Nightcap - Hawks AF - Hawks CEO Steve Koonin on touring the aquarium with Beyoncé, team's future, & ATL's best

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin joins DC at State Farm Arena to talk the team's young core of players, that time he guided Beyoncé on a private tour of the Georgia Aquarium, his favorite places in the city, and how he strives to make an impact on the community in his role as CEO.0:00 Intro2:20 Zacch, Dyson, and Jalen3:42 An epic Beyoncé story5:50 Celebrities coming to Hawks games7:05 ATL traffic8:19 Fav place to eat in ATL9:50 Chocolate Chip Cookies10:20 Serving the ATL community12:05 We goin' to the Blue Flame @ ClubShayShay @ Nightcapshow_ #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. The Made for This Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and then climb that mountain. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify, the thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on good company. The podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there, and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran-Contra affair. The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do.

To hear the whole story, listen to Fiasco, Iran-Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know the people at home like, man, is he the president of the United States? I wish. I wish. As a matter of fact, I think he's going to run in the next three years. Today's guest is an OG. An OG from Atlanta.

Born and raised. UGA graduate. He worked for Coke. He worked for Turner. He's the chairman of the Aquarium. He's the CEO of our very own Atlanta Hawks. Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for Steve Cooney! Come on, y'all.

That was an amazing introduction. Just a reminder, it's an empty building behind us. That's what I'm trying to tell you, but we got a little crowd in here, Steve. Okay. As the CEO, man, like what is the number one job for you when you enter this arena, this establishment? Because I done saw you a couple times, Steve. You be chilling, Steve.

Oh, yeah. You be acting like you ain't who you is. You know, I just see everybody move out your way. You just sit down. But what's your number one go-to when you come in here? Like, what's on your mind? I want people to have the best experience that night, and it starts at the Hawks game.

I want to excite Atlanta, entertain Atlanta, and we want people to come here, and it demonstrates Atlanta, which is all of us who are different come together and celebrate one thing, and that's a Hawks victory. Now, I want to know, because everybody has probably been through this, what's a player that we got rid of that you wish we wouldn't have? I'm going to try to go back so it's not under any administration. Come on, Steve!

You know, it's interesting. I'm not sure there have been a lot of All-Stars developed on other teams that have come from our roster. I'm not, you know, I don't have that. You know, Kevin Willis was with us for a long time and ended up playing 22 years, and Kevin's been a great friend of the organization. But in contemporary times, you know, you don't look back.

You make the moves and you keep going. So at this state, what do you think is needed for the Hawks? Well, I think you see Risa Shea. He's had a fabulous rookie season. He's doing his thing. You know, he's 19 years old. Yeah, he's a kid. 19 years old.

He's a kid. Then you got Dyson Daniels, who's in the conversation for Comeback Player of the Year. Defensive Player of the Year. He's 22 years old. And then Jalen, just 23 years old. So you have three players

that are definitely on the rise. Now, but you know, we like to do a little digging and we end up doing some some some digging steve you are an investigator we are some we do do some investigation uh who is stevie k well i'm a grandpa now uh-huh fun as hell they're right three kids under four years old. Wait, yeah, four, three, and three from my two kids. I am hopefully one of the biggest cheerleaders for Atlanta. Right. I am somebody who wants to give back to the city that's given me so much, and that's the aquarium and Metro Chamber and other things I'm involved in. And I love my friends and I like to have fun.

And I am a monster sports fan. But see, Steve, like I said, you keep down playing your role, man. We've been, we, we gonna keep digging. We gonna keep going in the past. Now, like you say, you over there at the query. Now, only somebody with this type of status can pull moves like the move I'm about to say. Now, you got Jay-Z and Beyonce. They don't even know they want to come down here.

But you know what? I just want to go see some fish. I toured her last summer at the aquarium. Nobody there. Nobody there. It's just her and her family and possibly the largest human being I've ever seen. It's her bodyguard. Right.

And she was lovely. We spent three hours. Her kids had free reign of the place. Right. We did very well in the gift shop that night. Right. No discounts. They don't need it.

