Atlanta leaders confident Falcons will rise again after stunning defeat

February 6,2017

Source: Maria Saporta, Atlanta Business Chronicle

HOUSTON – Atlanta could taste the sweetness of victory….until the final few moments of the first Super Bowl overtime in history.

New England Patriots 34. Atlanta Falcons 28. Yet this loss was different from previous ones.

“We will be back,” proclaimed Paul Bowers, Georgia Power’s CEO who flew to Houston Sunday morning along with Gov. Nathan Deal and his wife Sandra among others before flying back to Atlanta Sunday night.

Atlanta’s top leaders quickly exited NRG stadium. Owner Arthur Blank, known for taking losses to heart, slipped out shortly after the end of the game without talking to the media. So did the other minority owners – John Williams and Doug Hertz to name a couple.

“The energy this season brought to the city is something that will be contagious,” Bowers said. “We are the home of NFC champions and just played one of the all-time classics in Super Bowl history!”

It was a sentiment shared by all.

“ As devastating as this loss is, I have faith the Falcons will rise again from the ashes,” said Wonya Lucas, the Public Broadcasting Atlanta executive who got Super Bowl tickets in a lottery so she was able to attend with her beau – William Taggart, chief operating officer for Morehouse College. “The Atlanta spirit is strong.”

Read the complete article at the link above.