Stay up to date with what you want to know. By Bob Bahr October 12, 2021, 5:48 pm. And at the top of that is who is being served comes first. >> /Title ( A r t h u r b l a n k p o l i t i c s) And today that's 2,200 stores in Canada, United States and Mexico probably have a market capitalization today of about $300 billion. A company where we already know from law suits the teams executives treated its cheerleaders like Vegas escorts and, yup, traded nudie pictures of them changing outfits. But that was typical of my mother. Mercedes-Benz Stadium aims to be the first stadium to receive LEED Platinum certification. The Atlanta Falcons new stadium is going to be beautiful. That origin story is well known in business and retail circles as an example of how bold, disruptive thinking can change the game, but Good Company provides a more personal view. And there are two [robbers] and they want to know, "Where's the money, where's the cash?" Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution., Together for Atlanta. The Westside also suffers from severe flooding problems, and the stadium has a 1.1 million gallon storm vault underground to trap and reuse their rain water, and help prevent flooding. Brian and Arthur welcomed their daughter Blake into the world via Arthur's sister Aoife, who acted as a surrogate for the couple, back in September -- with Brian previously teasing the documentary before Blake's arrival. It doesn't mean we agree on everything, we don't, but that's healthy," he said. I want you to talk to 10 of your friends. Our democracy is made stronger when we hear from all Americans on the issues of our day whether they be national or local. Scott Jensens Dramatic Fall Shows Ads Still Matter. (Airlines resisting vaccination mandates for passengers are another prime example of failure of true leadership.) And if all goes to plan, its also going to help a depressed community thats heard big talk before. The firing in 1978 was a political situation primarily between my partner Bernie [Marcus] and a gentleman, that has passed away now, who was his boss. Ticket pricing was higher than it could have been or should have been at that time, and so I brought Dick Sullivan over from Home Depot, the gentleman who now runs our PGA Superstores and we came up with a strategy that we've got to sell season's tickets for $100. Stop making people feel so fearful. So, that represents that melting-pot philosophy: Were all in this together. I seriously doubt the leagues TV ratings or ad revenue would suffer an iota. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!! The Braves leaving town also represented an end to the multicultural hub in the heart of the city that was forged by those Olympics. They said it would take an act of courage on your part to go out on the field and and to be recognized. And, you know, people stood up! And the core values that our forefathers drafted for us they weren't perfect, either, but in their own ways, they strove for those things. Low Expectations and Dark Hopes for the New Year, Minnesotas Wealthiest Social Security Beneficiaries Shouldnt Be First in Line for Help, Time to Limit HOAs Solar Panel Policing Powers, Pop Quiz: How Many People Actually Know Whats Going On?. And that's one of our core values as well: Include everybody. << Why Is Doc Jensen Still So Obsessed With His Long-Disproven COVID Claims? As I've said, 95% of my estate is going to be recycled back through our foundations and they will provide their insights and their leadership and their views and values that their father and their mothers would be very proud of. The largest donor was Falcons owner Arthur Blank. Where did your parents come from with your grandparents? We all came from someplace else, other than the other Native Americans. And then he came up to my suite afterward and it was like 10, 15 minutes later, his face was just full of tears and he said that he was so moved by it. The perceived linebetween politics and sports further blurred when Major League Baseball's union chief said players are ready to discuss moving the 2021 MLB All-Star Game out of Truist Park. I mean, it doesn't make a difference how old you are. This is not the legacy of civil rights in America. February 4, 2021 4:12 pm ET. The organization works directly with election officials to maintain accurate and complete voter lists and to secure their election technology infrastructure. We believe the right to vote is sacred and should be protected, so that we can have an active and engaged citizenry that participates in our democracy year-round, not just during presidential election cycles. Then I would not be bashful about asking questions. These are not political issues, they are human issues that need serious, earnest attention from leaders and citizens alike who understand that diversity is our strength and fair treatment is everyones right. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. It's the customers. We sold out the entire stadium in two-and-a-half hours. American professional sports owners have contributed nearly $47 million in federal elections since 2015, according to research by ESPN in partnership with FiveThirtyEight, including $10 million. The Athletic reported that Blank gave $2,800 to Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, on July 1. I concede, as others who know him personally have, that Im stunned that a guy like Gruden who has been a high-profile media/cultural presence for over 20 years, regularly giving live interviews, chewing up air time as a TV analyst and obliging all the other requests for personal contact that go with being a football celebritry could conceal his essential meat-headedness so long and so well. