Atlanta Laxers
 | |
| Nickname | Laxers |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Association | IIHF |
| League | NHL |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Atlantic |
| Team history | Atlanta Laxers 2026-present (NHL) |
| Based in | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Arena | McDonald's Arena |
| Colors | Teal, Orange, Pink, Axinite, Snow, Black |
| Anthem | TBC |
| Owner | Georgia Sports Partners |
| President | TBC |
| CEO | TBC |
| Head Coach | TBC |
| General manager | TBC |
| Captain | TBC |
| League titles | 0 |
| Conference titles | 0 |
| Stanley Cups | 0 |
| Playoff berths | 0 |
| Cheerleaders | TBC |
| Dancers | TBC |
| Mascot | TBC |
| Official fan club | TBC |
| Broadcasters | TBC |
| Local media | TBC |
| Partners | TBC |
| Main sponsor | TBC |
The Atlanta Laxers are a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Laxers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team is owned by Atlanta Sports & Entertainment, playing its home games at Phillips Arena.
History
Atlanta was formerly the home of the Flames and Thrashers, both of which respectively relocated to Calgary in 1980 and Winnipeg in 2011. Despite the failure of Atlanta's two prior franchises, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly made remarks in September 2023 that the league was open to returning to Atlanta, stating that past challenges the league had faced in Atlanta could be overcome, noting that the demographics of the Atlanta metropolitan area had changed significantly since the Thrashers' departure.[1] Daly also stated that arena location would be a factor towards the success of any potential Atlanta franchise, as State Farm Arena, the former home arena of the Thrashers, had undergone major renovations that make it no longer suitable to host an NHL franchise long term, stating that an arena in the northern suburbs, closer to the Thrashers' former fanbase, would provide a better chance for long-term success. As of March 2024, there are two separate groups vying for a third Atlanta NHL franchise, with both parties planning to build an NHL-sized arena as part of a larger mixed-use development in or near Alpharetta.[2]
On April 17, 2023, Krause Sports & Entertainment, led by Atlanta businessman Vernon Krause, announced plans to build The Gathering at South Forsyth, which is planned to be built on an undeveloped 100-acre (40 ha) tract near the Forsyth–Fulton County line.[3] In late March 2024, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved subsidies of up to $250 million towards construction under the stipulation that Krause's group secures an NHL team for the proposed arena.[4] In the November 2024 general elections, residents of Forsyth County voted 56–44 in favor of granting the county redevelopment powers over The Gathering at South Forsyth, creating a tax allocation district to repay the county's bonds towards the project.[5] In a special session held on June 11, 2025, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners gave their final approval for the development plans for The Gathering at South Forsyth, allowing Krause to make his presentation to the NHL for expansion; however, the league is unlikely to consider expansion until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached with the players' union before the end of the 2025–26 NHL season.[6][7]
In March 2024, Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment (ASE), headed by former NHL player Anson Carter, who has lived in the Atlanta metropolitan area since retiring in 2008, unveiled a competing bid.[8][9] ASE plans to redevelop the North Point Mall site, located six miles (10 km) south of The Gathering at South Forsyth site, with the support of the mall's current owner, New York Life Insurance Company. The proposed arena would be designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.[10] In early May 2025, the city of Alpharetta's Convention and Visitors Bureau and ASE approved jointly funding a feasibility study, commissioning sports consulting firm CAA ICON, to see if the city could support an NHL franchise and if redeveloping the North Point Mall makes financial sense.[11][12] The ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators, of which Carter is a minority owner,[13] have also played at Gas South Arena in nearby Duluth since 2003.[14]
In January 2026, The NHL awarded an expansion team to Cody Taylor for the City of Atlanta. Taylor initially decided to purchase the ECHL club with the intent of bringing them into the NHL as an expansion team the following season. Taylor had planned to have the team play in his own new arena in Atlanta, but ultimately convinced both group applicants to merge their arena plans to help the new franchise succeed onto those presences. Taylor renamed the club to the Georgia Laxers. This was done in an attempt to appeal to fans from all over the Greater Atlanta Area, and to address complaints from the Trump Administration that Atlanta was not considered a major league city for ice hockey and that it would not be a draw for fans. A month later, Taylor officially brought the Laxers into the NHL as an expansion team. The team participated with the other three expansion teams in the 2026 NHL expansion draft.
References
- ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (September 12, 2023). "NHL open to another expansion franchise in Atlanta". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ Newberry, Paul (March 12, 2024). "Atlanta has lost two NHL teams. Former player Anson Carter leads one of two groups seeking a third". Associated Press. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ "Planned Forsyth County development could feature 750,000-square-foot arena". Atlanta News First. April 17, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ↑ Green, Josh (March 27, 2024). "Forsyth County's NHL-bait megaproject encounters turbulence". Urbanize Atlanta. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ↑ Skinner, Joshua (November 6, 2024). "Forsyth County voters approve tax allocation to pay for new arena". Atlanta News First. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ↑ Martin, Maria (May 7, 2025). "Vernon Krause's NHL dream: Third time the charm for Atlanta expansion?". WXIA-TV. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Forsyth County approves plan for $3B mixed-use development with arena meant to attract NHL team". Atlanta News First. June 12, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ↑ Gentille, Sean (March 12, 2024). "Former player Anson Carter, investors formally request NHL expansion to Atlanta". The Athletic. NY Times. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ↑ Montgomery, Madeline (March 12, 2024). "Alpharetta wants to bring NHL franchise back to metro Atlanta". Atlanta News First. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ↑ Martin, Maria (March 12, 2024). "Group makes formal move to bring NHL expansion team to metro Atlanta—Here's where they want it". WXIA-TV. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Alpharetta approves study to look into bringing professional hockey to North Point mall site". WSB-TV. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ↑ "Alpharetta mayor wants North Point 'best place in the state' to host pro hockey". WSB-TV. April 23, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ↑ "BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPROVES TRANSFER OF CONTROLLING INTEREST IN ATLANTA" (Press release). ECHL. October 19, 2022.
- ↑ Darnell, Tim (May 13, 2025). "Atlanta's past NHL failures won't affect city's odds of returning to league, commissioner says". Atlanta News First. WANF-TV. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
