Quick Facts: Atlanta Falcons
| Owner | Arthur Blank |
| AMB Group President | Steve Cannon (formerly); Arthur Blank oversees |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Flowery Branch, Georgia, USA |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Stock Ticker | N/A |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns the Atlanta Falcons?
The Atlanta Falcons are owned by Arthur Blank, one of the co-founders of The Home Depot. Blank purchased the Falcons in February 2002 for approximately $545 million from Taylor Smith, who had inherited the team from his late father H. Rankin Smith Sr. (the franchise’s original owner from 1965). Arthur Blank is a Massachusetts-born businessman who built his fortune through The Home Depot, which he co-founded with Bernie Marcus and Ken Langone in 1978. He has been the Falcons’ owner for more than two decades and is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s most engaged and fan-friendly franchise owners.
Beyond the Falcons, Blank also owns Atlanta United FC, the Major League Soccer franchise he was instrumental in bringing to Atlanta in 2017. Atlanta United has been one of the most successful expansion teams in MLS history, drawing massive crowds to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and winning the MLS Cup in 2018 in just its second year of existence. Both the Falcons and Atlanta United play their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the state-of-the-art retractable-roof stadium that opened in 2017 in downtown Atlanta. The stadium, which Blank’s AMB Group helped build, was designed by HOK architects and has received acclaim for its innovative design and fan-friendly features including unique pricing models for concessions.
Arthur Blank oversees his sports and business interests through AMB Group LLC, his family-owned holding company. The Falcons are led on the football operations side by General Manager Terry Fontenot, while head coach Raheem Morris has guided the team in recent seasons. The team plays in the NFC South division of the NFL and has appeared in two Super Bowls (Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999 and Super Bowl LI in 2017), famously losing Super Bowl LI to the New England Patriots after holding a 28-3 lead in the third quarter — one of the most stunning collapses in sports history.
About Arthur Blank
Arthur Blank was born in 1942 in Sunnyside, Queens, New York. He worked in the home improvement retail space before co-founding The Home Depot in 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside Bernie Marcus, Ron Brill, and Pat Farrah, with seed funding from Ken Langone. Home Depot grew into the world’s largest home improvement retailer, generating hundreds of billions of dollars in annual revenue. After leaving Home Depot’s board in 2001, Blank turned his attention to his next chapter in sports ownership. His tenure with the Falcons has been characterized by significant investment in the franchise, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium and a commitment to building a consistent NFC South contender.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Arthur Blank purchased the Falcons in 2002: Blank acquired the Atlanta Falcons in February 2002 for approximately $545 million, becoming one of the NFL’s most prominent owners. He is a co-founder of The Home Depot, where he built his multi-billion dollar fortune alongside Bernie Marcus.
- Arthur Blank also owns Atlanta United FC: In addition to the Falcons, Blank owns Atlanta United FC in MLS. The team debuted in 2017 and won the MLS Cup in 2018 — one of the fastest championship achievements in league history — drawing massive crowds and becoming one of the league’s flagship franchises.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened in 2017: Blank’s AMB Group built Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, which opened in August 2017. The venue was designed as a multi-use facility for both the Falcons and Atlanta United, and has been celebrated for its architectural innovation and fan-friendly policies including $2 hot dogs and $5 beer.
- The Falcons’ Super Bowl LI collapse: The Falcons appeared in Super Bowl LI in February 2017, building a stunning 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots before losing in overtime — the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. It remains one of the most painful moments in Atlanta sports history and a watershed moment in NFL lore.
- Co-founder of The Home Depot: Arthur Blank co-founded The Home Depot in 1978 in Atlanta, growing it into the world’s largest home improvement retailer with thousands of stores and hundreds of billions in annual sales. Blank served as co-chairman and CEO of Home Depot before focusing on his sports ownership and philanthropy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Atlanta Falcons?
The Atlanta Falcons are owned by Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, who purchased the franchise in 2002 for approximately $545 million. Blank is one of the NFL’s most active and visible franchise owners and also owns MLS club Atlanta United FC.
Are the Atlanta Falcons publicly traded?
No. The Atlanta Falcons are a privately held franchise owned by Arthur Blank through his AMB Group LLC holding company. The franchise is not listed on any public stock exchange.
How did Arthur Blank make his money?
Arthur Blank made his fortune co-founding The Home Depot in Atlanta, Georgia in 1978 alongside Bernie Marcus. The Home Depot grew into the world’s largest home improvement retailer. Blank served as co-chairman and CEO before transitioning to sports ownership and philanthropy.
What stadium do the Falcons play in?
The Atlanta Falcons play their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, which opened in August 2017. The stadium also hosts Atlanta United FC and has been widely praised for its innovative retractable roof design and fan-friendly concession pricing policies.