton County line with a Battery-style mix of uses, from hotel and housing to an array of retail. About $1 billion of the estimated $3 billion price tag would go toward the cornerstone arena, which would also stage concerts and events.
But all of the above falls apart if the NHL should snub the ATL. Which begs the question, dear readers:
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