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. ", It is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy We have to be better than this moment. So there was no disrespect to the military. In 1978, they were both fired from Handy Dans by a corporate raider who took over the chains parent company. Walz Cooperation With Law Enforcement Deserves Praise, Not Punishment, If You Think Republicans Cant Ban Abortion in Minnesota, Look No Further than Iowa, Russia, Ukraine and My Seven Months with YouTube. Its more like cowardly, and meatheaded. And so he speaks to people throughout the United States, young people primarily, about that. They all have a great set of eyes and they're all different. /SMask /None>> Liz Cheney Aint Going Nowhere in This Republican Party, Jensens Abortion Ban Promises Come Back to Haunt Him, Thanks to Oppo. C q" Porn Star Pay Offs, Inciting Insurrection, Sexual Assaults, Bank Fraud, Election Conspiracy and FoxNews v. Dominion. [/Pattern /DeviceRGB] Did the Vikings and NFL Just Blacklist Another Left-Leaning Player? Arthur Blank on NFL kneelers: 'Players have no interest in being disrespectful to flag' Political Insider By Jim Galloway, Political Insider Trump is apparently referencing a highly sourced. 1 2 . He notes pervasive cynicism about corporate leaders and perceptions that the drive for profit comes at the expense of public good. In recent years Atlantas sports teams have attracted controversies that have highlighted the racial disparities that still largely define the city. Though the 78-year-old who's now the owner of the Atlanta Falcons NFL team was aware of their political differences, he said it never had any bearing on their shared values. Support more understanding and be better listeners trying to see how the other people, you know, try to stand in the footsteps of others. GALEO has also handed out flyers at city events, supermarkets, and churches that target Latinos. Scott Jensens Unanswered $15,000,000,000 Question. At the end of the day, you can have differences of opinion, which is a great thing to have, and different approaches, which is a great thing to have. By all accounts, those associated with the new stadium and the Westside view their presence as at least a 10-20 year commitment toward revitalizing a downtrodden community and bringing the city together. Atlanta, GA 30318 Were usually very happy to talk, very happy to share our opinions and what have you I have enough humility to understand that the people were serving know better. This can create a steady stream of jobs and revenue for the community. Theres at least one more level to the Jon Gruden disaster that NFL fans should consider about the leagues remarkable influence. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs. The Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR) mission is to ensure elections are secure, voters have confidence in election outcomes and democracy thrives as civic engagement grows. Continued: https://t.co/yePGJUaGVV, Ive got a lot of love and respect for police officers., We dont want to see Targets burning. A Handful of Things I Could Not Care Less About, Matt Birk: Rape Victims Are Playing the Rape Card?, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I have many friends who are no longer fervent Braves supporters. Its appalling how heavily-to-tightly-managed entities, especially those controlled by a small cluster of well-heeled egos turn into shuddering eunuchs at the thought of riling just an ugly faction of its consumer base. The Arthur M. Blank Foundation announced on Wednesday a new series of grants focusing on mental health and well-being in response to America's growing mental health crisis. No, I'm not. /Creator ( w k h t m l t o p d f 0 . Resistance to Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Futile. And then as Dr. King wrote in his last book, which his wife published a year after he passed away. So we spent six months maybe talking to fans, or people that were not fans, but were, you know, living in the Atlanta area at that time, and we found out that there were four or five things we had to fix. If you go to a Home Depot shareholders meeting, they start out every single meeting for 42 years now with this value wheel that we developed. In total, they anticipate hosting each year 40 to 50 big events and an additional 100 to 200 small events in the neighboring park that will be built where the Georgia Dome currently resides. Falcons owner Arthur Blank is weighing in on Georgia's sweeping overhaul of election laws. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I remember I called the commissioner then, who was Paul Tagliabue, and I say, Well, Paul, I have this idea. The statement came about five days after Gov. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. After stepping down as CEO of Home Depot in the early 2000s, Blank's interests centered on a variety of Atlanta-based sports franchises and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, a private foundation that has awarded over $560 million. His is another example of how well powerful systems, in this case, the almighty NFL, can throw a PR cocoon around people and project to the public only the parts of its culture that serve its business interests until they dont. I said, Paul? We've broken every season ticket record per game. In his new book, Good Company, Blank follows his own success to show that purpose and profit can and should coexist. And if I stop talking now for two minutes, you realize just how long two minutes is. Young you are. Is the Jensen-Birk Campaign Minnesotas WOAT? But I know that his essence, at his heart and his soul, is a really good person that cares deeply about humanity. His percentage of giving back from his estate will be equal to mine and some of his philosophies don't exactly match mine. I said, Look, I'm going to be a new owner, tell me what I can do to help. Both John Lewis John, just a month before he passed away and Andy Young have said to me that we do have to recognize that things are better than they used to be. But Its All Too Familiar. 3, By 1981, Home Depots stock went public and raised over $4 million. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. It is my hope that we take this terrible moment in our history to elevate that conversation toward productive action and lasting, positive change. 