Reflections on Atlanta article in Conde Nast I: Is it true that the Olympics 'backfired' on Atlanta? (vs, moving to)

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by atlantaATL

Atlanta Has Hosted Olympics 2 Final four games and also has 2 coming up too. We have had BET Hip hop Awards. 2 NBA all star Games and Hockey all star weekend and 2super bowl hostings etc so whats your point. Like i said before if they didnt think atlanta could host they would have never put it here.

This isn't the first final four houston has hosted, we've also hosted the NBA all star games as well. Get with me when you start pulling international events like Houston. Houston made it to the finals for hosting Olympics 2012, but the city was considered unattractive and was disqualified. Also, the fact that ATL hosted it has ruined the chance for other southern cities to host the olympics. Don't try to ignore the whole scandal that went on behind ATL hosting the olympics.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

This isn't the first final four houston has hosted, we've also hosted the NBA all star games as well. Get with me when you start pulling international events like Houston. Houston made it to the finals for hosting Olympics 2012, but the city was considered unattractive and was disqualified. Also, the fact that ATL hosted it has ruined the chance for other southern cities to host the olympics. Don't try to ignore the whole scandal that went on behind ATL hosting the olympics.

What international events like Houston?

And it is your OPINION that Atlanta ruined it for any other Southern cities hosting the Olympics. Perhaps Houston should have competed with us for a chance to host the games.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by clsmith15

I moved here 6 months before the Olympics and am glad I did. It was an exciting and hopeful time for Atlanta and the experience was a once in a lifetime. I attended a few venues and had a great time. I actually enjoyed Atlanta a lot more back then but change is part of life and Atlanta has changed quite a bit over the last ten years.

I like hearing your thoughts. It would be interesting to hear more about what ways you think the city has changed since the games.

[south-to-west]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

This isn't the first final four houston has hosted, we've also hosted the NBA all star games as well. Get with me when you start pulling international events like Houston. Houston made it to the finals for hosting Olympics 2012, but the city was considered unattractive and was disqualified. Also, the fact that ATL hosted it has ruined the chance for other southern cities to host the olympics. Don't try to ignore the whole scandal that went on behind ATL hosting the olympics.

Knock it off. For some reason, some Texans have a major bug up their arse about Atlanta getting the Olympics. You can say what you want, but we hosted them, we didn't incur a lot of debt, and they helped with our commerce and image. Anyways Athens really turned out to be a disasterous Olympics.

Atlanta didn't ruin the chance for other Southern cities to get the Olympics. On the contrary, Houston hasn't been able to attract them because they don't have the infrastructure in place--namely rapid transit (yes, I know you're expanding your light rail lines). When it's all said and done, the Atlanta Games won't be remembered as being one of the best, but they will also won't be seen as one of the worst. Simply put, we got the job done.

As far as hosting other events, Atlanta has hosted a number of Super Bowls, Final Fours, major conventions, etc because our civic leaders have made huge investments in our infrastructure to attract major events. Not to mention, because of the Olympics, we have the largest fiberoptic network in the country (at least we did at the time of the Games).

Houston has hosted their fair share of large events--unsurprisingly since it's slightly bigger than Atlanta (5.7 million vs 5.2 million). Stop using so much of your energy to hate and instead promote the better aspects of your own city without trying to bring others down.

[johnatl]

^Outstanding post!

I wish I could be that diplomatic with this bunch.

[clsmith15]

WilliamM,

I think it has become more like NY. I am a NY transplant and I now see a lot of what I moved away from. The pace has gotten much faster, the congestion is bad and there's a lot of rudeness. I live out in north Bartow County but still commute to Atlanta for work. Bartow is still semi-rural and has that laid back, mannerly southern way about it but progress is on the way. It's being slowed down a lot by the current economic problems but when the economy rebounds things will change. I know that progress is inevitable and that I am one of the many New Yorkers who moved here but when I hear transplants complaining about lack of shopping, etc., I have think why did they move here - to make everything just like where they came from?

