Akilah Washington, Account Executive
Posted by: Akilah Washington, Friday, November 14, 9:19 AM ET
Hey Atlanta Dream Fans!
It’s your favorite Account Executive Akilah checking in! Wow it’s November already and boy the saying “time flies” is so true when I take a look back at this year. It seems like it was just yesterday I was walking into the Westin Hotel conference room and being introduced to those famous Chick Fil-A biscuits and sharing that money making phone with the other six people trying to ring the bell. We have come a long way and I must say I have had a great time during our journey. This past summer was full of excitement, uncertainty and most of all fun with the wonderful fans we captured along the way.
I still remember May 23, 2008… walking into Philips Arena and looking around just happy to be there and ready for tip-off. A sellout crowd was our reward for the long hours we had put in for the previous six months. My family was in attendance, all 25 of them. Yes they did travel all the way from Detroit to join us in our Inaugural game. They really enjoyed themselves, and became cheering machines, after I had to threaten to put them in the 300 level (yeah it wasn’t open) if they cheered for the Shock at all. They got the hint pretty quickly! J But we all had a blast, and although we lost that game and quite a few more after that, we had an AWESOME year.
So with the offseason here, it has been pretty quiet around here! We are working on those renewals (if you haven’t renewed we will be calling you J) and on our new season ticket sales. We want to get the whole City of Atlanta on board! So call us up if you don’t have your tickets and we will take care of you! With the holidays approaching, it could be a great gift for the kids. By the way, I am going back to Detroit for Christmas, and although there may be inches of snow on the ground, I’m so happy and ready to be OUT!!! Until next time… don’t forget to send me those referrals (404-954-6662)!
Talk to ya soon,
Akilah
Jacquie Tatman, Customer Service Coordinator: The Atlanta Dream Family
Posted by: Jacquie Tatman, Friday, November 7, 4:08 PM ET
I’d like to share a little story with y’all about something that happened recently at the office… this just shows you how much like a family we really are!
If you’re not in Atlanta, or don’t remember, last week was cold. Tuesday particularly was really cold. The high was only 50, but it felt a lot colder with the wind chill!
We’ve been pretty busy in the sales office with all the last minute renewals coming it (please keep them coming!) so I was looking forward to my lunch break. Take some time to relax, maybe read some celebrity gossip, play a little Sudoku or Mahjong, but just as I finished my sandwich, in walks Sarah (our game entertainment director) and asks “Does anyone know how to change a tire?” Luckily for me (or Sarah) my dad took the time to show me how to change a tire when I started driving. So I chime in “I do!” Christopher (Stephens) also said he knew how. Next thing I know Chris, Sarah and I are heading down the stairs to go fix her flat tire. On the way down we run into Ken and he joins the entourage.
So here we are, out in the parking deck on a cold windy day helping and teaching Sarah how to change her tire. Between the four of us, it didn’t take long and we all got to learn a little bit more about each other. This isn’t exactly how I planned on spending my lunch break but sometimes there are more important things than finding out who’s going to be kicked off Dancing with the Stars. (By the way, anyone else glad Cloris is finally gone?)
I wanted to share this with y’all because I think it says a lot about the people that we having working here at the Dream. And I’ve been in the situation Sarah was in before, and I stood in the parking lot struggling to change my own tire while nearly half the office drove right past me to head home and not one person stopped to help. I think we have an outstanding group of individuals working in the front office and while we may not be the ones you watch on the floor at Philips, we’re still a team!
Chris Stephens, Account Executive/Club 13 Coordinator: Join Club 13
Posted by: Christopher Stephens Friday, October 31, 2:30 PM ET
Hello Atlanta Dream Fans,
It’s Christopher Stephens checking in from the sales room.
I was very glad to experience the first year of the Atlanta Dream as an Account Executive. For the 2009 season, I am looking forward to my new position as Club 13 Coordinator. I am really excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with our most dedicated fans as we team up to expose more people to the Atlanta Dream experience. Our Club 13 program will reward each member for doing the thing they love– talking about the Dream!
Our Club 13 members will soon come together to “Tip-Off” our 2009 sales season. We will share our 2008 experiences, meet members of the Atlanta Dream staff, and learn more about selling the Dream. I will be sharing the awesome 2009 rewards that can be obtained, including exclusive merchandise and a road trip with the team. Last year, four Club 13 members and their guests were able to travel to New York with the team, and I look forward to taking even more members on the 2009 road trip!
By now, I’m sure you are interested in knowing more about our Club13 program, so give me a call at 404.954.6658. That’s my direct line in the office and I look forward to telling you all about the program and my role.
Renew your seats and purchase more,
Christopher Stephens
Jonathan Merritt, Account Executive: Reflections on 2008
Posted by: Jonathan, Friday, October 3, 11:50 AM ET
Hey Dream fans,
This is Jonathan Merritt, an Account Executive with the Atlanta Dream. Now that the season is over I sit back and reflect on what was an exciting, eventful, painful but promising season… I can only smile. I think about the struggles that the Detroit Shock went through in their expansion year, where they are today. A “powerhouse” in the WNBA and that’s why I smile. I also smile because, with the players that we have returning, the players that we have already on the roster who were unable to play and the draft picks in the upcoming draft I can see a bright future.
To get ready for that bright future, I have been building the necessary relationships to have an energetic and packed house for the Atlanta Dream in 09’ and years to come. Throughout my relationship building I have found that some people in the city of Atlanta have not even come out to a game for various reasons. All I can say is that if we get you to one game, you are hooked.
My best friends, who by the way, use to say “man I wouldn’t be caught dead at a WNBA game.” They finally came out, and the fish hook got caught in their mouths. They came back to the final 10 home games and now they find themselves a little lost without any more games to attend till next year. My wife and my in-laws can also contest to the fish hook being caught in the mouths. They are not big sports fans and to get them to one game was a chore in itself, but I got them out to opening night and because of how fun the games were, they came back to 16 out of 18 games this year.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the season ticket holders and Atlanta Dream fans for making this a special year for us. I can only look forward to the day we can all sit back and have the same smile I had after this year, with the hoisting of the WNBA trophy. Until then…………………………………………………………
Peace up A town down!
Sarah Davis, Director of Game Entertainment: Truly Behind The Scenes
Posted by: Sarah, Thursday, October 2, 5:10 PM ET
I can’t believe the FIRST EVER Atlanta Dream season is over! What an amazing ride 2008 has been! My name is Sarah Davis and I by far have the coolest job at the Atlanta Dream and in the WNBA! I am the Director of Game Entertainment, which basically means I create and produce everything that happens in the Arena except the actual basketball…although, I do try to influence the play as much as possible through music and getting you guys, the FANS, and the players pumped up! I have to say that the Dream fans are THA BOMB! We have, by far, the BEST fans in Atlanta! You guys stuck with us and cheered the whole time! It has been an honor to get to work with such amazing fans, so a big heartfelt THANKS YOU from the Entertainment staff!!!
You might not know, but A LOT of planning and rehearsal goes into creating a WNBA game. We script out every second of the game from the moment the doors open to the moment the players leave the floor! I spend the majority of my time researching and thinking of creative ways to entertain you guys, the fans, from on-court contests, video elements, and using talent like mascots and entertainers! I do have the distinct pleasure of overseeing all of our talent, which includes the Shooting Stars Cheer and Dance Team, our Mascot Star, CJ the Dream MC, and Vince the “Voice of the Dream!” I must say that we have the best talent group in the WNBA! We have compiled an extremely talented and spirited group of men and women that help keep the fans engaged and entertained! I feel so fortunate to have access to all the amazing local Atlanta talent…we really do live and work in a great city!
The Shooting Stars have quickly emerged as one of the best squads in the city after only being together for six months. I credit the best Cheer and Dance Coordinator in Atlanta, Brandi Nunnally, for compiling such a talented, awesome bunch and teaching all of those fun routines! I also have to give props to my girl CJ, who is the most professional MC I have ever worked with! She is flawless and fun and the biggest Dream fan you will find! I can’t forget the PA Announcer Vince, who has an amazing voice and energy! The biggest shout-out I have to give is to my staff, who are all of those people in the polos and headsets running around like crazy during the game. We produce one of the best and cleanest shows in the league and I give all the credit to my awesome staff!
So, during the off-season I spend a lot of time researching what other teams did well from all different leagues, trying to find new fun ways to make sure the fans have a great time at the games, no matter the outcome…(although, I have a feeling we are going to be celebrating a lot more wins next year!) I am always open to suggestions and love feedback, so feel free to shoot me an email at sarah.davis@atlantadream.net I am so excited to have an off-season to be able to plan and make 2009 even better! I do have to commend the Dream Front Office for pulling off an amazing Inaugural year, especially the sales staff who kept the building full for me to entertain! Thanks again for being the best fans in Atlanta and I look forward to making you laugh, scream, and cheer on the Dream to victory at Philips Arena in 2009! with any ideas!
