Atlanta to NBA: Forget Charlotte, Bring the 2017 NBA All-Star Game Here

Just one day after Governor Nathan Deal declared that Georgia would remain open for business and void of potential discrimination, members of the Atlanta City Council are requesting that the NBA relocate the 2017 All-Star game, and all the commerce that comes with it, from a state that decided to, well, take a different route.

We’ll let the press release and the resolution speak for itself.

Press Release:

City Council President Mitchell and Councilmembers Andre Dickens and Alex Wan call for the National Basketball Association to consider relocating the 2017 NBA All-Star Game and weekend of events to Atlanta

ATLANTA – Today, the Chairman of the Community Development and Human Resources Committee, Andre Dickens, brought forward a resolution requesting that the National Basketball Association (NBA) consider relocating the 2017 NBA All-Star Game and weekend of events from Charlotte, N.C. to Atlanta.

The resolution was introduced at Tuesday’s meeting of the Community Development and Human Resources Committee.  The measure, supported by Council President Ceasar Mitchell and Finance Executive Committee Chairman Alex Wan, invites the NBA to consider relocating the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend due to the passage of House Bill 2, a measure that discriminates against members of the LGBT community.  The bill was signed into law by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory last week. The NBA is currently considering pulling the 2017 game out of North Carolina in response. It’s scheduled to be held on Sunday, February 17.

“The City of Atlanta draws strength from our diverse community,” said Council President Mitchell. “This unity creates our city’s embracing spirit, a quality that has made Atlanta the destination of choice for numerous international business conventions, professional and college sporting events, as well as one of the largest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies in the nation. We would certainly welcome the opportunity to show that very spirit as the host of the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend.”

“Atlanta is a vibrant, energetic city that would be an outstanding host to the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend,” said Chairman Dickens. “As the home to the civil and human rights movement, our diverse set of people and businesses welcome this global event with open arms.”

 “Atlanta affirms that inclusion and equality are integral to our city’s success as a tourist location for over 40 million visitors each year,” said Chairman Wan, who was also a co-signer of a resolution that passed unanimously by the Atlanta City Council on March 7 opposing HB 757.

Proposed Resolution Language:

A RESOLUTION BY

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TO CONSIDER RELOCATING THE 2017 ALL-STAR WEEKEND FROM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA TO THE CITY OF ATLANTA; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, on June 22, 2015, the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) awarded the 2017 All-Star Game to the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, to be played on February 19, 2017; and

WHEREAS, in a response to a nondiscrimination ordinance adopted by the City of Charlotte, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act (the “Bill”); and

WHEREAS, the Bill restricts cities from passing nondiscrimination laws to protect the LGBTQ community; and

WHEREAS, Governor Pat McCrory signed the Bill on March 23, 2016; and

WHEREAS, in a recent statement regarding the bill, the NBA has stated that it “is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events. We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect…”; and

WHEREAS, the City of Atlanta (“City”) understands that inclusion and equality are crucial aspects of the success we have enjoyed as a tourist location for over 40 million visitors each year; and

WHEREAS, the City will play host to the 2018 College Football Playoff Championship game and the 2020 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament; and

WHEREAS, as the City of Atlanta has a proven track record of hosting major sporting events, it wishes to be considered to host the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA, that the National Basketball Association consider relocating the 2017 All-Star Weekend to the City of Atlanta from Charlotte, North Carolina.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Municipal Clerk transmit a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the National Basketball Association and the owners of each of the Thirty (30) basketball franchises.