And, you know, what the aquarium symbolizes to me is the resurgence of downtown. Right. So I've been, you talked about where I've worked. I've worked within a mile of this arena my entire career. Between Coke, Turner, CNN Center, and now where we are at State Farm Arena. And the aquarium started to lift downtown. Now there's restaurants on Marietta Street. Now there's multiple hotels.

Now we've started centennial yards across the street from here who have two towers that have come out of the ground and a lot more coming. In fact, you know, there's going to be a great concert venue there that I know you can fill this place,

but on your off nights, you go fill that place. Yes, sir. Work on new material and put some dough in your pocket. Yes, sir. And mine. You talking that talk.

Yeah, I know. Now, because everybody contributes to the community in a different way and to hear you contribute into all of these you know these monumental things that we have that's for our city like explain to the people the process of saying like okay this is what i've done this for this is what i came back to contribute for for moments like jay-z and beyonce to come in here and have an experience he didn't want to go see the fish she did who she did jay-z stayed in the hotel he stayed in the hotel all right well beyonce did she did oh she did she was here so so and her mom so explain to the people like this is the reason why like you came

back to contribute for these type of moments for people to have about our city. Yeah. I mean, I want to show this city off to anybody and everybody. You know, Will Ferrell's coming here to shoot a movie in a couple of weeks. We reached out and said, love to have you at a game. In fact, he's a pretty good hooper. He definitely will. Come on now.

You know we need somebody to back up Trey anyway. Here you go. You're thinking the same way I am. You say you want somebody young, up Trey anyway. Here you go. You're thinking the same way, aren't you? You want somebody young, so I don't think Will. Well, but I didn't go as far as having him on our active roster for the playoffs. Okay, he can't go to the Skyhawks now. Man, their season's over. I was thinking if, you know,

putting together some, you know, practices over at the practice facility or having Will come to a game and, you know. Him and Adam Selleck can ball too. That's true. We need to have a celebrity game, Steve. That's kind of what I'm thinking.

You know I got to be the coach now. You work with us now. You're going to be a captain. I'm not going to be a coach. You're talking about on the team, Steve? You're going to be on the fantasy team I'm making up as we talk. Is this recorded?

Because I don't need nobody to go back on their word. There's nothing in these cameras. Sorry. Oh, my goodness, Steve. Hold up before we got to go because I don't want to hold you up too much time. No, take your time. We got some real on-the-go questions right now. And we want to know your input.

Worst traffic in Atlanta? I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question. Worst traffic in Atlanta? I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question. Worst traffic in Atlanta. I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question. Well, what we hear- There's bad traffic in Atlanta? Yeah. Well, that's because everybody wants to be here.

Why? Because we the best, Steve. I told you I'm the cheerleader for Atlanta. I'm not going to take the bait on this shit. Come on. I see where you're going, Steve. Isn't that traffic? Hey, Steve done been interrogated before.

He said, what did you say? It's Narnia in Atlanta. Right. And the traffic in Narnia sucks. Okay, here we go. Because a lot of people don't know the back road. You know, I'm from the west side, Steve. I know the back road.

I can take you to a couple back roads. Can you get from here to the airport without getting on the highway? Yeah. Okay. I'm going straight up Haightville. Right, to Stewart Avenue. Right. Yeah.

Steve, what you know about Stewart? Hey, Steve, we got to go to Blue Flame after this, Steve. That'd be interesting. Now, do you know about Blue Flame? I'm going to pretend I don't. Is that something the gas company puts on? Georgia Natural Gas. You know what?

It do get hot in there, Steve. I see where you're going. I see where you're going, and I'm running the other way. Bye-bye, Steve. Okay, here we go okay favorite place to eat oh that's tough because i go to a lot of places to eat but um i love what geo does oh what is it that's uh antico pizza geo's chicken right geo's right on across the cross street from the gas station exactly right you can, you can eat outside. Yeah. They got the lemon pepper chicken.

Yeah. Yes, sir, I know what you're talking about. Yeah, a good taste. Yes, sir, that boy in the streets. That boy Steve in the streets. Here we go. How do I get into the owner's lounge, though, Steve? Ask.

I don't know why I just ain't. I've been asking the wrong people. Yeah, you have. Love to have you. So basically, I just need to say go get Steve. Yeah. Say no more. Or send me a text and say I'm going to be there tonight.