CJ Blogs for Behind The Scenes
Posted by: CJ, Monday, September 29, 12:30 PM ET
CJ
Hey there! First let me start out by saying being a part of the Atlanta Dream has been a dream in itself for me! I am one of the hosts of Murph Dawg and CJ in the Morning on 95.5 the Beat and being the “Dream MC” this season was a great opportunity for me. I am able to connect with listeners on the radio on a day to day basis on 95.5 the Beat, but being a part of the Dream is a different experience. On the radio I am able to talk and have fun with the listeners but it is not like being face to face with the fans at the Atlanta Dream games! When I first heard that Atlanta was getting a WNBA team I was so excited! See I grew up playing basketball and it will always be a passion of mine. So I was like “Yes, I will be at every game!” That was not knowing that I would be at every game not as a fan but as the “Dream MC.” I found out that there was a possible opportunity with the Atlanta Dream when I met Tonya Alleyne, the Vice President of Media Relations. Tonya then introduced me to the Director of Game Entertainment, now my Dream boss, Sarah Davis! I had to do some begging and pleading to Sarah (LOL) and then I became your “Dream MC.” I have been able to meet new people, make new friends and most of all realize that the Atlanta Dream fans are the best fans in Atlanta, let alone the country!
CJ Hosting an on-court contest with two lucky Dream fans.
This season has been so incredible! I have been to Atlanta Falcons games, Atlanta Hawks games, Atlanta Braves games and Atlanta Thrashers games and there are no fans like our Atlanta Dream fans! From the very first game I knew our fans were different!! The atmosphere of the games is awesome because of how much fun the fans have. I love meeting new people and contestants because everyone is so nice to me each and every game! The love the fans have for our team is unbelievable. I just love seeing that kind of support for our Atlanta Dream players! Although I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off during most games, the fans seem to help me stay calm, cool and collected! For example, after the uniform race one game I had to run to the other side of the arena for my Marta trivia challenge and ended up making it just in time for the timeout called. I then fell through the seat as the camera was coming to me. I was so embarrassed but the contestant (still remember her name- Mesha) helped me up and helped me get it together! Big shout out to Mesha and all the fans this season that actually helped me do my job! Although the Atlanta Dream had a rough start, the fans stuck around for each and every game and that says a lot!!
CJ Chillin with Star
As the “Dream MC” I have had the chance to meet the wonderful players that make up the Atlanta Dream team! I have to say our Atlanta Dream has the best personality ever! Each and every player is special, unique, talented and I could go on and on, but I will just say I LOVE THEM! They have been extremely supportive of me and really made me feel like I was a part of the team! Growing up I was a bit obsessed with the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program. I went to every basketball camp from when I was 9 to 16 years old so I am a bit partial to Ivory Latta! I was so excited to find out she was going to be a part of the Dream Team. I followed her career while she played at UNC and meeting her in person and being able to work with her has proven to me that she is an even better person than basketball player. These women who make up are Atlanta Dream team are truly special women! I feel like as a team the Atlanta Dream has grown so much over this season. They have been able to build chemistry and a bond that will definitely be useful next season. I can’t wait until the 2009 season! It’s going to be off the chain!!! Let’s go DREAM!
We Did It!
Posted by: Tammie Jenkins, Thursday, September 11, 2:10 p.m. ET
Hello Dream Fans,
We did it! My name is Tammie Jenkins and I am the Executive Assistant for Business Operations here at the Atlanta Dream. I began with the corporate team at the beginning of the season and I am glad I did. Besides the fact that I love basketball, I can truly say that “we” equals corporate staff, players and our loyal, enthusiastic, and supportive fans. We could not have done it without each other and guess what? WE DID IT!
I know often times this season there was frustration about the stats but what was and still is so important is that we all stayed positive and never gave up. For this exact reason I know and I’m sure you know too that 2009 is going to be a Dream come true! Now is this to say we are headed for the championship- maybe! Does it mean we will win every game- maybe! But what it means for certain is that we are prepared to give 110%. With this attitude and drive nothing can stand in our way. It was so much fun watching our team play and fight until the end. Oh and when we won our first game how awesome was that!!!!! Next season will be our second year and we will still be making history.
With that said I know you all are just as excited about the 2009 season as we were about the successful inaugural season. Be sure to secure your season tickets for 2009 and take advantage of the opportunity to sit as close to the action as possible. Our team was dynamic this year and will just get better. Give us a call at 404-604-2626 to find out more about selecting* your seat for all home games for 2009.
Before I go I’d like to say, “Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you. (William James)
LETS GO DREAM….I LIKE THE DREAM..I LIKE THE DREAM…DO YOU LIKE THE DREAM…Call us today!
*Seat Selection based on availability.
Kathy’s Behind The Scenes Blog
Posted by: Kathy Langenfeld, Thursday, September 04, 5:40 p.m. ET
Hello Dream Fans,
My name is Kathy Langenfeld and I am an Account Executive with the Atlanta Dream. As a relative “newbie,” to the Atlanta Dream staff, I get the amazing opportunity to learn something new about the Dream and the Atlanta area on a daily basis. So far, I’ve learned that Atlanta has the best fans in the WNBA and possibly the worst traffic, but that’s what GPS and maps are for!
My Dream career began back in early June and I have loved every single second of it. I have seen sell-outs (thank you fans!), great half-time performances, groups getting to go out on the court, etc. It makes me feel great because I have been able to be a part of some of those experiences for those fans. That’s what I do! I get to give people the opportunity to have those experiences. That’s what I sell–experiences. The biggest reward I could ever receive is the smile on someone’s face after they’ve gotten to experience something that they never thought they could. That makes my day! I also get to work with the greatest staff that make my job that much more enjoyable. I truly could not ask for more.
Well, back to work. It’s time to sell out the last game of the season on September 8th. The 2009 season is just around the corner and we are working hard to make it the best! I look forward to seeing you at a game and GO DREAM!!!!!
FILLMORE Seats
Posted by: Allison Fillmore, Friday, August 22, 3:20 p.m. ET
When I started back in November, I worked very closely with the league to get the team up and started. They joked around about my name, calling me Allison Fillmore seats. I laughed it off but the more I thought about it – that is my job – to fill more seats in Philips Arena.
And now it is August. Has it been 10 months already? My how time flies when you are having fun. Did I mention my job is fun? Heck ya it is! I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Why you ask? I will tell you.
Not many people get the chance to sell fun and that is what my staff and I do every day. We work hard to make sure that all of our customers have FUN! I haven’t met a fan yet that didn’t enjoy an Atlanta Dream game.
Since I have to live up to my last name because let’s face it, I am pretty much stuck with it, I had to put a great team on the sales floor. I am proud to say that I have the best sales staff in the league and that is because my staff is dedicated to you as a fan. Jimmelle, Eric, Akilah, Christopher, Jonathan M, Jonathan G and Kathy are here to make sure your experience is unforgettable, Jacquie handles our customer service and don’t forget about Ken, he makes sure you get your tickets to attend the games J
So make sure to stop by at the games and let us know how you think we are doing. We are here for you and want to make sure your experience is….well, you guessed it…FUN! Enjoy the rest of 2008 and get ready for an amazing 2009.
Gettin In Greer With the Dream
Posted by: Jonathan Greer, Friday, July 25, 4:30 p.m. ET
Hello Dream Fans,
My name is Jonathan Greer I am an Account Executive here with the WNBA Atlanta Dream. For those of you that have not yet made it out to an Atlanta Dream game, you do not know what an amazing experience you are missing out on. We are now seven games shy of completing our first season, which only leaves three remaining home games. I have to admit, prior to the Dream coming to Atlanta I did not follow much of the WNBA outside of the nationally televised games. I have really enjoyed the opportunity of being a part of such a historical part of Atlanta Sports history. I know our record is on e that you would find at the top of any standings in any division (or any sport), but by looking at the team we put on the floor night in and night out, I cannot help but to think we have great things awaiting us in years to come. Despite our 3-24 record I am a firm believer that chemistry cannot be built overnight. I like to relate it to a personal relationship, NORMALLY you don’t just meet someone and 2 months later you are married. It’s the same outlook with our team, the players, coaches and front office staff have to learn one another and cater to each other’s strengths to become that successful team we all rout for and support.
So to leave all of you sports fans out there who have not attended an Atlanta Dream game, take advantage of these last three games and attend one of them, because to criticize an event/game that you’ve never seen in person, makes for an invalid opinion.
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!
Ken’s Blog – Short, Sweet & To The Point
Posted by: Ken Sufferm, Friday, July 25, 4:30 p.m. ET
Hello Dream fans, my name is Ken, and I am responsible for the finished product whenever you receive tickets for one of our Atlanta Dream games.
Currently in Dream world, we are preparing for your tickets for next year. Yes, we have a long way to go and a new schedule to receive, which at this point is at some time off into the future. Currently I will work with Philips Arena creating what is known as our seating manifest, to get it ready for our 2009 WNBA season.
The highlight this week was our Kid’s Day game. We had over 10,000 screaming Dream fans in our stands.
Signing off, as I head to our game tonight against the Washington Mystic.
Dave’s First Attempt at Blogging
Posted by: Dave Biggar, Friday, July 18, 1:00 p.m. ET
Although I’m a Brit (seemingly the only one within the Dream organization) who’s worked for US sports & entertainment companies since the early nineties and had the good fortune to travel the length and breadth of this fabulous country, I must say that the people I’ve met in and around Atlanta are by far the friendliest bunch I’ve encountered.
From the moment I joined the Front Office mid-April, I’ve also been pleasantly surprised at the optimistic “can do, will do” enthusiasm of everyone from the Interns thru’ to the President.
