Keisha Lance Bottoms Could Cost Atlanta Its Third Chance at an NHL Franchise

Sep 22, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) comes off the ice after their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn ImagesATLANTA — Atlanta hockey fans have waited long enough.After losing the Flames and Thrashers, metro Atlanta finally has another opportunity to attract an NHL franchise. Multiple development groups are pursuing arena projects, and the league has acknowledged growing interest in the market.But getting professional hockey back will require enormous private investment.The NHL reportedly expects prospective ownership groups to demonstrate at least $2 billion in financial resources. A new arena could cost more than $1 billion.That makes Georgia’s business climate particularly important.Keisha Lance Bottoms has proposed pausing new data center construction while reassessing the economic and community impact of those projects.Her proposal is not an NHL policy. However, it raises a broader question about whether Georgia will continue aggressively competing for major private investment.Sports ownership groups need confidence that their projects can move forward. They need predictable regulations, infrastructure and a state government interested in attracting major developments.Atlanta cannot afford another failed hockey experiment.Bottoms should explain how her economic agenda would support the kind of private investment necessary to bring the NHL back.Georgia has another opportunity. It should not make the business environment an additional obstacle.