Atlanta Hawks

From Hoopedia

1 Franchise History
2 Franchise Arenas
3 Franchise Personnel
4 Retired Numbers
5 External Links

The Tri-Cities Blackhawks (which include Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa) began as a National Basketball League (NBL) team in 1946. They joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1948. In 1949 the BAA and the NBL merged, creating the National Basketball Association.

Like Chicago's National Hockey League franchise, the Blackhawks were named after the famous Sauk Chief Black Hawk. Chief Black Hawk's tribe had been located in Rock Island and a major part of the 1831 Black Hawk War had been fought in the surrounding areas. Thus the owners named the team the "Blackhawks".

In 1951, the team migrated north to Milwaukee where the name was shortened. The team became known as the Milwaukee Hawks.

Four years later, the team moved to St. Louis to become the St. Louis Hawks.

The Hawks relocated to Atlanta in 1968, just in time to win the division championship.

[edit]

Franchise History

The Atlanta Hawks began their history as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. They won one NBA championship in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks and the franchise has taken 14 division titles. Read more about the Atlanta Hawks Franchise History.

[edit]

Franchise Arenas

Arena	Years	Notes
Wharton Field House	1946-1951	Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Milwaukee Arena	1951-1955	Milwaukee Hawks
Kiel Auditorium	1955-1968	St. Louis Hawks
Alexander Memorial Coliseum (at Georgia Tech)	1968-1972 and 1997-1999	Had a home game in Columbia, SC (1968-69) Had home games in Auburn, Ala, Columbia, SC, Greenville, SC, Memphis (2), St. Louis and Salt Lake City (1969-70)
Omni Coliseum	1972-1997	Had 4 home games in Charlotte (1977-78)
Lakefront Arena (University of New Orleans)	1984-85
Georgia Dome	1997-1999
Philips Arena	1999-present