Launching a new business is always tough. But launching a new business where your opposition is purposely doing whatever it can to ensure you don’t beat them is something else!
Now throw in a couple of issues including time constraints, player accessibility, and the current economic climate – and you’ve got a mountain to climb.
After starting ‘deep in the valley’, we’re collectively climbing that mountain and are convinced that we’ll reach the summit sooner rather than later.
But we need the most important element of any business…you, the customer.
Whether you’re an individual who’s purchased a single ticket or a business that’s invested in sponsorship, without your continued support we might as well stay at base camp. If there’s someone you know who should, could or would want to be part of the demonstrably successful newest addition to the WNBA, and the most diverse fan composition and highest percentage of female fans than any other professional sport, please don’t hesitate to ask them to get in touch.
So far you’ve been loud, proud, big n’ bold (especially during that first win in franchise history), let’s hope that together we can continue to climb that mountain, reach that summit, and shout “We did it!”
See you at the game!
Last Day on the Job for Dream Interns (Part II)
Posted by: Brandon Hamilton, Friday, July 11, 11:40 a.m. ET
Being an Intern here with the Atlanta Dream has really been a great experience for me. I have learned so much. When I got here with the other Interns, we had a goal of selling 300 tickets for the Kids Day game on July 22nd. I thought that it would be easy but it turned out to be harder than I thought. We had to make calls to different organizations, churches, summer camps, and other places. It became difficult selling tickets because a lot of people were just hearing about the Dream, or didn’t know who we were. Other circumstances made it difficult to sell tickets. Our main targets were summer camps. It was hard to sell tickets to them because they already had their schedules planned. Some summer camps just didn’t have the budget to buy all their children tickets. A lot of the tickets that the other Interns sold were to friends and family. Some tickets were easy to sell because there were some people that were very excited to see our new team. We didn’t reach our goal of 300 tickets, but we’re proud of all the hard work we did.
Besides the difficulty of selling tickets, other tasks that we did were very fun. We helped with game operations. We passed out stat sheets to fans that sat courtside. We got to see the players warm up, and their personalities off-court. The Dream players are some of the nicest women I have ever met. Not only that, but they care dearly for the community and all their fans.
Working in the office gave me a great chance to see what goes on when there is no game, and how the games become organized. All the people that I’ve gotten to meet in the office are funny and hardworking. They set great examples. They showed me that an office doesn’t have to be a boring work house like how they are portrayed on TV. They showed me that you can have a great time with your co-workers, while staying focused and getting the job done. Today is our last day, and I wish I could stay longer because working with the team and all the staff has grown on me. I will still attend the rest of the Dream’s games. I appreciate everyone that made this opportunity possible, and everyone that helped along the way.
Last Day on the Job for Dream Interns (Part I)
Posted by: Sherrisa Johnson, Friday, July 11, 11:25 a.m. ET
Well, today is my last day..
I am going to miss everyone in the office, Akilah, Jackie, Chris, Jonathan, and Jonathan..lol.., Eric, kathy, Tammy, Tamika, Allison, Kathleen, Kate, Brandon, Paul and ken..these are some of the friends that I have made during my experience. when i first started i was very scared because I didn’t think that anyone would talk to me or I would get to know anyone the way that i do now.. but now that i see it is so different.. I’m not ready to leave at all.
Jimmelle and I have become so close she is like a sister to me and I’m gonna miss her so much.. then there is Chaucy.. wow we have become closer than i expected… we did everything together.. walked together.. talked together..everything together she is like a new best friend.. then there is also Akilah.. she is so funny.. when we did the girl scouts thing we became close.. she is a very nice person and I’m gonna miss her..then there’s JJ… he called me smiles cause I smiled a lot and that just made me smile even harder… then there is Christopher.. he is so funny.. he is like a big kid in a grown mans body.. he kept me laughing.. I will miss him.. and Jackie.. she is so nice and sweet.. she is one of the nicest people in this office… I will miss her… then there is the other Jonathan.. he is funny and he kept me laughing.. good times… will miss dearly.. all these people are a new part of me and have thought me some things that I never knew and I have grown as a person just from these people. I will miss them dearly and i won’t forget them either.
then there comes the games… wow where do i start.. they were so much fun.. they thought me new things I got to see new faces and experience new things as well… my first game was scary because the people in the crowd were excited for the game and some of them were very rude.. it was a challenge but I enjoyed ever minute of it.. then there were all the people and friends that I met at the arena. they were nice like Mr. Moses and Edward… they worked in the media room.. they were very nice… Mr. Moses reminded me of my grandfather when he was alive and I told him that and I respected him a whole lot.. he taught me some lessons of life while I was there and I am thankful for it… i am going to miss everyone..
now when we were in the office sometimes I felt alone because the boys they had each other and i only had myself but I could always count on Jimmelle being there for me.. we had a competition on who could sell there tickets the fastest or who could sell the most of there tickets..it was between Brandon Rashad and I and of course I won.. Rashad came in last place because he didn’t sell any tickets and Brandon came in 2nd he sold one ticket and i sold almost 100 tickets I think… I was so happy.. my hard work paid off..I was so happy..
well I have gotten a lot out of this experience and i enjoyed every minute that i spent here and i will take this in as a lifelong lesson… thank you everyone for everything that you have taught me and i will miss you dearly..
I WILL MISS YOU AND GOD BLESS ~Sherrisa~
Club 13 Update
Posted by: Michele Beagle, Friday, July 11, 11:15 a.m. ET
Moving into new offices, launching of the team name, arrival of Ivory and Katie, draft day, announcement of mascot Star, arrival of other players, uniform unveiling, and the anticipation of the first home game are a few of the highlights of the past seven months which have been very exciting.
Club 13 has been very instrumental in the excitement. Many of Club 13 members were present at the launch, uniform unveiling, and have assisted with many ticket sales. Club 13 had a season ticket goal of 300 – and surpassed that goal with being responsible for 337 full season tickets sold.
Club 13 is a unique club. It consists of 131 amazing Dream Fans, who are our volunteer sales team. The members bring referrals and contacts to me to sell to. Once the sale is closed, the Club 13 member receives perks. These perks are for things such as: official jackets, seat upgrades, sitting on the bench during a warm up, an official watch, and a trip with the team, to just name a few. We have 3 Club 13 members who worked to the highest level and them and a guest will be traveling to New York with the DREAM team in September on a road trip.
As a group, Club 13 meets monthly at various places throughout the Atlanta area. The members enjoy the fellowship of other Dream Fans at the meetings as well as working to help build the fan base to the team in which they all love. One meeting that stands out is the meeting that Coach came and talked to everyone about the Draft. It was a great opportunity for Club 13 members to have time to talk to and ask questions to the entire coaching staff.
Club 13 is working hard now of working on selling group tickets for the remaining home games. If anyone has a group that would be interested in coming out to see a game, please contact me at Michele.beagle@atlantadream.net or 404-954-6646. We have some AWESOME FEP (fan experience packages) for groups that make it a great experience for those involved. These are experiences such as: autograph vouchers for after the game, being in a fan tunnel, part of a ceremonial ball exchange, or playing on the Atlanta Dream court prior to the game. We offer discounted tickets for group pricing that makes the Atlanta Dream games very affordable – the most affordable professional sporting event in the city of Atlanta.
Club 13 will be opening up registration for new members. Anyone interested in joining Club 13 and being a part of such an exciting group can email me directly at Michele.beagle@atlantadream.net.
For all of you out reading this who do not understand the phrases: “thundersticks”, “lets go Dream”, “Ivory Latta” or “Dream Ball” it simply means that you have not had the experience of coming out to one of the Atlanta Dream games and you truly need to. Please feel free to contact me 404-954-6646 I gladly assist you in getting your tickets to come out and support YOUR ATLANTA DREAM!
Let’s Go Dream!
Recovering from Opening Weekend… and Getting Fired up About the Rest of the summer!
Posted by: Bill Bolen, Friday, June 2, 10:50 a.m. ET
Thanks for the big turnout for our two opening weekend games! Your presence made a difference in welcoming our Dream players to Atlanta and showing the city that the Dream is now a reality! TWO SELLOUTS – it does not get any better than that….
While we would have loved to get a victory from one of those two games – and we almost did – it was still a victory for our team and staff to successfully launch the team in its new Philips Arena home. Celebrities galore turned out to watch the finest basketball in town, and we look forward to seeing all of you at future games. It was truly a special Dream weekend for all of us.
Just a reminder – we have 15 more home games where we need your loud cheers! We have games coming up this week June 3 vs. the Lynx and June 6 vs. the Sky – let’s give a nice little Atlanta welcome to the #3 (Candace Wiggins) and #2 (Sylvia Fowles) WNBA draft picks and send them back home without a road victory! Our team is looking better and better with each game and practice and they will be playing hard this week for you!
Game On!
Inaugural Home Game Pregame Blog from Team President Bill Bolen
Posted by: Bill Bolen, Friday, May 23, 1:40 p.m. ET
Well, here we are…..the Dream of a home opener for the WNBA in Atlanta has become reality! It is Friday morning and the office is buzzing with excitement about our first regular season game at Philips Arena – and our very first sellout! It has been an amazing ride to go from just an idea of civic leaders….to Ron Terwilliger stepping forward to turn the idea into a franchise last fall….to finally tonight just a few months later actually opening up in Philips Arena against the Detroit Shock!
