Blank deals with decline
Atlanta Falcons12/14/2007 8:40 AM The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports running a pro sports franchise seems simple compared to running, say, a retail empire. The Atlanta Falcons, with about 200 employees, generate an estimated $185 million in annual revenue. Home Depot, with 350,000 employees, generates about $80 billion. But recent events suggest that maybe the football team is tougher to run. "In certain ways, it is," said Arthur Blank, the Home Depot co-founder who now owns the Falcons. Blank made the football business look easy for a while, taking over the Falcons from the much-criticized Smith family in 2002, pouring money into the product, slashing some ticket prices, selling out the Georgia Dome and reaching the playoffs in two of his first three years as owner. Read more