Dublin Core
Title
Box 19, Folder 15, Document 38
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
June 1, 1966
The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor, City of Atlanta
City Hall
Atlanta, Georgia
Dear Mayor Allen:
I have spent the last two evenings out at our Stadium watching our Rraves,
The nights were not exactly the Braves' nights, nor the fans‘ They were,
however, evenings of exciting baseball for baseball fans.
Almost every old—line major league city has had to experience seasons of
ups and downs, and yet they have managed to sustain their support for
their teams; sunnort in the form of adulating paid attendance at aames.
The results are evident where a team has not been supported; the team
moves out of town, as was the case of Milwaukee.
I was extremelv disturbed to see so many people leaving so early during
the game and the drop off in attendance Tuesday nicht over Monday evenina.
Most disturbing were comments such as, "They ought to go back to Milwaukee,
if Milwaukee will take them back.'"' I also hear comments to the effect that
Atlanta is a football town and will never support a losing baseball team.
We are a major league city at this noint only to the point that we now have
a major league team. We will be a major leaque baseball city in fact and
deed when the Braves are given real support. Everybody loves a winner, but
even winners have to lose sometimes, and at times even for long stretches.
Pro and con opinions about Bragan and individual players are healthy and
are a part of spectator sports, but fickleness can only go so far. The
verv worst thing that could happen is having the Braves win a penant in
their first year here. All that can happen after that is for the team to
stay status quo or go down.
I think that news media have done a fairly good job of promoting the Braves,
but more is needed. The civic leaders who helped brina the Rraves to us
have to maintain and radiate their enthusiasm. Unfortunately, Atlanta
does not have New York's sense of humor that has more than sustained the
Mets through several dark years.
DISTRIBUTOR OF ®
Mavbe we ought to start opening up our somewhat starched collars and
introduce more showmanship into activities at the Stadium. Atlanta is
a potpourri of people from all over the country. Why not have "New
Yorkers' Night" when the Mets are here, and Philadelphia night when the
Phillies are here, etc. We don't have to qo to quite the extremes of
Bill Veeck, (or do we?) but more color would add to the fun. Anyway,
you have to agree that baseball is always good, but we need the fans
out there during good times and not so good times.
Let's make each and every Brave feel as big in Atlanta, as biq as Atlanta
now feels that it is in the world of sports.
Cordially,
SECOM SYSTEMS, INC.
a None fol
Joseph B. Hinetfeld
President
JBH/ms
CC: Mr. John Mc Hale
President
Atlanta Braves Baseball Club
Atlanta Stadium
521 Capitol Ave., S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia
The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor, City of Atlanta
City Hall
Atlanta, Georgia
Dear Mayor Allen:
I have spent the last two evenings out at our Stadium watching our Rraves,
The nights were not exactly the Braves' nights, nor the fans‘ They were,
however, evenings of exciting baseball for baseball fans.
Almost every old—line major league city has had to experience seasons of
ups and downs, and yet they have managed to sustain their support for
their teams; sunnort in the form of adulating paid attendance at aames.
The results are evident where a team has not been supported; the team
moves out of town, as was the case of Milwaukee.
I was extremelv disturbed to see so many people leaving so early during
the game and the drop off in attendance Tuesday nicht over Monday evenina.
Most disturbing were comments such as, "They ought to go back to Milwaukee,
if Milwaukee will take them back.'"' I also hear comments to the effect that
Atlanta is a football town and will never support a losing baseball team.
We are a major league city at this noint only to the point that we now have
a major league team. We will be a major leaque baseball city in fact and
deed when the Braves are given real support. Everybody loves a winner, but
even winners have to lose sometimes, and at times even for long stretches.
Pro and con opinions about Bragan and individual players are healthy and
are a part of spectator sports, but fickleness can only go so far. The
verv worst thing that could happen is having the Braves win a penant in
their first year here. All that can happen after that is for the team to
stay status quo or go down.
I think that news media have done a fairly good job of promoting the Braves,
but more is needed. The civic leaders who helped brina the Rraves to us
have to maintain and radiate their enthusiasm. Unfortunately, Atlanta
does not have New York's sense of humor that has more than sustained the
Mets through several dark years.
DISTRIBUTOR OF ®
Mavbe we ought to start opening up our somewhat starched collars and
introduce more showmanship into activities at the Stadium. Atlanta is
a potpourri of people from all over the country. Why not have "New
Yorkers' Night" when the Mets are here, and Philadelphia night when the
Phillies are here, etc. We don't have to qo to quite the extremes of
Bill Veeck, (or do we?) but more color would add to the fun. Anyway,
you have to agree that baseball is always good, but we need the fans
out there during good times and not so good times.
Let's make each and every Brave feel as big in Atlanta, as biq as Atlanta
now feels that it is in the world of sports.
Cordially,
SECOM SYSTEMS, INC.
a None fol
Joseph B. Hinetfeld
President
JBH/ms
CC: Mr. John Mc Hale
President
Atlanta Braves Baseball Club
Atlanta Stadium
521 Capitol Ave., S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia
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