Hopefully those of you reading this blog got tickets for tonight – and if not, then I hope you got tickets for Sunday’s game against the Sparks or for our games Tuesday June 3 against the Minnesota Lynx and Friday June 6 against the Chicago Sky. The parade of top talent just keeps coming to town after Candace Parker and the Sparks leave Sunday – Candice Wiggins with Minnesota and Sylvia Fowles with Chicago are coming up next – and your Atlanta Dream’s talented players like Betty Lennox will be waiting to spoil Candice and Sylvia’s first WNBA appearances in Atlanta! We need your support at home to make our crowd the loudest in the league!
I can’t say enough about the great staff that we have and how hard they have worked to get us to tonight’s big opener. We are working hard to create a first class fan experience for all fans for all games, and we hope you see that effort this weekend and for the rest of the summer. Of course I am biased, but I believe we have the best staff in the league and that they are going to help build the championship franchise mentality that I often talk about for the Dream.
Our players have been practicing hard all week after the tough loss in Connecticut last weekend. They are ready to come out and play hard for you this weekend and do their best to spoil the Atlanta debuts of two of the toughest teams in the league! I am very excited about the talent that we have and how they are coming together as a team – it is so easy to forget that this group did not play together last year and are literally coming together as a team at the same time they start up the season! Marynell and the entire coaching staff have been pleased with the progress that the team has been making and we feel great about how this team is going to represent Atlanta on the court and in the community.
Thanks again to all of you who are our Founding Fan season ticket holders – we depend on our core Founding Fans to build the foundation for our future success. Our sponsor support has been great as well , and we encourage you to support the sponsors of the Dream who are showing their commitment to the WNBA here in Atlanta! We are excited about tonight’s home opener and hope all of you are making noise for the Dream tonight!
GAME ON!
Dreaming of Championships
Posted by: Bill Bolen, Wednesday, February 27, 3:16 p.m. ET
If I have not already met you at one of our recent events I hope to do so soon….my name is Bill Bolen and I am President of your Atlanta Dream! The fast paced effort to get our team launched for tipoff this summer has not left me as much time for blogging as I would like to do in the future, but the events of this past weekend finally led me to take a few minutes and capture some random thoughts for you….
What happened last weekend? My daughter Ansley’s 5th-7th grade basketball team won their league championship tournament! While I know most of you were not watching the Harrison Youth Basketball League standings closely, this of course was a big day for the Bolen family. But there is a link to the Dream – watching our daughter’s team this season also reminded me of some of the key success factors for our Atlanta Dream that will help us achieve champion status on and off the court:
Teamwork – Our championship team had some great players who often led us in scoring, but throughout the season everyone involved in coaching the girls emphasized the importance of teamwork and did not emphasize one individual as the key to our success. In the championship game it paid off when one player who was not our leading scorer stepped up out of the blue to score a ton of points to lead the team to victory. In much the same way, our success here in Atlanta will depend on a team effort beyond just the obvious stars on the basketball court. You are important to our success whether you own courtside season tickets or can only drive down from Knoxville or Charlotte for a few games. You are important to us whether you are a local basketball team that comes out for a group outing or a local nonprofit that we partner with to help succeed in achieving our shared goals. You are important to us whether you live in Henry County or Cherokee County or right in the heart of the city! Team support must come from all parts of the community and region for us to succeed, and we will be seeking your support as part of our team effort!
Character – There were no bad attitudes on our championship team, and we have strived to build the same culture here at the Dream. Owner Ron Terwilliger and I stressed this issue during our interviews with potential coaching candidates, and Marynell Meadors agrees strongly with this approach. I think you will find that the basketball team we have assembled to date is a great group of athletes who are hard workers and women of good character who will be great representatives of the Dream. I think you will also find that our team staff reflects the same strong character traits as our team on the court. No one is perfect, but we have made an effort both for our staff and our players to bring together top quality professionals who represent us well.
Fun – Our championship team nickname was the Timberwolves, but we joked that it should be the Gigglewolves because our team was notorious for cracking each other up even in the middle of tense games. Our staff has fun working together and our focus is on you as fans having a lot of fun when you come out to our games this summer. We can be serious about winning championships without being boring or dull! I am very focused on ensuring that your experience as fans this summer is fun and entertaining, and I will want to hear from you if we are not achieving that goal!
Energy – Our championship team was known for a fast pace of play and relentless energy through all four quarters of the game. I think you will find the same is true both on the court with Marynell’s approach to the game, but also off the court with our staff’s approach to spreading the word about our team. We are all over the place – community events, basketball games, office buildings, neighborhoods, you name it! And we need your energy as fans of the team too – every person you tell about the Dream helps us spread the word and eventually reach that next family that wants season tickets this summer! Thanks for your energetic support of us so far, and keep that energy going!
These are not the only building blocks for success of course, but are just a few thoughts that I thought were worth emphasizing as we look ahead to our exciting inaugural season. Please continue to promote the Atlanta Dream to your friends and neighbors so that we can push closer to our season ticket goals and build the foundation for our success! Call 404-604-2626 to speak with an account executive or visit www.atlantadream.net and do your part to build our championship team by becoming a season ticket holder and getting your friends to join the team as well! We are looking forward to seeing you at our home opener May 23 at Philips Arena against Bill Laimbeer’s Detroit Shock!
Yes We Can!
Posted by: Paige Blankenship, Tuesday, January 22, 2:00 p.m. ET
Let me start out by saying, “YES WE CAN!”
I am so excited to be a part of this new WNBA Atlanta team. I have worked for several professional sports organizations and I truly believe that we have what it takes to be successful — and it all starts with YOU, the FAN! Our fans have been FANtastic. An outpour of support has rained upon us and our ticket sales are just one way to measure the support of our fans. We are doing fantastic in selling tickets, but we can always do better! Please help us pass along the word that we need ALL of your support and need each of you to BUY SEASON TICKETS!
Behind the scenes, we are excited about the launch of our new team. We are working non-stop to help bring ATLANTA the best WNBA team in the league. As the VP of Marketing, I oversee our advertising efforts, business development, media relations, community relations, website and game day entertainment. My staff is in place and we are brainstorming and activating programs. Every day is different and there is always an endless list of “things to do.” I am extremely excited to be a part of such a wonderful front office staff, and I can promise you this: if you come to the home opener on May 23rd at Philips Arena—you WON’T be disappointed. Be sure to guarantee that you have a seat there—purchase your season tickets today!
Join the Club
Posted by: Michele Beagle, Tuesday, January 15, 11:02 a.m. ET
Hello everyone! My name is Michele Beagle. I am the coordinator for Club 13. For those of you who don’t know Club 13 is group of volunteers who are committed to helping promote, market, and sell the team through their own personal networks, such as co-workers, colleagues, church groups, neighborhoods, sporting events, and family. Club 13 members work hard to get qualified referrals to me, and it is my job to close the sale for them. We have great prizes at various tiers to reward the members for their efforts and hard work.
I am so excited about my role with the team and Club 13. We had our first Club 13 meeting since my being on board, January 10, 2008. We held the meeting at our offices downtown. As I drove home, I was thrilled as I thought of all of the enthusiasm and ideas that were shared at the meeting. I met only a portion of the Club 13 members at the meeting and these members are a huge part of the driving force behind the success of our ticket sales. Each member that I met was so excited and wanted to make this team a success.
Allison Fillmore, VP of Ticket Sales, spoke on what a great job that Club 13 is doing. At the time of the meeting, Club 13 was at 98 season tickets sold. That is AMAZING, but more amazingly, the very next day, we sold six more thanks to the members who left the meeting determined to get us over the 100 mark! Paige Blankenship, VP of Marketing, spoke to the group about the upcoming launch date event, event etiquette, and how thankful the organization is for a devoted group such as Club 13. Carla McGhee was present at the meeting and she spoke to the group. Carla is such a cheerleader. It was a treat for the group to hear her speak and have the opportunity to speak with her before and after the meeting. WNBA Atlanta could not ask for a more qualified Ambassador than Carla! Tameka Garrett, Manager of Community Relations as well as the sales staff were present for any questions or concerns.
We have also had three new members join at the meeting. These members have already purchased their tickets from a Club 13 referral and wanted to help by volunteering. AMAZING! It was a beneficial meeting not only for me to meet all of the volunteers, but for the Club 13 members to see that while we are inside of our brick and mortar each day trying to fit all of the pieces of the puzzle together, they are the face of our team in the community. Right now, Club 13 is an extension of our sales team, our marketing team, and our communications department. For that we are truly thankful!
I am readily available and eager to assist with the promotion and success of this team through Club 13. If at any time there are any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me directly at 404-954-6646; or by email at Michele.braddock-beagle@wnbaatl.com.
We are always looking for good strong devoted volunteers. If you feel you would be interested in joining Club 13 please feel free to contact me and get signed up. Also, if you have spoken to a Club 13 member and need help with your ticket purchases, please contact me directly.
WNBA Atlanta Embraces Community
Posted by: Tameka Garrett, Monday, January 7, 1:12 p.m. ET
Hi guys! My name is Tameka Garrett and I am the Community Relations Manager for the WNBA Atlanta team. Wow, two weeks on the job, and I am as busy as ever.
