ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Another group led by former hockey star Anson Carter is trying to bring a major league hockey team to Atlanta's northern suburbs.
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Carter is eyeing Alpharetta's North Point Mall, which has struggled in recent years with many stores leaving. His organization, Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment Group, is partnering with New York Life, the mall's property owner, to attract a hockey arena on the property.
The city has wanted to redevelop the 83-acre North Point property along Georgia 400 for several years. He said in the past year or so, Carter, co-owner of the minor league Atlanta Gladiators, approached the city about bringing an NHL franchise here. .
“We know there's a huge opportunity there,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said.
“We had a lot of conversations about, if there was a great location in metro Atlanta, where would it be?” he said. “And it's difficult to find a suitable location for that type of environment.”
The site is about eight miles south of another proposed development called The Gathering at South Forsyth. Local businessman Bernan Kraus is working to attract an NHL team to the site, which includes an 18,000-seat arena. The development will also include housing, restaurants, retail and office space and will cost approximately $2 billion.
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Gilvin said Carter has the qualifications, leadership and passion for hockey to bring a team to Alpharetta.
“Mall owners really want to do something special,” he says.
Carter did not respond to messages seeking comment Monday. His group has not said how much the project will cost.
“I have lived in Atlanta since 2009 and have no doubt that the best league in the world will thrive upon returning to metro Atlanta,” Carter said in a written statement last week. .
Jack Wilson, a hockey fan who lives in Alpharetta, said the area has a strong fan base.
“I think if you take it in a place where there is space for them to grow and a community that wants to have sports near them here in north Atlanta, the Alpharetta area, I think it will thrive,” he said. .
Cynthia Lippert is an Alpharetta real estate agent who remembers when metro Atlanta had an NHL team. The Thrashers left Atlanta in 2011 after 12 years.
“I think Atlanta deserves support from all sports,” Lippert said.
She said a hockey arena and mixed-use development would do wonders for the North Point Mall site.
“It’s going to bring a lot of life to the secondary part of Alpharetta,” she said.
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Hockey fan Devan Hunter said he was “heartbroken” when the Thrashers left the area. He said it's doable whether the team comes to Forsyth County or Alpharetta.
“We know a lot of people are watching and it's a hot market. All we need is an owner interested enough to invest in the team,” Hunter said.
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