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The Falcons, Atlanta United Drop Papa John’s Following Founder’s Racist Remark

Three of the South’s biggest professional sports teams are reevaluating their partnerships with the pizza delivery giant

The playing field and stands inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The playing field and stands inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Ryan Fleisher/Eater Atlanta
Beth McKibben is the editor and staff reporter for Eater Atlanta and has been covering food and cocktails locally and regionally for 12 years.

The Atlanta Falcons, major league soccer team Atlanta United, and the Braves have suspended their relationships with Papa John’s Pizza following confirmed reports founder John Schnatter used a racial slur during a conference call, the AJC reports. Schnatter resigned from the company on Wednesday after he admitted using the N-word during a company training call in May.

The Falcons and Atlanta United play out of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (which carries the pizza chain in all three concourses) and have incredibly loyal fans throughout the Southeast. Atlanta United, in particular, is drawing record-breaking crowds to its matches since debuting on the soccer scene last year. The Braves also draw fans from throughout the region to its games at SunTrust Park just north of the perimeter.

No word as to how much the suspended partnerships with three of the South’s biggest professional sports teams will cost the pizza delivery giant.

All three teams, along with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, say they are currently reevaluating their relationships with Papa John’s.