The community has been so receptive to the team and of course that makes my job as Community Relations Manager important with a host of opportunities. It is important that the community understands that we are here for them and I have been in touch with many folks already, from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to community groups in Chattanooga. We are moving and pushing forward.
I think the greatest part of my job is to help get the word out there about the team. Our head coach is making appearances in the community as well as working hard at getting the best coaches and players on the team. I am so excited and my days are never the same. For example, tomorrow I have a meeting with Carla McGhee, an Olympian and former WNBA player. It is great to be a part of a team that what happens off the court is as just important as what happens on the court.
I want to be sure that this is a regional team! Not just representing ATL but Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, the Carolinas. Did you know we are the only WNBA team in the Southeast area?? Shout out to all of the former WNBA players in the area. If you played for the WNBA and would like to join our network, please email me at tameka.garrett@wnbaatl.com. Soon, we will be hosting networking opportunities for former WNBA players in the area.
Okay, my phone is ringing now… Wow, it’s Coach… Better go…
If you also would like request player appearances or auction items for events coming up, please fax a formal request to Attn: Tameka Garrett, 404-954-6666.
Something New, Something Different
Posted by: Jason Erbesfield, Wednesday, December 26, 11:15 p.m. ET
Atlanta is a great town. No matter where I travel, no matter where I go, I always long to get back to Atlanta. Whether it’s halfway across the world on the beaches of Tel Aviv or just a few hours away in sunny Florida, Atlanta is the place I call home. It’s truly the best city in the world and a place I always look forward to getting back to.
There’s something special about Atlanta… something words just can’t properly explain. We’ve got great weather. Southern hospitality and charm. Faces from around the world. Atlanta is a big city yet still maintains that feel of a charming, warm and friendly small town. Sure, we’ve got a lot of transplants in this city, but that’s what makes Atlanta so great — you get to meet people from all walks of life from all kinds of places.
Atlanta is also home to all kinds of things to do, places to see and people to meet. For example, Atlanta is a great sports town. We’ve got so many great teams: Braves baseball, Thrashers hockey, Falcons football, Hawks basketball, Gladiators minor league hockey, Force arena football, Rollergirls roller derby, Xplosion women’s football, Silverbacks soccer and of course our beloved college teams, the Dawgs, Yellow Jackets and Panthers. But now Atlanta has a new sports team. One that I am truly excited to be a part of. It’s not every day that a new professional sports team starts up in your hometown… much less you get an opportunity to be a part of it. I feel lucky and honored to have been chosen to work for this new Atlanta team.
It reminds me of my fraternity experience a few years ago. You see, I went to Georgia State University. At the time, GSU did not have a chapter of my fraternity. Instead, the fraternity chapter at Georgia Tech allowed the guys from Georgia State to join. Little did I know that when I joined, a couple of the guys at the Tech chapter came up with the idea to establish a chapter at State. At first I was a bit reluctant. But it was a huge opportunity and way too big to pass up. So I joined, and we started up our own chapter at State. It was nothing quite like joining an existing fraternity – it was more like starting up a new business.
Here at WNBA Atlanta, it is somewhat similar. We’ve just started getting our operations going. It’s nothing like joining a company where everything is already
established. In fact, we just moved into our new offices and I have to say our new digs are pretty sweet… it’s got a loft-type feel to it with exposed brick, beautiful architecture and even a sweet rooftop skylight up here on the 5th floor. I love being on the top floor… there’s just something about being high up. The skylight just so happens to be directly over my new workstation. Every once in a while I take a moment to reflect, look up and check out the view. It serves as a constant reminder that the sky is the limit. I may not have an office with a window or a view, but hey, this is pretty close. We are also only a couple of blocks away from Philips Arena… which is such a sweet perk as a hockey fan! It will also come in handy for all of those Hawks games and concerts I go to as well. If you happen to have any spare Van Halen tickets,
just let me know 
Every day things grow in excitement and anticipation. In fact, this Friday, I get to work at a local basketball tournament to let everyone know the WNBA is here in Atlanta! Working at these events and getting to meet all of these people is fun, exciting and rewarding in many ways. To be able to talk sports with other like-minded sports fans – and get paid for it – you really can’t get much better than that! It’s not every day you get an opportunity to be a part of something new, something exciting and something that will become a part of the history of your hometown.
I’ll be honest – I’m a diehard hockey fan. I haven’t missed a home game in over three seasons. I live at Philips Arena. I consider it my home away from home. Sure, I am a bit biased, but I’ve been to plenty of other arenas and I can tell you this -we’ll be playing at one of the best, if not THE best, arena in the country. OK, we aren’t the brand new Prudential Center in Newark, but then again, our tickets don’t cost an arm and a leg (and perhaps a few other body parts) to watch our team play. We’ve got some of the most fan and family-friendly ticket prices anywhere. We’ve got SEASON TICKETS…yes, I said SEASON TICKETS… as low as $149 for the entire season. With other sports, a ticket to ONE GAME might cost you that or more! Getting season tickets includes priority access to playoff tickets if we make the playoffs…excuse me… WHEN we make the playoffs. You really just can’t go wrong getting a set of season tickets with WNBA Atlanta. (Call me at 404-954-6654, ask for Jason and I’ll set you up with an awesome set of seats for our inaugural season!)
As a guy, I know what you are thinking… “Women’s basketball?!?! Yeah right!” Well, let me tell you this – These girls are awesome. They are talented. They are all about team. It’s all about fundamentals. I’ve seen them play and let me tell you – if you are a sports fan, you’ll love seeing these girls play. Even if you think you’d never watch a WNBA game, I’m not sure about you, but any excuse I get to go to Philips Arena, I go. Just to be in the arena is an awesome experience. Heck I’ve sat through some not-so-my-type concerts… just because they were at Philips Arena. The sights, the sounds, the awesome food… you just can’t get better than that. It’s a great place to not only root on your favorite team, but to meet a lot of like-minded folks who have the same passion and love for your team that you do. There are a lot of things and places to see in Atlanta, but there is none better than hanging out at Philips Arena. Even if you think you’d never watch a women’s basketball game, this is a chance for you to come hang out at Philips Arena during the summer, whereas before, there weren’t many reasons to come down to Philips other than for a concert or two during the summer. Now, you can not only do the Tomahawk Chop down at Turner Field, you can also cheer on Atlanta’s newest team at Philips Arena and be a part of Atlanta history as we prepare to take the court for our inaugural season!
Our schedule is set. The excitement is building. I hope you will be a part of WNBA and Atlanta history when we tip off our very first game against Detroit on May 23! Don’t forget, give me a call at 404-954-6654 and I’ll set you up with some awesome seats! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all!
- Jason
From the Motor City to the Peach State
Posted by: Akilah Washington, Monday, December 17, 10:40 a.m. ET
It has definitely been a change for me the past week, but I have embraced it with nothing but excitement. My name is Akilah Washington and I am an Account Executive with the new WNBA team here in Atlanta. I must say that this is a change from what I am used to, going from the Motor City – Detroit, where we drove everywhere we went to The Peach State – Georgia, where everyone rides the train. When I left Detroit last Thursday and drove down 75 so many things popped into my mind. I have always been a hometown girl, enduring the sub degree weather and of course the piles and piles of snow, and now I was moving away from home for the first time in my life. Of course fear crept into my mind, am I making the right decision to move, what if I didn’t meet any new people, and most importantly what if I didn’t like my job? A week later, I have to say, I see light in this the picture and its not just the sunshine that i see each day, it’s the job I have, and the way people have embraced me here!
Monday, December 10th was my very first day in the office, and it took so long to get here as the GA traffic got the best of me. Once I arrived to the office, and after meeting everyone it was time to get to work, but not before i could get my first real taste of a CHIX-Fil-A chicken biscuit and boy was was I impressed. Once Tuesday arrived I had moved over to the Marta instead of driving downtown and that really took a lot off of me. My first week definitely went by fast and to close it out I was actually able to attend a Hawks game and i really enjoyed myself.
Going into my second week here the weather has definitely changed but it beats what it is back home. 12 inches of snow and more to come there, I must say I don’t miss that at all. But inside of bunker 1208 it is heating up, we are definitely signing up more and more founding fans. I’m very impressed by the welcome that we are getting in the city so far. Well back to the phones, I go have to get to 10 by today and keep warm in the meantime.
Call for your season tickets 404-604-2626!!!!!
Day in the Life
Posted by: Chris Stephens, Thursday, December 13, 10:30 a.m. ET
You know I keep wondering, is this really my second week with the WNBA Atlanta franchise??? WOW!
I started last Monday and there is no way it should be the following week already. Well I guess time flies when you love your job, although it doesn’t hurt that so many people are calling in, gathering information and purchasing season tickets. Keep the calls coming….I like to talk!
I bet some of you are out there wondering what goes on in Bunker 1208 every day. Well, you are in luck because here is the exclusive look into my life as an Account Executive!
7:30 – 8:07: My MARTA ride to work….usually reading the sports section of the paper (thanks AJC…also remember MARTA is SMARTA).
8:08 – 8:30: Pick up some coffee (and a cookie when I can’t resist), then get into the office and get ready to hit the ground running.
