Georgia is the home state of several notable musicians and actors. You can’t go wrong at many of the restaurants down there, either. One major detail the residents are more passionate about than almost everything else is their sports teams. Sports can be a huge reflection of an entire state, and Georgia teams embrace that concept with class. Georgia is a working-class destination where people aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty when need be. (Click here to meet the 10 greatest musicians from Georgia.)
Something odd about Georgia is that they don’t have all four major sports teams in their state. They did for a long time, but when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, all of that changed. Atlanta offers a huge television market, so it’s safe to assume any team looking for a new home would consider moving there. However, it isn’t the time to dwell on the past teams who have been in Georgia. Instead, we want to celebrate who’s presently there – and thriving.
For this article, 24/7 Tempo consulted many different sports-centered sources to narrow down the most popular Georgia sports teams. These sites include MLB.com, NBA.com, and NFL.com.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves were one of America’s teams in the 1990s. Going to the World Series five times in the decade will help your popularity rise. It’s surprising they were only able to win one of those championships, though. These days, the team is led by superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson.
In 2021, the team went on to win the World Series again against the Houston Astros, a team with some interesting history in their own right. The Braves are one of the most popular teams to follow thanks to how eccentric they are. They play with such joy and look to love coming to the ballpark, something a lot of teams don’t have.
The Braves play their home games at Truist Park. They’re one of the oldest professional sports franchises in the entire world. Traces can be found all the way back to 1871, when baseball was in its infancy. Anyone who lives in Atlanta will tell you how great Braves games are. Whenever they’re doing well, the sport of baseball seems to be doing well.
Atlanta Hawks
Even though they haven’t won a championship since 1958, the Atlanta Hawks know how to bring out a crowd and put on a show. Dominique Wilkins, one of the greatest basketball players in history, is known for his time in Atlanta. His highlight reel dunks earned him the nickname “The Human Highlight Reel.”
These days, the team is led by Trae Young, one of the best point guards in the game. The Hawks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, only to lose to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Even though they came up just short, the Hawks are heading back to the days where they were known as one of the few championship contenders in the league.
You can catch a Hawks game at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. Make sure you’re always on the lookout for any celebrities when you’re there, as Hawks games are one of the most popular shows in town.
Atlanta Falcons
Sports lovers know what happened in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. The Falcons were up 28-3 with around 3 minutes left in the third quarter. Even though the team looked like they were going to ease their way to the Super Bowl, that isn’t how sports works.
The Patriots were able to mount a massive comeback, one of the most impressive in all of sports, given what was at stake. Ever since then, the Falcons have been trying to find their footing. It’s hard to lose in such a brutal fashion and bounce right back. One way the Falcons are trying to do that is by hiring Arthur Smith. While you might not recognize his name, he’s known for his dad being the founder and CEO of FedEx.
Back in the day, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing a Michael Vick Falcons jersey. The Falcons play their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. This stadium has been the host of many Super Bowls over the years, thanks to the fact that it’s an enclosed dome. The Falcons are heading back to where they once were not too long ago, as one of the best franchises in the NFL.
Georgia Bulldogs
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 16: Devlin Hodges #8 of the Samford Bulldogs recovers his own fumbled snap against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
College football is king in the South, and the Georgia Bulldogs are no different. It’s easy to root for a team that’s been so successful. The Bulldogs won back to back National Championships in 2022 and 2023, both with undefeated seasons. Saturdays are truly meant for kicking back and watching some football.
The fact that high school football is so big in Georgia is part of the reason why so the Bulldogs are so good. Lots of players want to stay close to home so their friends and family can continue to get to watch them play. These days, with NIL money, college athletes are also able to profit, even though they’re still in college.
This was a long time coming, as many people don’t realize how hard being a student-athlete is. If you don’t have a full scholarship, it’s not unheard of to have a 20 hour day. This included school, practice, diet, tutoring, watching film to prepare, and having a job in order to survive. The Bulldogs play their home games at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. The football craze is deep in Georgia and will always be there, no matter how the Bulldogs and Falcons are doing.
The Masters Golf Tournament
Golf is a solo sport, which means each individual player represents his own team. There are golf tournaments all around the world, but there’s nothing that truly compares to The Masters. Every April, Augusta National Golf Course welcomes in the best golfers in the world to tee it up. This tournament is widely considered to be the Holy Grail of golf tournaments to win.
People like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicholas are just some of the names of previous winners. You can also find some of the most iconic golf moments and highlights from The Masters. Tigers’ now famous fist pump with his red polo is one of the greatest highlights in all of golf. While the prize money is life changing, many would argue the best part about winning The Masters is the green jacket that comes with it.
This is one of the most unique prizes in all of sports. The start of the tournament is widely associated with the start of spring time for a lot of people around the world. Going to Augusta National for this tournament is on every sports fan’s bucket list, no matter who they are.
Atlanta Dream
Basketball is always going to be the second most popular sport in Georgia. The WNBA saw this and quickly jumped on the opportunity to add a team in Georgia in 2008. Thus, the Atlanta Dream were born. Even though they haven’t fully won a championship quite yet, the Dream have still been to three separate WNBA Finals series.
Women’s basketball has really taken off over the last couple of years, especially with the rise in popularity of the college game. There are now a lot more faces to see and follow from an earlier point, a huge benefit for the Dream. They play their home games at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, a suburb of Atlanta.
Georgia has some of the best sports teams and tournaments around town. It’s only a matter of time for them to start adding more championships to their collection. Click here to read more about 21 of the greatest sports teams to disappear.