Editing Atlanta (section)

==Sports==
{{Main|Sports in Atlanta}}
[[File:SunTrust Park viewed from upper decks behind home plate, May 2017.jpg|thumb|[[Truist Park]]]] 
[[File:Philips Arena.jpg|thumb|[[State Farm Arena]]]] 
[[File:Mercedes Benz Stadium time lapse capture 2017-08-13.jpg|thumb|[[Mercedes Benz Stadium]]]]

Sports are an important part of the culture of Atlanta. The city is home to professional franchises for four major team sports: the [[Atlanta Braves]] of [[Major League Baseball]], the [[Atlanta Hawks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]], the [[Atlanta Falcons]] of the [[National Football League]], and [[Atlanta United FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]]. In addition, many of the city's universities participate in collegiate sports. The city also regularly hosts international, professional, and collegiate sporting events.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966. Originally established as the [[Boston]] Red Stockings in 1871, they are the oldest continually operating professional sports franchise in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stirgus|first1=Eric|title=Braves go back, back, back|url=http://www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2010/dec/14/atlanta-braves/braves-go-back-back-back/|website=Politifact|access-date=October 13, 2016|date=December 14, 2010}}</ref> The Braves franchise overall has won four [[World Series]] Championship's in three different cities with their first in 1914 as the Boston Braves, in 1957 as the Milwaukee Braves,  1995 and 2021 as the Atlanta Braves. The 1995 title occurred during an unprecedented run of 14 straight divisional championships from 1991 to 2005.<ref name="braves_oldest_team">"[http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/history/story_of_the_braves.jsp The Story of the Braves] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030062629/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/history/story_of_the_braves.jsp |date=October 30, 2015 }}." ''[[Atlanta Braves]].'' Retrieved on April 29, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Braves win 1st World Series title since 1995|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-win-world-series-2021|access-date=2021-11-08|website=MLB.com|language=en}}</ref> The team plays at [[Truist Park]], having moved from [[Turner Field]] for the 2017 season. The new stadium is outside the city limits, located {{convert|10|mi|km}} northwest of downtown in the Cumberland/Galleria area of Cobb County.<ref>{{cite news|title=Braves break in new ballpark with 8–5 win over Yankees|first=Dave|last=O'Brien|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-break-new-ballpark-with-win-over-yankees/IiwSEvdTwNb7aON319YxPP/|newspaper=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=March 31, 2017|access-date=April 2, 2017|archive-date=April 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401051850/http://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-break-new-ballpark-with-win-over-yankees/IiwSEvdTwNb7aON319YxPP/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Atlanta Falcons]] have played in Atlanta since their inception in 1966. The team play their home games at [[Mercedes Benz Stadium]], having moved from the [[Georgia Dome]] in 2017. The Falcons have won the division title six times (1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016) and the NFC championship twice in 1998 and 2016. They have been unsuccessful in both of their Super Bowl trips, losing to the [[Denver Broncos]] in [[Super Bowl XXXIII]] in 1999 and to the [[New England Patriots]] in [[Super Bowl LI]] in 2017,<ref name="falcons">{{cite web |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Alumni/History.aspx |title=History: Atlanta Falcons |publisher=[[Atlanta Falcons]] |access-date=April 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225201702/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Alumni/History.aspx |archive-date=February 25, 2009 }}</ref> the largest comeback in [[Super Bowl]] history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=2017020501|title=Super Bowl LI Box Score|work=The Football Database|publisher=Patrick Gilligan|date=February 5, 2017|access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, Atlanta also briefly hosted an [[Alliance of American Football]] team, the [[Atlanta Legends]], but the league was suspended during its first season and the team folded.

