Honest question. How comfortable do you think the black customer base is going to feel after seeing this email? If the sale drags out for a few months, are the paying black customers going to return at their regular rate?

 

...

 

Good question. My guess is there will be a small % of black customers who choose to stay home. I wouldn't say it's a large number though.

Re: Ferry is the issue that he used his words to describe Deng or is the issue he repeated a report that someone wrote? It seems like I read he read it word for word.

 

(Note: Not saying it's OK - just looking for clarification)

Re: Ferry is the issue that he used his words to describe Deng or is the issue he repeated a report that someone wrote? It seems like I read he read it word for word.

 

(Note: Not saying it's OK - just looking for clarification)

 

He said it on a conference call with several other executives.

It is the same as changing from a pizza joint to a taco place. Your pizza customers may feel alienated. They can still come to the restaurant but it's not going to be the same as it was before and it may be more crowded.

 

The reason for the change of the restaurant and the reason for the desired change of the Hawks crowd is exactly the same.

 

If your pizza customers were racially profiled and pushed away due to the color of their skin, they were subject to racism...

If your pizza customers were racially profiled and pushed away due to the color of their skin, they were subject to racism...

 

It's not racism. That's a dangerous term to throw around.

 

Wanting more whites (who as a rule have more money to spend) is NOT the same as saying "no blacks allowed."

 

We (well most of us) all agree that if the black citizens of ATL were showing up in large enough numbers to get them above 68% capacity and spending money while they were there that this email never happens. That by itself says it's not racism.

 

They're not being criticized simply because they are black. That would be racism.

It's not racism. That's a dangerous term to throw around.

 

Wanting more whites (who as a rule have more money to spend) is NOT the same as saying "no blacks allowed."

 

We (well most of us) all agree that if the black citizens of ATL were showing up in large enough numbers to get them above 68% capacity and spending money while they were there that this email never happens. That by itself says it's not racism.

 

They're not being criticized simply because they are black. That would be racism.

 

You continue to gloss over the point that matters. The whites aren't showing up because there are too many blacks. His words on the issue. If he wants the white number to go up, what has to happen to the black number? The end result in getting the desired outcome is racism. Force the black number down so hopefully the white number goes up...

The NBA can't have a city as large — and let's be honest, as black — as Atlanta without a team.

 

 

It is a real possibility.

 

The Braves, Falcons, and Hawks have all had offers to relocate, very recently.

 

Whether it is blacks, whites, or whoever is going to the games, they are not spending the amount of money that a market of that level should.

 

We used to go to Braves games at least 3 times a year, once my kids were involved, no more games because it is unsafe around Turner.

 

Same issue going to a Hawks game added to the fact that you are in a half empty arena.

 

It is not a good situation in Atlanta for whatever reason.

Re: Ferry is the issue that he used his words to describe Deng or is the issue he repeated a report that someone wrote? It seems like I read he read it word for word.

 

(Note: Not saying it's OK - just looking for clarification)

 

I'm thinking a Hawks scout wrote it and he just read it word for word for some reason. :lol2:

I'm thinking a Hawks scout wrote it and he just read it word for word for some reason. :lol2:

 

 

All reports are he just read the report off, word for word.

 

After half way through it I would have been wow, this scout is getting canned....

I'm thinking a Hawks scout wrote it and he just read it word for word for some reason. :lol2:

 

Yes, that is what they are saying happened. Still stupid.

All reports are he just read the report off, word for word.

 

After half way through it I would have been wow, this scout is getting canned....

 

I'd have loved to have been on the other end of the conference call on mute when he was reading it. :lol2:

 

I can't help but wonder if the scout that wrote it is black. :lol2:

It is not a good situation in Atlanta for whatever reason.

 

The real problem is that Atlanta is a sprawling disaster of a city that's near impossible to get around in and the Hawks haven't been compelling enough in years to actually drag people through the inconvenience of trying to get through Atlanta to see a game. He wants the money from the suburbs and hasn't figured out how to get it. I think he's mistaken if he thinks the reason for that is that there are too many black people at games, but he clearly wants white people with big money from the suburbs to come to the city for games and wants to know how to do it.

 

Everything else is a symptom of that, to my mind.

I'd be shocked if the ratio was any lower than 85-15 white to black at the Banks and either stadium...

 

The Banks isn't downtown, downtown. I'm talking closer to Fountain Square and between 5th and 9th. It is better now, but it was and still is a concern.

To me this is like a bar that plays country music in a section of town that is mixed racially and isn't getting enough people in the door. The owner of the bar decides that it's too white and the music that is being played isn't "fun" and doesn't get enough people into the bar to dance and party. So he decides that it would help the biz if he hires a DJ to play pop and hip-hop which will bring a younger and more diverse audience i.e. more blacks into the bar. In his mind it will make it place to be seen and a place that pro athletes will want to come to which, in his mind, will draw the ladies and other fans. He'd do the same if he thought opening a Cuban bar would mean more ticket sales.

 

The white audience isn't supporting him and his family. He needs to do something. Blacks aren't coming because they hate country music.

 

How is that racist?

 

Just don't put it in an email.