8:30 – 12:00: One of my favorite times (especially 9-10) … I start by calling a few folks and returning a few emails…then I really dive into my lists of all the folks requesting tickets and information. Folks, remember if you want your friends sitting next to you, let us know…the seats won’t be there when your friends decide to call us in a few days!
12:00 – 1:00: Lunch …yummm! Today’s lunch consisted of beef flanks (stuffed with mozzarella and spinach) and a fresh salad composed of baby green spinach with vinaigrette dressing. For all those thinking man this guy can cook…it’s called Publix fresh meat section…and the vegetable section….all I have to do is put it in the oven and throw it in a bowl….NICE!
1:00 – 5:30: Start off by returning calls ….followed by a few outbound calls I want to make… next I respond to emails…finally wrap up my day with calls to everyone who has asked me to call in the evenings because they have been caught at work talking to me (I didn’t mean to get them in trouble…but we just have great conversations as they find their perfect seats).
5:30: Send out a few emails…. Prepare for the next day
By 6 or 6:15 I’m jumping back on SMARTA, while talking myself into working out that night (I usually do, but sometimes… )
Well, I hope you enjoyed this inside scoop into what goes on in the life of Account Executive, Christopher Stephens …………….CALL ME!
Southern Hospitality
Posted by: Eric Schirmer, Wednesday, December 12, 10:35 a.m. ET
On Sunday, Dec. 2nd, I moved from Chicago to Atlanta to begin working for the new WNBA team. It was my first time in Atlanta, and I think I have found my new home. I had spent my whole life in Illinois — grew up in a small town, and moved to Chicago a few years ago. Because I had never lived anywhere else I really didn’t know what I was missing out on. Of course, I have taken vacations all over the country, but you never really get a true sense of a place until you start putting roots down.
I left Chicago after working for the Chicago Sky, now the second-newest team in the WNBA! Living and working in Chicago was certainly a change of pace that I was not used to. All while I was there, although I enjoyed all a big city has to offer, I missed the small town feeling I had grown up with. As soon I had heard that the WNBA had granted Atlanta with the new expansion team I couldn’t wait to move down. I had always wanted to live somewhere south, and the idea of working with a new expansion team was right where I wanted to be.
My first night in Atlanta I went to Atlantic Station and fell in love with this city. Every evening since then I have driven around exploring new places in the city, trying not to get lost. Using the MARTA and walking around the Peachtree Center receiving a smile and a head nod as I walk by is exactly the small-town feeling I was missing in Chicago. Everyone I work with — my new roommate, even the servers at the restaurants — have been wonderful and have offered advice on what places to see, and where in town to go.
I do have to say that it made leaving Chicago a lot easier when I found out the high temperature was only 24 degrees there the day after I moved. I am not a big fan of shoveling snow and scraping the ice off of my car windows! So as much as I am truly loving the warm weather in Atlanta, it is the warmth of the city that has truly made me feel at home.
Now Hiring! Please Apply Soon!
Posted by: Mahdi Chaney, Monday, December 10, 12:40 p.m. ET
I am amazed at how many phone calls we are receiving down here at our wonderful make-shift offices! Of course we receive the calls for season tickets, calls about open tryouts, calls about volunteering, calls about upcoming free events, but my favorites calls are the ones that start like this: “Are y’all hiring?”
Well, let me put it out there for all interested applicants, WE ARE HIRING!!!!!!!! I have attached the Job Description here:
JOB TITLE: WNBA Atlanta Fan/ Liason
JOB TYPE: Full-Time Fun
START DATE: Yesterday!
COMPENSATION: Countless Hours of Unbelievable Entertainment!
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: You must be able to smile and cheer.
CONTACT: Mahdi Chaney
PHONE: 404.604.2626
WEBSITE: www.wnba.com/atlanta
FAX: 404.589.7536
JOB DESCRIPTION: We are currently looking for individuals to train as WNBA Atlanta Fans for our Atlanta group. We are seeking motivated individuals looking to build a fan base through hard work and determination. We offer competitive compensation and benefits programs.
In addition to your compensation, we offer some extraordinary benefits to full season tickets holders. Please call me today so that you can hear about the benefits package NOW! I am looking to hire thousands of employees for this position, so don’t be afraid to apply.
*GOOD LUCK!
Loving it in Atlanta
Posted by: Jimmelle Melvin, Thursday, December 6, 11:40 a.m. ET
Greetings, everyone.
I am Jimmelle Melvin, Senior Account Executive for the new Atlanta WNBA team and I just started on Monday! I also moved down from N.C. on Sunday. This is my third day and I am getting familiar with the Atlanta area and getting organized. I had heard about the traffic, but I finally saw first-hand what all the talk was about…so now I realize MARTA is smarter! Only I have been hearing some interesting conversations on MARTA, or should I say..I’m officially in the A conversations on the MARTA train….lol…okay, that’s entirely another blog…..back to the WNBA!
Well, I am truly excited and ready to get the ball rolling on filling up the stands; our team is going to be awesome!! Philips Arena is very nice, and I have already sold some packages this week. I am ready to sell, sell, sell and take care of my clients… Side note: I am a dedicated Account Executive always available for my client, so if you haven’t already gotten your seats then go ahead and call me. Trust me, the good seats will be gone really soon! Especially if you want VIP…So give me a call and we can talk basketball, tickets, whatever you want! (404-604-2626).
P.S. Shout-outs to Eboni Tyler and the Washington Mystics staff, to my sister Chasity Melvin and to my family in North Carolina!!
P.S.S. While in the process of finishing this blog, I received a very beautiful ensemble of balloons, WNBA teddy bears and basketball shaped cookies delivered here to our office at the Westin!!!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! My day couldn’t possibly get any brighter!!
What a Week!
Posted by: Jacquie Tatman, Tuesday, December 4, 5 p.m. ET
Talk about an exciting first week! This is Jacquie. I’m one of the new account executives for the WNBA Atlanta team. When I accepted my position I was excited to be a part of the new team, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Last Tuesday I started with a crash course of the WNBA and the Atlanta team and then I was put to work on the phones (and made a sale by lunch time)! On Wednesday, Joe, Allison and I attended the Downtown Development Expo and made several new contacts and leads, which we hope to turn into dings very soon!
Thursday was a big day. We attended the Circle of Friends Luncheon and the Club 13 meeting that evening. And to top it all off I got to meet head coach Marynell Meadors (an amazing woman who I can’t wait to see what she’ll do for the team) and the WNBA President Donna Orender (yet another amazing woman that is ecstatic about the Atlanta team). I don’t know about you, but I don’t think everyone gets to meet the president of their company on their third day of work, and I am thankful I had that opportunity!
After Thursday I didn’t think we could end the week any better, but I was wrong. The staff down here from New York set a goal to sell a certain number of season tickets by November 30 and starting Friday morning we were oh-so very close! Everyone was on the phone on Friday – - “Power Hour” was extended from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (no joke) and the bell was dinging non-stop! As the hours went by the number of tickets sold climbed higher and higher, and as of 4:52 pm on Friday, November 30 we had reached our goal! This was an amazing way to end the week and to send off some of the New York staff, who I was sad to see leave. The New York staff has been great so far and they have set us up for a successful first season.
While we did reach our initial sales goal on Friday, we still have many good seats available that we want to fill. These seats are selling fast, so be sure to give me a call TODAY… 404-604-2626.
Club 13 Gets in the Ding of Things
Posted by: Kathy Burrows, Monday, December 3, 11 a.m. ET
Last Thursday night, Club 13 Atlanta (the all-new volunteer sales group) held their second meeting. This one was filled with surprises and energy! One hundred and 30 members comprise Club 13, of which about 40-50 attend the monthly meetings. Members are quickly becoming friends, giving each other ideas to help each other sell, and ‘the buzz’ is alive and well when you get this group together!
The evening led off with a thank you from Circle of Friends member Danielle Donehew and a surprise visit by the new coach, Marynell Meadors, who shared her passion for the WNBA and her commitment to this city and this team.
When asked if they can reach the Club goal, members shouted, “YES WE CAN”…the theme of Club 13 this year and a theme of the WNBA league offices. This was followed with a presentation of a bouquet of flowers to Sharon Remaly, a Club 13 member, who took pity on all of us living out of Bunker 1208 the past month and a half and came in to give us all massages….(ahhh….what a mellow, relaxed group we were that afternoon!) Then came the announcement of sellers to date, complete with each seller dinging the bell and receiving a much coveted “YES WE CAN” t-shirt personally from the President of the WNBA, Donna Orender. Our top seller for the month, Kathy Russell (sold 15 full seasons this month!) received her t-shirt from Donna, a special commemorative scrapbook (handmade!) of this year’s WNBA, and a gong to start dinging her own bell!!!! Kathy is the first Club 13 member who will receive a custom Club 13 jacket!
The evening was highlighted by an impassioned talk by Donna Orender. Her vision for this city, this team, the fans and Club 13 has all of us ready to go out and sell! Without question, Donna fired us all up – as only she can do – to be excited and proud of the opportunity we have! So moved by Donna’s speech, one of the staff from the Westin assisting that evening signed up to be a Club 13 member so she can do her part!!!!!