The [[Atlanta Hawks]] were founded in 1946 as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, playing in [[Moline, Illinois]]. They moved to Atlanta from [[St. Louis]] in 1968 and play their games in [[State Farm Arena]].<ref name="hawks_history">{{cite web|title=Franchise History|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/history/season-by-season-recaps.html|access-date=2022-01-06|website=[[Atlanta Hawks]]|language=en}}</ref> The [[Atlanta Dream]] of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] shared an arena with the Hawks for most of their existence; however the WNBA team moved to a smaller arena in the southern Atlanta suburb of [[College Park, Georgia|College Park]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title =Welcome to the Official Home of the Atlanta Dream|work=WNBA.com|publisher=WNBA Enterprises, LLC|date = January 22, 2008|url = http://dream.wnba.com/|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref>

Professional soccer has been played in some form in Atlanta since 1967. Atlanta's first professional soccer team was the [[Atlanta Chiefs]] of the original [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] which won the 1968 NASL Championship and defeated English first division club [[Manchester City F.C.]] twice in international friendlies. In 1998 the [[Atlanta Silverbacks]] were formed, playing the new [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]]. They now play as an amateur club in the [[National Premier Soccer League]]. In 2017, [[Atlanta United FC]] began play as Atlanta's first premier-division professional soccer club since the Chiefs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/pro-sports/atlanta-gets-mls-franchise/HvSPqVRFe47jyYxbmMAJTP/|title=Atlanta gets MLS franchise|work=ajc|access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref> They won [[MLS Cup 2018]], defeating the [[Portland Timbers]] 2–0. Fan reception has been very positive; the team has broken several single-game and season attendance records for both MLS and the [[U.S. Open Cup]]. The club is estimated by [[Forbes]] to be the most valuable club in Major League Soccer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/11/14/mls-most-valuable-teams-2018/|title=Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams 2018: Atlanta United Debuts On Top|last=Smith|first=Chris|work=Forbes|access-date=November 22, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In ice hockey, Atlanta has had two [[National Hockey League]] franchises, both of which relocated to a city in Canada after playing in Atlanta for fewer than 15 years. The [[Atlanta Flames]] (now the [[Calgary Flames]]) played from 1972 to 1980, and the [[Atlanta Thrashers]] (now the [[Winnipeg Jets]]) played from 1999 to 2011. The [[Atlanta Gladiators]], a minor league hockey team in the [[ECHL]], have played in the Atlanta suburb of Duluth since 2003.<ref>{{cite web|date=2015-09-14|title=Official Website - Gwinnett Gladiators|url=http://www.atlantagladiators.com/site/news/article.asp?art=3435|access-date=2021-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914063526/http://www.atlantagladiators.com/site/news/article.asp?art=3435|archive-date=September 14, 2015}}</ref>

The [[ASUN Conference]] moved its headquarters to Atlanta in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://asunsports.org/general/2019-20/releases/20190701kv6vpp|title=ASUN Conference Headquarters Relocates to Atlanta|access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref>

Several other, less popular sports also have professional franchises in Atlanta. The [[Georgia Swarm]] compete in the [[National Lacrosse League]]. In Rugby union, on September 21, 2018, [[Major League Rugby]] announced that Atlanta was one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/09/21/major-league-rugby-confirms-boston-atlanta-2020/ |title=Major League Rugby confirms Boston and Atlanta for 2020 – Americas Rugby News |website=www.americasrugbynews.com |date=September 21, 2018}}</ref> named [[Rugby ATL]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usmlr.com/news/atlantas-new-major-league-rugby-team-picks-a-name/ |title=Atlanta's New Major League Rugby Team Picks a Name |website=USMLR.com |date=February 26, 2019}}</ref> whilst in Rugby league, on 31 March 2021, [[Atlanta Rhinos]] left the [[USA Rugby League]] and turned fully professional for the first time, joining the new [[North American Rugby League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/new-north-american-rugby-league-not-sanctioned-by-governing-body/|title=New North American rugby league 'not sanctioned' by governing body|first=James|last=Gordon|date=April 15, 2021|website=LoveRugbyLeague}}</ref> On August 2, 2018, it was announced that Atlanta would have its own [[Overwatch League]] team, [[Atlanta Reign]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Atlanta has long been known as the "capital" of college football in America.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Atlanta Became The College Football Capital of America |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/rayglier/2019/12/27/how-atlanta-became-the-college-football-capital-of-america/ |website=Forbes}}</ref> Also, Atlanta is within a few hours driving distance of many of the universities that make up the [[Southeastern Conference]], college football's most profitable and popular conference,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/4/26/11456612/athletic-department-finances-sec-big-ten-pac-12-acc|title=The SEC makes more money than every other conference, and it's not close|last=Berkes|first=Peter|website=[[SB Nation]]|date=April 26, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2020}}</ref> and annually hosts the [[SEC Championship Game]]. Other annual college football events include the [[Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game]], the [[Celebration Bowl]], the [[MEAC/SWAC Challenge]], and the [[Peach Bowl|Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl]] which is one of College Football's major New Year's Six Bowl games and a college football playoff bowl.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/04/29/atlanta-has-what-it-takes-to-host.html|title=Atlanta has what it takes to host major events|newspaper=Atlanta Business Chronicle|access-date=February 1, 2011|first=Dan|last=Corso|date=April 29, 2011}}</ref> Atlanta additionally hosted the [[2018 College Football Playoff National Championship]].

