Atlanta Makes Its Pro Football Choice

Our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day comes from the July 1, 1965, edition of the Atlanta Constitution, when they described in print:

Atlanta Selects NFL After Rankin Smith is Awarded Franchise: AFL Bows Out As Lease is Granted at $9 Million

The Atlanta franchise that would soon be called the Falcons was officially opening up shop. Original franchise owner Rankin Smith was offered to become an NFL expansion team to help prevent him from starting his club in the rival AFL. The AFL aggressively pursued to get a team in the Atlanta market as they staged two pre-season tilts in the city in 1962 to attract interest. The big battle was on who could secure a lease with the Atlanta Stadium Authority.

The article suggests that the Stadium Authority ultimately chose which of the rival Leagues would play in Atlanta. Commissioner Pete Rozelle personally flew to the Georgia city and urged the authorities in Atlanta to decide between the two leagues, and eventually, the NFL was chosen. The brand-new 57,000-seat stadium had just been built at a price tag of $18 million, and now half of its cost would be covered by the new Rankin franchise. This was son after the Milwaukee Braves had moved to Atlanta too. 1966 would indeed be a banner year for sports fans in that area!