Arthur Blank will be eternally remembered in Atlanta Falcons history.
The NFL franchise’s longtime owner and chairman was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor on Sunday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Falcons supporters were treated to complimentary hot dogs, chips, and refillable glasses as Blank was honored at halftime with a special ceremony led by actor . Jackson Samuel L.
The Home Depot co-founder is the latest NFL owner to be inducted into his team’s Ring of Honor, but the appointment has sparked debate among fans and others about whether the owner should be included. Critics argue that such honors are self-serving.
The Home Depot co-founder is the latest NFL owner to be inducted into his team’s Ring of Honor, but the appointment has sparked debate among fans and others about whether the owner should be included. Critics argue that such honors are self-serving.
One Redditor wrote on a thread regarding the induction: “I mean Blank has been a really good owner, but this does give Vince McMahon putting himself in his own Hall of Fame vibes.” Someone another inquired: “Do you think he says ‘thank you’ after pouring himself a drink too?”
Others argue that owners like Blank are more than deserving, citing contributions that go beyond the football field.
“He took the organization to the next level,” former Falcons linebacker and 2004 class inductee Jessie Tuggle said in a phone interview. “He made it good not only for the players but for the fans and the city of Atlanta. … He did something that’s unique, making the franchise super popular and more entertaining while also producing Pro Bowlers like me, [not to mention] what he has done for the community.”
Blank, who turns 82 this week, bought the Falcons for $545 million in 2002 and built a franchise that is now worth $5.9 billion, according to Sportico valuations. The entrepreneur has made fans happier at MBS with consistent affordable prices for concessions at games and concerts. He secured a Major League Soccer club and has donated more than a billion dollars for worthy projects and charitable causes.
The Falcons, on the other hand, have never won a Super Bowl (most memorably blowing a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl 51) and have missed the playoffs in the previous six seasons.
“The question is who has been instrumental to the success of the franchise,” former Falcons chief marketing officer Jim Smith, who once assisted with the Ring of Honor selection process, said in an interview. “Everyone puts different conditions on it, but I believe Arthur is worthy of entering. Not all owners would agree, but when you consider the influence he’s had on that franchise, it’s considerable.”
The Falcons’ executive committee meets annually to examine potential honorees and the timing of their induction. Tuggle, who was on the field and participated in the halftime ceremony, argues that while Blank’s participation is justified, he can’t say the same for the other franchises, feeling it shouldn’t be “automatic just because you own the team.”
Blank joins over a dozen former and current NFL owners who have been honored into their teams’ Ring of Honor or Hall of Fame. Wayne Weaver, previous owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his wife, Delores, were placed on the list in 2012. Deron Cherry, the first Black limited partner in the NFL, was part of the then-new expansion team ownership group that introduced big-time football to Jacksonville in 1993.
“Those owners who bring teams to communities and really make a difference, I don’t see an issue why they shouldn’t be in the Ring of Honor,” according to an interview with him. “You’re the one that’s made the investment and put in the time and energy in to make a great organization.”
But how much should on-field performance influence admission into a team’s Ring of Honor, or better still, the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
According to ESPN, New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft was upset when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wore a gold jacket over him in 2017, criticizing his team’s lack of wins over the prior two decades. Kraft reportedly felt that his team’s 20-year dynasty led by Tom Brady more to grow the league than contributions made by Jones, who is one of 16 owners enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The induction procedure for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is, of course, more stringent than any team-centric Ring of Honor, where owners wield more power even if they are not on the official selection panels or committees. After all, they sign the checks at the establishment.
However, the dispute over what qualifies an NFL owner for immortality persists. Some may claim that the on-field resume is the most relevant, while others, like as Cherry, believe that wins off the field should be considered.
“They’ve received a lot, but they’ve also given a lot back,” he added of the owners. “The city benefits beyond the football squad. … The impact that these franchises have on the community. You can’t quantify it.