Atlanta regularly hosts a variety of sporting events. Most famous was the Centennial [[1996 Summer Olympics]]. The city has hosted the super bowl three times: [[Super Bowl XXVIII]] in 1994, [[Super Bowl XXXIV]] in 2000, and [[Super Bowl LIII]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Culpepper |first1=JuliaKate |title=Atlanta Super Bowl date announced |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-super-bowl-date-announced/yiA8SP0acoKpernbvjuivJ/ |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=October 10, 2018}}</ref> In professional golf, [[The Tour Championship]], the final [[PGA Tour]] event of the season, is played annually at [[East Lake Golf Club]]. In 2001 and 2011, Atlanta hosted the [[PGA Championship]], one of the four [[Men's major golf championships|major championships]] in men's professional golf, at the [[Atlanta Athletic Club]]. In 2011, Atlanta hosted [[professional wrestling]]'s annual [[WrestleMania XXVII|WrestleMania]]. In soccer, Atlanta has hosted numerous international friendlies and [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] matches. The city has hosted the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Final Four]] Men's Basketball Championship five times, most recently in [[2020 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2020]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Atlanta will serve as one of the eleven US host cities for the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].

[[Running]] is a popular local sport, and the city declares itself to be "Running City USA".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/news/atlanta-track-club-declares-atlanta-is|title=Atlanta Track Club Declares; Atlanta is Running City USA|website=Atlanta Track Club|access-date=November 23, 2018|date=July 2, 2018}}</ref> The city hosts the [[Peachtree Road Race]], the world's largest [[10K run|{{nowrap|10 km}} race]], annually on [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2005/11/14/focus3.html|title=Peachtree race director deflects praise to others|newspaper=Atlanta Business Chronicle|access-date=January 1, 2008|first=Allison|last=Shirreffs|date=November 14, 2005}}</ref> Atlanta also hosts the nation's largest [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] day [[half marathon]], which starts and ends at [[Georgia State Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/northside_sandy_springs/sports/to-participate-in-invesco-qqq-thanksgiving-day-half-marathon-nation/article_76ca7522-ecd7-11e8-b41f-67e9b610dfb9.html|title=11,000 to participate in Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, nation's largest|website=Northside Neighbor|access-date=November 23, 2018|date=November 20, 2018}}</ref> The [[Atlanta Marathon]], which starts and ends at [[Centennial Olympic Park]], routes through many of the city's historic landmarks,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/nearly-000-participate-12th-annual-publix-georgia-marathon-half-marathon-and/Wba7menXuXXT7AaTKQFPoK/|title=Nearly 10,000 participate in 12th annual Publix Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K|website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|last=Moore|first=Maghen|access-date=November 23, 2018|date=March 18, 2018}}</ref> and its 2020 running will coincide with the U.S. Olympic marathon trials for the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/April/23/Atlanta-To-Host-2020-US-Olympic-Team-Trials-Marathon|title=Atlanta To Host 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon|website=Team USA|author=USA Track & Field|access-date=November 23, 2018|date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>