As Donna commented after the meeting, the passion in the room was unbelievable. This truly is an exceptional group of men and women who are giving their all to making sure your new WNBA Atlanta team succeeds. On their quest to reach their season ticket goal this month, Club 13 is over half way there with 2 more weeks to go!
I am privileged to have met each and every member of Club 13, and will be sad yet excited to turn over the ‘godmother of Club 13’ status to a new Atlanta staff member and watch it grow into a real model for the rest of the league! I have made so many friendships with them and will continue to urge and support them to hit their goal….because YES WE CAN!
Interested in helping us as a Club 13 member? Yes YOU Can! Call 404-604-2626 and let us know you would like to join Club 13! Better yet, not only join… make sure you buy your season tickets, too! And do it fast. My last day in Atlanta will be Friday and I sure would like to get to know you…and get the dings in… before I leave!
Long-Distance Relationship
Posted by: Geoff Colleran, Friday, November 30, 5:11 p.m. ET
There’ve been lots of sales made out of 1208, no question about that. And I’ll tell you what, folks really suprised me with some of the long distance calls we had coming in: Loyal Charlotte Sting fans committed to the 5-hour drive (that’s beautiful), a couple true supporters coming in all the way from Alabama ( I love it). But do you know who gets the prize for longest distance sale of the year, maybe even the decade? Yes indeed, none other then your boy Mr. Geoff. Take a look at the picture here — does it look like this gentleman will be commuting to the games via MARTA? Route 85? Nope, not my season ticket holders! Mr. Charles Starks will be headed back into town on his fighter jet all the way from Iraq. (He’s a retired military man as far as action goes, but still works over in Iraq.)
It’s fair to say that WNBA Atlanta is part of the global marketplace! So when I got a call from Charles’ wife, relaying the message that he wanted to put his deposit down, but wouldn’t be able to make it to the Select-A-Seat event (I wonder why) , I felt it was my patriotic duty to get him an aisle seat. So if you guys want to join the illustrious club that is my season-ticket holder group, you better hurry up because sadly Wednesday is my last day in the ATL. Get those calls into 404.604.2626 before it is too late to speak to the kid!
Bringing WNBA Atlanta to Life
Posted by: Allison Fillmore, Thursday, November 29, 10:37 a.m. ET
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! The blog is back up and running….Let me introduce myself! My name is Allison Fillmore and I am the new Director of Ticket Sales for WNBA Atlanta! I started on Monday and I have to say how amazed I am with the staff from the WNBA that has been here bringing this team to life. This city is lucky to have such a great group of people helping out! I know they have been working so hard and the results have been spectacular.
The city of Atlanta is not going to know what has hit it in the upcoming months! The WNBA is alive and kicking! The people of this town have given so much support to this franchise so far and I am so excited for what is yet to come! Naming the team, choosing colors, moving to our permanent office and so much more is going to be happening over the next couple of weeks so make sure to keep checking www.wnba.com/atlanta for the most up-to-date information. But also make sure to tell your friends all about us because I can tell you this….these games will be the place to be come May!!! Seats are going extremely fast so make sure to call soon! Help us make HISTORY!
Today the bell was dinging like crazy…probably our most dings to date! I feel there will be much more dinging in our future 
Taking a Break to Give Thanks
Posted by: Joe Mulford, Tuesday, November 20, 5:57 p.m. ET
I am sure you are all on the edge of your seat waiting for the next blog from sales bunker 1208. Well here it is! Apologies for not having a blog the last couple of days. However, we are busy selling and building relationships in the Atlanta community. Our sales efforts cannot be slowed and we continue to push towards our ultimate goal. Your New York-based sales team (Yes, I have been on a plane a lot lately) is pushing the envelope daily challenging each other and continuing to get positive results. Our days are filled with phone calls, emails, Blackberry messages, debates about what music to listen too and most importantly ding dings as I am sure you are very familiar with now. The passion and energy committed to this team is a 24-hour-a-day job. However, we are all very excited for a little Thanksgiving holiday.
The WNBA Atlanta sales squad is going to take its longest break from each other in a month with everyone going to be with families at the end of this week. There were thoughts about the Atlanta crew spending the Thanksgiving holiday together. However, we decided against it because we felt everyone would sit around the table and try to sell each other season tickets, role play objections, practice pitches, ask open-ended questions and give their pipeline reports. So we will all take a much-needed break and enjoy some down time before we come back next week to continue our push and dings!
Oh yeah, one last story that I have no choice but to include. Last Thursday, Brett, Geoff, myself, and our guest for the week — Ash — went down to the Butler St. YMCA to play a little 2-on-2 at 6:30 in the moring. The early wake-up call hit us all hard but once on the court the game was very intense. Much to my dismay, Geoff and myself lost 5 striaght games to Brett. He might have hit 80 percent of his three-pointers. Ash is a great role player and filled in nicely on a few screens. Alright, it’s done. We lost.
Heating Up in Hotlanta
Posted by: Amanda LoCascio, Thursday, November 15, 10:43 a.m. ET
Greetings from Hotlanta! I’m sure everyone might be wondering why we are referring to our second home down here in Atlanta as Hotlanta? Well, two reasons quite frankly. First of all, it is November right? Sixty-seven degrees? No jackets, scarves, or gloves needed? The weather is phenomenal here right now (compared to what I am used to in NY this time of year). Second of all, we are HOT with sales! We have moved into the phase of really reaching out to Atlanta’s businesses and trying to find just how the WNBA and these organizations can work together. It is nice to get out and meet the city of Atlanta up close and personal.
Last night we were all invited to dinner at Ron Terwilliger’s condo in Buckhead. It was absolutely amazing! His patio viewed the entire city, which was breathtaking. We enjoyed some great Mexican cuisine. It was a great night overall and we were honored to have Ron invite us!
We are still expecting to sell out opening day in Atlanta! On that note, I better get back to setting up some meetings. We need to get ding-ing in here!
Yellow Jackets Feel WNBA Buzz
Posted by: Lauren Heiser, Tuesday, November 13, 2:16 p.m. ET
The days here in Atlanta keep getting better and better!
Last Friday night four Club 13 volunteer rock stars — Ron, Emile, Cheryl and Kathy — and I headed over to the Georgia Tech campus to promote the new WNBA Atlanta team at the men’s and women’s double-header/season opener at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. We are so thrilled to be working with Tech to promote women’s basketball in Atlanta! The Georgia Tech staff (Katreshia, Jillian, Maureen, Todd and Lachina) welcomed us with open arms and graciously allowed us to promote the WNBA at the games.
The five of us, donning hip WNBA Atlanta t-shirts, took the GT fans by storm! Not only did a ton of folks approach us inquiring about WNBA season tickets, but we helped the GT team hit their sales goal for Tech Women’s Basketball tickets for the night! A true team effort.
We met so many great folks at the game, including the Reichert family (pictured with Cheryl, Kathy and Ron) from Suwanee, Georgia, who purchased five season ticket packages to watch the Lady Yellow Jackets play this season, and also mentioned that they’re looking forward to the WNBA season to start in May. T-minus six months and counting!
The Ding is the Thing
Posted by: Kathy Burrows, Friday, November 9, 10:16 a.m. ET
Ding, ding, ding, ding….like Pavlov’s dog, that ding is music to those in Bunker 1208! We hear that ding and the cheering starts, the applause goes up and a new number is unveiled on the sales board as we “count down” the seats being filled up at Philips Arena! That ding has been so consistent in our Bunker, that section 115 is almost sold out and the adjoining sides are rapidly filling. This is a hot, hot, hot ticket in Atlanta!!!!
This morning I was privileged to attend an event with “Ladies Who Launch” and took WNBA legend Carla McGhee along to speak. Over 100 women shouted their support and gave applause for the new team and the words of passion Carla shared. People meeting with us after offered sponsor support, ticket support and “What more can we do to help?” which we’ve come to learn is the southern way! Ding ding ding….another reason to cheer!
Coming back from the meeting, I had calls and emails from members of our new Club 13…we are getting ready for some major ‘dings’ with them! They are out there being our very strong grass roots in the community! Lots of dings will soon be happening!
As I was waiting to go through the security line at the airport tonight, I had my “Ask Me About Season Tickets” badge on. A TSA agent pulled me aside and wanted to know all about it…then said he has two daughters that live and breathe basketball. When I told him about our family package he was thrilled and told me he will be calling to get the season package…then proceeded to tell everyone in line that WNBA Atlanta has affordable tickets for families. More dings soon to come!
Whether going to the grocery store that Mapquest said was .6 miles only to find that it was just about in Alabama, to finding THE donut shop that has that special coffee coveted by a few of our members, or some shooting hoops at a game while others are talking tickets while Geoff is getting a date, this has been an exciting learning experience for us each and every day. We’re excited to come each morning to see what we can do and where we can share the great news. This great group in Bunker 1208 has a passion for this team. They have pride in making this a successful franchise from Day One. They have a commitment to make a strong base of season tickets, and make sure that opening day is sold out and celebrated.
So yes, make sure you call and talk to us and help us ring the ding! Celebrate with us as we celebrate your joining our team with a season ticket package and give us your referrals so we can get more dings!
Call 404-604-2626 and let’s ding it!