It seems to me that back in '96 Atlanta was a southern city with all the character and idiosyncrasies that make different regions interesting to learn about and explore. You could be out of downtown Atlanta and in the sticks in 1/2 hour, housing and land were much more affordable and the houses were reasonably sized. I wanted to live outside of a small city and it just grew too big and fast for my taste...it seems jaded. I knew the spirit that was here around the time of the Olympic wouldn't last forever but it just seemed to change so much so quickly.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by clsmith15

I think it has become more like NY. I am a NY transplant and I now see a lot of what I moved away from. The pace has gotten much faster, the congestion is bad and there's a lot of rudeness.
...
It seems to me that back in '96 Atlanta was a southern city with all the character and idiosyncrasies that make different regions interesting to learn about and explore. You could be out of downtown Atlanta and in the sticks in 1/2 hour, housing and land were much more affordable and the houses were reasonably sized. I wanted to live outside of a small city and it just grew too big and fast for my taste...it seems jaded. ....

That's an interesting perspective. I guess DC has really changed a lot. I know one thing, the big money that poured in there seems to have had a real effect on it (as w/Manhattan of course). I remember reading in NY Times about how there's a whole new class of people who but exhorbitant condos in the district for the week and keep their big houses in the suburbs for weekends (don't know about now after the 'crash').

I can also imagine the mixed feelings of people moving to Atl from the NE. Atlanta's probably 15 yrs or so behind DC on the growth curve and is definitely a less quaint or "Southern" place (in any meaningful sense) than it was even in '96. That trend will only continue.

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by johnatl

I understand totally - just wanted to point something out re: MARTA during the games.

I too fail to understand the planning process for events. It seems like some are planned for, others not.

And I still don't get the transfer at Lindbergh thing for a North Springs train after 9:00pm. What's up with that?

It's all about the shakedown. When there is an event in town and that event just happens to be bringing a crapload of cash, MARTA and all the other public services in Atlanta will roll out the red carpet. But when it comes to John Q. Public, furgeddaboutit!

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by south-to-west

When it's all said and done, the Atlanta Games won't be remembered as being one of the best, but they will also won't be seen as one of the worst. Simply put, we got the job done.

Very interesting way you said this, as I was discussing this thread with some coworkers at lunch today, and here is what one of them said....

"Atlanta isn't one of the worst cities in the U.S., but it's also not one of the best. It's well - just kind of 'there' and that's it".

The three other workers immediately nodded and agreed with her. Now, of this group of a total of 5 people at the table, two were native to the area (yeah, like wow, rarity), one from WV, one from Vermont and one from Pittsburgh, originally. The three of us who are originally from out of state have lived in the Atlanta area ranging from 12 to 25 years.

So, a variety of backgrounds, with basically the same opinion. Atlanta isn't necessarily a horrible city when you compare it to places like Detroit, Cleveland, Miami, New Orleans (crime), Dayton... but it's not necessarily a great city either if you compare it to New York, Chicago, Austin, San Diego, or Seattle. Atlanta is still just kind of in that "it gets the job done" stage. It gets the job of being a big city done, not necessarily in an exemplary way, not in a failing way - it's "just there".

I think that one day (when?) Atlanta will acquire an excellent City leader. A Mayor that makes everyone go "Wow!", who appoints talented and qualified people to key positions in the City. Hopefully it will be followed by a "Wow" Governor to be elected at State level, who will boost support for the City as opposed to viewing it as a sore thumb. When this happens - and when exactly "when" is, who knows for sure - I think Atlanta will begin it's change from a City with a bit of an identity and image crisis that just "gets the job done", to finally a true International City worthy of the title "World Class". I hope I'm still around (alive or as a resident) to see it happen.

For now, I'm happy just not being Detroit or New Orleans.

[mistersocks]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Atlanta isn't necessarily a horrible city when you compare it to places like Detroit, Cleveland, Miami, New Orleans (crime), Dayton... but it's not necessarily a great city either if you compare it to New York, Chicago, Austin, San Diego, or Seattle.

That hits the nail on the head for me. I think if Atlantans stopped trying to compete with these major cities and instead focused on, say, kicking Charlotte's *ss, we could all feel better about where we live. Omaha, you're next.

Regarding the Olympics, I came here in '96 as a tourist and saw several of the (cheap) events, and had a great time. I did find it incredibly hot and muggy, and felt a little sorry for the athletes. (And myself.) I also wondered how exactly Atlanta *got* the Olympics...images of scores of greased palms came to mind. But IMO they pulled it off decently.