SPEAKING OF Arthur M. Blank

“When they were selecting partners for the new stadium, Arthur never wanted to hear about what had been done before. He wanted to hear about things that were different and would be game changing. … The majority of owners in pro sports make decisions only on revenue. Arthur chose brands that fit best to elevate the stature of his facility and teams. Arthur has more empathy for his fans and his community than any other owner I’ve ever come across.”

— RANDY BERNSTEIN, Playfly Premier Partnerships, which sold many of the original sponsorships at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

“Mr. Blank is an individual who hasn’t forgotten where he came from. He hadn’t forgotten about his community. He wants to help other people live a good, quality life. … I’ve seen his journey and I understand it. I can take things that he may not have said to me, but I can observe and see his actions. He’s been an individual that just lets his action speak, and those are the things I take from him.”

— WARRICK DUNN, Falcons limited partner and Falcons running back, 2002-07

“He is a mensch. I have the utmost respect for what he’s done with the Falcons and established the United — textbook on how to start a new franchise. He understands that Atlanta is a transplants city, not a transient city. So he successfully went after the next generation of fans, including multicultural. His local philanthropy has been just as impressive. He will leave this city much better than he found it, which is the mark of a great man.”

— ANDREW SALTZMAN, Atlanta Hawks EVP/CRO, who formerly worked at a radio station that had Falcons radio rights