True Atlanta Stories
Posted by: Geoff Colleran, Thursday, November 8, 12:18 p.m. ET
People of Atlanta, listen up! This guy right here, writing this blog, is Beantown born and raised (that’s Boston, if you didn’t know). A true Red Sox, Patriot type with Celtic pride …but you know what? I’ve been out here in Atlanta for two weeks and I think I might stick around and make a home of it. No lie! This is good living out here. And I’ve done a lot of traveling in my day to WNBA markets and have never seen anything like the response we get out here. Let’s make this team the next big thing! Come on this is the ‘A,’ I already know how you do it!
Today was another one of those days in the sales room, putting big numbers up on the board (like the Celtics did on Denver!). Nothing too out of the ordinary. The routine is: talk on the phone with true hoops fans, help them figure out the best place we can fit them into Philips (yes, I said fit them — it’s filling up in there!) and leave with yet another fan satisfied. And trust and believe, we’ve been sprinkling satisfied founding fans all over the city, so much that I have to share a story with you.
So two nights ago, I headed out to dinner in Atlantic Station. I’m not going to say the restaurant (not without them chipping in to cater our next office party!!) but they have the best crunchy spicy salmon roll in the city! So there I am working on my crunchy roll and I notice the women sitting next to me looks like a true ball player. And I don’t just throw that term around loosely. I played a little ball in my day too, OK! But this young lady looks like she could really put in some work. So I tell my buddy, “This lady needs to know the scoop on season tickets.” (As a matter of fact you all do, give me a call at 404.604.2626 , ask for Geoff, I got you covered!)
I get to talking to the lady and she already bought her season tickets right on courtside (and if you want some courtsides you better hurry up and call!). Come to find out she bought them from a fine young man named Geoff! Now for a guy that’s only been in Atlanta for two weeks, I’d say ATL is either a really small city or the WNBA has spread its wings all over the town!!! You make your own assessment!
But listen, this is the end of the blog…I know depressing, right? Guess what though, you can call me up at 404.604.2626 and get a million more stories even better then that, get some ticket information, lock in your seats, dating advice, fashion tips, talk sports……….whatever you want. I’m here, just holla at me!!!
Ohhhhh and that women I spotted as a ball player? Turns out she is none other than Neisa Johnson, former WNBA player for the Charlotte Sting and Detroit Shock…..tell me I don’t have an eye for talent!
Club 13 Commences
Posted by: Lauren Heiser, Wednesday, November 7, 11:07 a.m. ET
It was another busy day in room 1208 at the Westin as the sales bell rang consistently all morning and afternoon. We once again hit our daily sales goal as the sales, marketing and PR task force (Donna, Brett, Stephanie, Ali, Amanda, Geoff, Kathy, Lauren, Karen, Lisa, Mark, Joe, Stacy and Lindsay) continues to pound the pavement and the phones, looking for the yet-to-be-tapped WNBA fan in the Atlanta (and as far as Charlotte!) area. A little friendly competition among the staff (for bragging rights, of course), led to Donna and Geoff collecting the “rock stars of the day” award for the most sales yesterday.
After a long day in the office, the entire staff headed upstairs to attend the tip-off meeting for the newly formed Club 13–an incredibly enthusiastic group of over 100 volunteer sales folks. It was great to see familiar faces as many volunteers from Saturday’s Meet Your Seat event continued their selfless efforts by joining the Club 13 team. Donna Daniels did a great job of mc’ing the festivities (with more energy after a 12-hour workday than any of us ever expected!), and Kathy “Club 13 Godmother” Burrows enthusiastically explained the program and rallied the troops. Two former WNBA players, Carla McGhee and Rushia Brown, even joined us to lend their support!
The enthusiasm for this team is palpable. From the incredible turnout at the Meet Your Seat event on Saturday, to the endless support from Mayor Franklin and the City Council, to the gallant volunteers, to the dedicated sales team who have left their friends and family behind in NYC to spend months in Atlanta to help start this team: we’re all honored to be a part of this.
The Hotlanta Report
Posted by: Brett Zalaski, Tuesday, November 6, 9:07 a.m. ET
What a weekend! The team finally found their way out of Room 1208 at the Downtown
Westin, and attacked the Atlanta sports scene with a vengeance. On Friday night,
the team saw the Hawks dispense the mighty Mavericks at the WNBA’s future home,
the Philips Arena.
The team was back to work on Saturday for the “Meet Your Seat” event
at Philips Arena. Though weary from another frenetic week on the phones, the
sales team was immediately buoyed by the unbelievable excitement and passion
of the throngs of fans that passed through the gates to get their seats. As
the white tags covered seat after seat, it began to look like winter had hit
the Philips Arena early.
Sunday saw some of the team head home for much needed down time with their
families, some of the team just have down time (sleep!), and others ventured
to the Georgia Dome to watch the Falcons beat the 49ers.
Today the team was back on the phones and had another fantastic day – day after
day the passion of the women’s basketball fans in Atlanta and surrounding community
finds a way to raise our energy levels – and we continue to try and match it!
Checking in from HOTLANTA!
Site of the WNBA’s newest franchise
Posted by: Donna Daniels, Friday, November 2, 4:29 p.m. ET
Hi everyone…It’s Donna Daniels, a member of the NBA’s Team Marketing Business
Operations (TMBO) department and the enthusiastic leader of WNBA Atlanta’s “Where
Amazing Happens” campaign…We have several WNBA staff members here in Atlanta – our home away from home for the next several weeks – as we work to get the Atlanta franchise up and running. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been up to, beginning with the press conference on October 17 announcing that Mr. J. Ronald Terwilliger would become the owner of the WNBA’s newest franchise….
October 17:
What a great day!!!! It started off bright and early in Centennial Olympic Park
for the press conference. I am always amazed at how NBA Entertainment can turn
a nice but “plain” space into a full-blown, sophisticated set. I hope you were able to catch the press conference on NBA TV or view it on WNBA.com. The highlight for me was Mayor Shirley Franklin, who made it a special point to wave around and read the top of the ticket deposit form.
We had a great turnout at the press conference. In addition to the school kids on hand, we had VIPs from the City of Atlanta, the Chamber of Commerce, business
partners, Atlanta Spirit and the Circle of Friends. The Circle of Friends is a group of 12 successful Atlanta business women who were the driving force in getting a team here. This group is led by Lisa Borders, the President of the City Council and soon to be a mayoral candidate, a very dynamic “go-getter” in this city. Additionally, we invited our volunteers and those who had pledged to buy season tickets as a way to show that Atlanta can support this team. Our sales table was the place to be at the press conference….we took immediate deposits on season tickets and got things started right away.
When we got back to the sales office, there was a buzz in the air. People were calling us….and we were calling them….the season ticket deposit numbers climbed as the day went on. Our sales bell was ringing all day long and we had a very productive first day!
In between the calls and the bell ringing, we had lunch with the Circle of Friends and the new owner, Mr. Terwilliger. Then, it was off to a two hour “working session” on how we are going to make an impact during the franchise’s first 60 days.
Back to the sales office for Power Hour…..all of us on the phone selling and bringing in those deposits. Then, the sales team (JM, Joe, Geoff, Amanda, Kathy and Brett along with Stephanie and Ali) all headed out for a well-deserved dinner, as no one could stand the thought of yet another slice of pizza.
Our tireless energy has come straight from the people of Atlanta – their passion and stories have been just overwhelming – we had two women screaming in excitement
over the phone, two women crying in excitement over the phone, and people ommitting to travel as far as 3-4 HOURS for each game. That and the camaraderie the sales team has been developing has made the long hours in the Sales Room much easier…
October 26:
Wow, what a week. I am sitting here in the Sales Room all by myself and I have
to admit, it is kind of weird…no bells ringing, no buzz on the phone. A little too quiet for me after such a good week. Everyone is on their way home to NYC for a well deserved rest before we get started again on Monday. I am attending an event tomorrow with 250 girls, ages 12-17, and their parents. It’s part of a “Call to Womenhood Conference” and the theme is Capture Your Dreams. Perfect for the WNBA.
We will be ready again on Monday to sell, publicize and promote this team.
Have a great weekend and stay tuned for more from Atlanta next week.
Donna
Chris Stephens, Account Executive/Club 13 Coordinator: Club 13
Posted by: Chris, Friday, October 31, 2:30 PM ET
Hello Atlanta Dream Fans,
It’s Christopher Stephens checking in from the sales room.
I was very glad to experience the first year of the Atlanta Dream as an Account Executive. For the 2009 season, I am looking forward to my new position as Club 13 Coordinator. I am really excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with our most dedicated fans as we team up to expose more people to the Atlanta Dream experience. Our Club 13 program will reward each member for doing the thing they love– talking about the Dream!
Our Club 13 members will soon come together to “Tip-Off” our 2009 sales season. We will share our 2008 experiences, meet members of the Atlanta Dream staff, and learn more about selling the Dream. I will be sharing the awesome 2009 rewards that can be obtained, including exclusive merchandise and a road trip with the team. Last year, four Club 13 members and their guests were able to travel to New York with the team, and I look forward to taking even more members on the 2009 road trip!
By now, I’m sure you are interested in knowing more about our Club13 program, so give me a call at 404.954.6658. That’s my direct line in the office and I look forward to telling you all about the program and my role.
Renew your seats and purchase more,
Christopher Stephens
February 28, 2009 at 6:13 pm |
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