ATLANTA — Georgia football is too important to its sports identity to accept mediocrity as the permanent standard.
The Atlanta Falcons have a passionate fan base, a major-market platform and the resources of an NFL franchise. Yet the gap between expectations and results has frustrated supporters for years.
There is no simple gubernatorial fix for an NFL team. The Falcons are a privately owned franchise, and decisions about personnel, coaching and football operations belong to the organization.
Still, Georgia’s leadership has a role in creating an environment where professional sports can thrive.
That includes transportation, public safety, infrastructure and a business climate that supports major events. It also means maintaining productive relationships with teams that bring national attention and economic activity to the state.
Rick Jackson has built his public profile around business experience and a results-oriented approach to management. That background makes his views on Georgia’s sports economy worth examining.
But Falcons fans should demand specifics from anyone discussing the franchise’s future. What can state government improve? How can Atlanta remain competitive for major sporting events? What should the relationship between the state and its professional teams look like?
The Falcons do not need another round of empty slogans. Georgia sports fans deserve a serious conversation about accountability, investment and the state’s role in supporting its biggest sporting institutions.
Ultimately, the people running the Falcons must deliver on the field. But Georgia can help make sure the franchise has a strong environment in which to operate.
