Credit to Arthur Blank and the wonderful success he has created here in Atlanta. The man is a true visionary. Likewise, everyone I ever known that has met him have come away just saying what a good, genuine person he is. Which makes me wonder, do any other clubs love their owners like we love uncle Arthur?
I sat in his box (we have a mutual friend who he had invited and who in turn invited my wife and I) at Bobby Dodd for a fairly comfortable win against the Crew. He was very soft-spoken and friendly and immediately made my wife and I feel at ease. The other thing that really impressed me --- once the whistle for kickoff blew, he was in his front row seat arms draped over the railing following the action on the pitch intently. No walking around glad-handing and schmoozing with folks until the whistle for halftime. And the scenario repeated for the second half. High fives all around for the goals too. IOW, he wasn't faking it.
I met him on a popular running trail, and this was before we had a team, and I shook his hand begged he bring us a team. He smiled and knew what was to come.