Ted Turner sold the Atlanta Braves as a direct consequence of the merger between his company, Turner Broadcasting, and Time-Warner in 1996.
The Merger's Impact on Braves Ownership
The primary reason for the sale of the Atlanta Braves by Ted Turner was the significant corporate restructuring that occurred with the merger of Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), which owned the Braves, into Time-Warner. This major consolidation of media assets in 1996 led to a change in ownership for several of Turner's properties, including the baseball franchise.
While Ted Turner had a deep personal connection to the Braves, having famously bought the team in 1976 and even once managing a game, the strategic corporate decision to merge with a larger entity like Time-Warner necessitated the divestment or transfer of ownership of the sports team. The Braves, along with other assets, became part of the much larger Time-Warner portfolio.
Key Details and Timeline
The year 1996 was notable for Atlanta, not just for this major corporate merger but also as the host city for the Summer Olympics. This timing provides an interesting backdrop to the ownership change.
| Event | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Turner Broadcasting's Merger | 1996 | Ted Turner sells the Braves as part of the integration with Time-Warner. |
| Atlanta Summer Olympics | 1996 | City hosts the games, coinciding with the merger and Braves ownership change. |
| Braves Move to New Stadium | 1997 | The team moves into the stadium built for the Olympics, later named Turner Field. |
Following the merger and sale, the Atlanta Braves moved into their new home field the very next year, in 1997. This stadium, originally constructed for the 1996 Summer Olympics, was retro-fitted for baseball and subsequently named Turner Field, a lasting legacy of Ted Turner's impact on the team and the city, even after his direct ownership concluded.
