Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has known as a big fan of local sports teams throughout his time in office, but over all the teams and all the seasons he’s witnessed from City Hall, there hasn’t been anything quite like these Falcons.
Careful not to jinx the team as it prepares to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52, Reed was cautiously optimistic about their chances and even gave a teaser as to what celebrations might be in order. He told reporters last week, “The bottom line is we can definitely host a parade. I do have a route in mind. We’re not going to be premature. We’re not going to distract from the hard work the players are doing. We’re just going to be humble and supportive. We’re just going to root and be passionate about our team. We’re not going to prejudge anything. We’re going to let all our talking be done in Houston.”
The parade would likely take place on the Tuesday following the game, and if similar events are any indication it could be a truly historical event for the city of Atlanta. An estimated 1 million Broncos fans took to the streets of Denver following their Super Bowl win last year, a shocking number that essentially shut down the city as an entire fan-base came together in celebration. Reed, for his part, undoubtedly has more than a “route in mind” for a parade that could bring a million+ championship-starved Atlantans into the heart of his city.
As exciting as that sounds though, first things first – the game itself. Many local fans unable to shell out the $3,000 minimum it will take to see the Super Bowl in Houston have urged the Falcons to show the game from inside the Georgia Dome itself. On Tuesday Reed himself echoed that sentiment, saying he’d support the plan and look into making it happen.
Atl Mayor Kasim Reed said he’s working on a plan to open the Ga Dome Super Bowl Sunday for Falcon fans #RiseUp #AtlantaFalcons @KasimReed pic.twitter.com/qNS718ZQGB
— HometeamBrandonLeak (@Hometeam_BLeak) January 24, 2017
Don’t make plans for one last dance in the Dome yet though. The NFL has held firm in not wanting to open away stadiums for Super Bowl viewing parties, pointing to their lucrative contracts with television providers that wouldn’t be overly pleased with the notion of letting 20 or 30 thousand fans watch the game on a single big screen.