5 Other Blank family businesses include the nationwide PGA TOUR Superstore as well as a handful of ranches across the country. And my mother was giving him a lecture saying, You realize this is not what your parents would want you to do. 7, Blank founded the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 1995 and has awarded over $560 million to causes such as education and early childhood development. But he was. Which country do you come from? They want to have a home-field advantage. Their frustration is real, and it must be acknowledged and addressed. Soon after, Blank met his third wife Angela Macuga whom he married in 2016 and later announced their plans to divorce in 2019. /SM 0.02 /BitsPerComponent 8 There's no place for looting and stealing and whatever else. The portfolio includes nearly $10 million in grants to 12 nonprofits that represent a diverse set of organizations with a strong presence in Georgia and the Southeast. Arthur Blank is firmly in Joe Biden's corner. GPB is committedto bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world. Michael Vicks published letter, Atlanta, nearly made a whole city cry on the eve of the Super Bowl. And we need to figure out, you know, how do we move past that and how do we learn from that and how do we get connected with our current reality? It starts with respect. And part of that is reducing our environmental impact.. follow. It's hard to believe. And now their story is a page-turning novel. Players and coaches appear giving quick testimonials. We sit down with New York Times theater critic Jesse Green to discuss Rodgers' autobiography, Shy. Like many other enormous corporations the NFL, selling a slick, bristling mix of testosterone and patriotism, ducks away from anything with a whiff of political conflict. ATLANTA - Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United Owner Arthur Blank said Tuesday afternoon he believes voting should be made "easier, not harder for every eligible citizen" and his business and non-profit partners plan to support efforts to advance voting access. The ones in Atlanta on Friday started off peaceful but later turned into violent demonstrations and looting of local businesses. How? But thus far Blank and those connected to the stadium appear committed to using this opportunity as one to enhance and not exploit this community. And they found ways to get things done with people who had a little bit a different view but found that commonality that was really important. And he should know. So that's really what it was about. And I remember he told me, he said, You know, when [I went into] the prison system, they gave me three pair of underwear, three shirts, three pair slacks, three socks and one pair of shoes, and that was it. He said, That was all I was going to have, as opposed to the lifestyle he was leading before. It's an inverted pyramid that speaks to our whole orientation and all of our businesses today. Falcons owner Arthur Blank spoke with reporters during a 10-minute teleconference from the Super Bowl. Our family foundation seeks to preserve and strengthen our democracy, and weve chosen this as one of our new collective areas of giving. He's committed to his wife now, his children. He would say, I don't need to be cut any slack, you know. NOW WATCH: We combined Trump and Biden's separate town halls so you can watch an actual debate between the presidential candidates, Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission. /Length 7 0 R "People are coming from different places, which is okay, but it's not okay when they're disrespectful; it's not okay when they're not kind. And thats despite our recent record, which hasn't been, you know, one I'm particularly proud of, but we'll get better. In that way, I don't think my personality, probably, or my patience level probably is not the level it would have to be to sustain myself in this political atmosphere today. The views expressed here are the authors' alone, not necessarily the views of their clients, employers or families. 7) In order to put this grinding pandemic behind us once and for all? Hes a combination of father and brother to me. I understand that, but I respect it," said Blank. So when we started, MLS was ranked like 22nd among all the leagues in the world. 15, Two of Blanks children, Dena Kimball and Kenny Blank, sit on the board of directors of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. ", CNN -- Ted [Turner] did a great thing. Full statement from Arthur Blank: https://t.co/1lU870TGWa pic.twitter.com/0qejiahKKY, Please, please stop this violence!! Because It Delivers Comfort, Status and Cash. People are scared and in pain. my patience level probably is not the level it would have to be to sustain myself in this political atmosphere today. Its a story about making bad choices and the impact of young people. When you find common solutions that work for everybody and [are] respectful of everybody to represent the best of you. You can do whatever you choose to do. I mean, it wasn't like, You're Republican or Democrat. One of the robbers tied me up in the bathroom, the bathtub, and I said a few things to him, which, at 10 years old, I don't think my mother even knew I knew those words. He also goes public about the pain of learning of Michael Vicks role in an illegal dogfighting ring, along with other ups and downs in a life of unimaginable financial success. GALEO engages in advocacy, creates opportunities for engagement and networking, and develops leadership skills for Latino community members. And it's all connected not only to associates, but to the communities in which we live and operate. Dueling Visions for Minnesota: Scandinavia or South Dakota? That should never be tolerated. Enter your email address to be notified about new posts. In 1989, the company opened its 100th store. The book lays out a set of values that guided him to turn around the struggling Atlanta Falcons NFL team, launch the Atlanta United FC soccer club and build the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (And Im not forgetting Colin Kaepernicks protests against police violence, and how the league effectively blackballed him before paying him off to avoid a certain-to-be-nightmarish public trial.). . How could Trump possibly have lost re-election? He had three children with his first wife Diana Blank, whom he divorced in 1993.