The man behind the Five Stripes is getting some well-deserved praise. Team owner Arthur Blank has been named by Forbes Magazine as one of “The World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds,” as part of the magazine’s centennial issue.
Blank originally made his name as the co-founder of hardware giant The Home Depot, and is now internationally recognized for his diverse business portfolio, contributions to professional sports and philanthropic work. His portfolio includes Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons, the PGA Superstore, the Arthur Blank Family Foundation, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, West Creek Ranch and AMB Group. His accomplishments earned him a spot in Sports Business Journal’s list of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports 2016.
The Forbes list includes the biggest names in business, with Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos and more joining Blank on the list. “Uncle Arthur” as he’s known to soccer fans in Atlanta, is guided by his commitment to organizational core values including treating associates with respect and giving back to the community. Those guiding values have paid dividends on and off the field. Under Blanks’ ownership, the Atlanta Falcons are top contenders in the NFL and his MLS franchise Atlanta United has become perhaps the biggest story in American sports in its first year, selling out every game and setting an MLS single-game attendance record. In addition, the Blank Family Foundation has contributed more than $300 million to philanthropic causes.
Explaining his business philosophy, Blank told the magazine, “if you have the humility to listen to other people rather than just hawking stuff, you’re going to have a lot of customers. Too many businesspeople have big egos and aren’t willing to ask.”
That idea has been enshrined in the latest addition to the Atlanta skyline, the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. The stadium encapsulates Blank’s commitment to his associates, customers and guests; it is a one-of-a-kind multi-purpose venue with unparalleled technology that provides the best fan experience in sports, including the most fan-friendly concession prices in the world.
Arthur Blank’s contributions to the city of Atlanta are as numerous as they are diverse. His inclusion to this list is a testament to the core values that define Atlanta United and the entire Blank Family of Businesses.
