Arthur Blank has been a titan in the Atlanta sports market for decades. In addition to being the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, Blank has been a leader in bringing several large-scale events like the Olympics, the World Cup, and the Super Bowl. Aside from sports, he has been a tremendous advocate and supporter of philanthropic endeavors across the city and region.
Now, he's added the training facility and team headquarters for the United States Soccer Federation -- a facility that will rightfully bear his name.
Simply put, Blank has been a major reason that Atlanta has stamped its name on the map.
"I just think that when folks sat back and took shots at Arthur Blank a few months ago. They just don't understand what other cities are dealing with in their owners," Shapiro said. "He's not a meddler [with the Falcons]. He was not a meddler with the MLS when it was getting built here and he let Darren Eales put this team together."
Look no further at what is going down in Oakland with the Athletics, who just announced they'd be leaving for Sacramento as they prepare their eventual move to Las Vegas. Or, take a look at franchises like NYCFC, who still play soccer on a baseball diamond.
The commitment of Blank, not only to the franchises he owns but to the people who live here, is unmatched.
"So we're getting seven World Cup games, we've got an MLS Championship, we've got the national training facility, we've got hospitals and all kinds of philanthropic stuff," Shapiro continued. "And the anger a few months ago [was unfounded]. You don't know how good we have it with our owner compared to other towns!"