ATLANTA -- For the past 15 years, Arthur Blank has done everything in his power to make Atlanta a sports destination like none other.
On Thursday night at the Atlanta Sports Awards, Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Atlanta Sports Council.
"It's a great honor," Blank said. "It's a great reflection on all of our associates that I've worked with in all of our businesses for so many years … the values we've developed and how we've put those into action. It's a wonderful honor, a very special night for me."
At the core of all that Blank does in life, giving back and serving others remains the most important.
And Falcons' head coach Dan Quinn idolizes him for that.
Quinn was in attendance at the awards show as he was also honored with an award – Coach of the Year.
"For the city, people talk about giving back and he one hundred percent lives it," Quinn said. "I think for all of us in the city, there's a great a model of what you can do and the service you can do with your life. Those are the things that I take from my conversations with him, my interactions with him, knowing there is a place you can go too to make your community that much better."
After a year in which Blank's team reached the Super Bowl for just the second time in franchise history, Atlanta United FC kicked off its inaugural season and has seen great success.
And it doesn't stop there.
Both the Falcons and United FC will have a new home to compete in when Mercedes-Benz Stadium opens in late August. The Falcons will play their third preseason game versus the Arizona Cardinals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 26.
There's a noticeable buzz around the city of Atlanta when it pertains to sports.
And what's even more exciting for Blank in regards to the future of the Falcons is that he believes the organization now has all that is needed in place for long-term success.
It appears the best is still to come in many ways.
"The greatest honor from last year is that I feel now that we have what I've envisioned for many years which is a sustainably winning organization," Blank said. I love our head coach, I love our general manager, I love our coaches, coordinators, our whole personnel department. I love all the talent we have. I think we are in a great position, I look forward to this year and many years to come."