And I'll say, OK, I'll meet you in there. Just don't walk past me, Steve, because they're going to make me look bad. No, I will come get you. My teeth. I know where you sit. You used to sit next to me. Then you moved. You dumped me.

Did I not just say all that? I said I used to sit next to Steve. Steve just be telling. We need to upgrade. I got to get close. So I said, I used to sit next to Steve. Steve just be telling. We need to upgrade. I got to get close. So I get away from him. No, I love you, Steve, but I got to get close so they can hear me. I'm sorry.

We were on the third row. We was on the third. And I can't hear you, and you are funny as hell. But I feel like y'all put like a blockage for the players or y'all trained them to not talk to us. It's a basketball game, not a comedy show. The show comes after the game. I know, but they got to feel it.

We threw some seven-year-olds out for screaming, Trey, Trey, Trey, Trey, when they were in the huddle. Yeah, they can't keep doing that. No, seven-year-olds got to behave. I understand that. Can't come here and cause trouble. So check this out, because I'm a fan favorite of these. Have you tried the chocolate chip cookies?

You the CEO. Oh, yeah. Them chocolate chip cookies you you just you see yo oh yeah them chocolate chip cookies they are my death they are i eat a corner of one if you're a diabetic do not sit down now no we we got good cookies and in the owner's lounge they're even better they're even better even better homemade here all i gotta do is just ask me what I'm asking nobody else but Steve. Okay, here we go. Best thing about being a CEO of the Atlanta Hawks is that I can help bring the community together. We can support things. Samir one has a midnight basketball program for

young people. They believe in the fact show that it helps kids get off the street. Conflict resolution. Boom. One phone call. Yes, Mr. Mayor. We're going to support that. And we're there.

When COVID hit, we took our 28 courts that were in Atlanta and we turned them into pop-up grocery stores and fed many communities. And when we got great feedback for feeding communities, but we heard that seniors couldn't wait in line to go get their food, we pivoted to a home delivery service. We did something we called Healthcare Heroes. After you worked a shift during the first weeks of COVID and you work 14, 16 hours a day, the last thing you have time to do is go grocery shopping and

make food at home and a lot of frontline workers were actually being booed in grocery stores people were scared they didn't know what was on them because they work in hospitals right we assembled a bunch of restaurants here turned them into commissaries and provided the meals to take home to feed their families so sports are the thing that brings people together, brings you and I together. Most likely I wouldn't know you in the TV business. Cause I think you're wildly talented and want to put you in 10 shows. I'm talking about the, yeah, I know. Can't go back. But we're in a position where we can do a lot of different things that make this city better. Yes, sir.

And writing checks and giving money to charity, super important. But doing things is the essence of what we do. Yes, sir. And that's what I'm the most proud of. Well, OG, man, I wish we could talk all day, man, because at this point, I feel like we best of power. Because all I'm going to do is ask for Steve. I'm not talking to nobody else in this building, man.

We will change phone numbers. And I see on my screen DC Fly. And I'm pulling up. Tell them to pull a couple of cookies and put them. Put a couple of cookies. Yeah. I'll give you my share. You said I need to eat.

I'm saying you need good cookies. I do need some good cookies. And when you look out for me, I'm going to look out for you. Once we leave the game, we're going to the cookies, Steve. And when you look out for me, I'm going to look out for you once we leave the game. We're going to the flame. And guess what? I'm Steve Coon in it now. You know what I'm saying? Yeah.

I wish you well. Yeah. That's what I'm trying to tell you. From the city, man. Is that what AF stands for? After flame? See? Steve, man. Hey. you see him come on man that's a permission slip from my family

that's what I'm trying to tell you Steve I don't want this to be your last time pulling up on me man we here this city appreciates you man we got your support and we support you and appreciate what you do for our city you're playing this building soon that's all we want to do we just want to keep bread you know bridging the gap

and building up the community absolutely that's what we doing man hey america ladies gentlemen none other than the ceo man steve cooney we're going to the flame. Come on, Steve. The Made for This Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and then climb that mountain. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify,

the thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain, this is the struggle. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on good company. The podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators

shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There's so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency.

It became known as the Iran-Contra affair. The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do. To hear the whole story, listen to Fiasco, Iran Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart Podcast.