The parent company behind FanDuel Sports Network plans to shut down two Atlanta-area offices and may lay off up to 74 workers, a local aftershock from the loss of the Braves’ television rights. The move would affect space at Midtown’s Colony Square, a Doraville office and employees who work remotely.
As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Main Street Sports Group filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) alerting city and county officials that the facilities at 1175 Peachtree St. NE and 3845 Pleasantdale Rd. will permanently close, with layoffs scheduled to begin in mid-April. The filing also specifies that remote workers are included in the potential cuts.
Main Street CEO David Preschlack told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that “final decisions have not been made” and that “any and all aspects of the WARN notices can be revoked at any time.” He added that the network plans to keep carrying NBA and NHL games while it talks with partners about what comes next.
Braves Split And MLB Talks Backup Plan
The closures follow the Atlanta Braves’ decision to end their local broadcast deal with Main Street’s FanDuel Sports Network, part of a broader pullback by MLB clubs after missed rights payments. Major League Baseball is prepared to produce and distribute local telecasts for affected teams, the Associated Press reports.
Workers And Office Footprint
Local real estate reporting and the WARN notice indicate the Doraville operation sits in a roughly 129,000-square-foot building, while Colony Square has large blocks of space now being marketed. Bisnow reports that the WARN anticipates permanent layoffs taking place over about two weeks beginning April 14 and lists affected positions including the vice president of finance, editors, the director of linear ad systems and producers.
What This Means For Fans And Workers
Bisnow also notes that the planned cuts do not affect FanDuel Sportsbook’s separate technology hub at Ponce City Market. Even so, dozens of employees and building landlords are now staring down an uncertain spring while Main Street searches for a buyer or other options. The Braves told CBS Atlanta they are “well on our way towards launching a new era in Braves broadcasting” as the team weighs interim arrangements and future partners.
Background And Next Steps
Main Street, which emerged from Diamond Sports Group’s Chapter 11 reorganization and rebranded its networks as FanDuel Sports Network, has struggled with rights payments and investor interest as part of a larger shakeup in the regional sports network business. Unless the company rescinds the WARN notice or a buyer steps in, the mid-April timeline for cuts remains in place while MLB, teams and local officials work through contingency plans and employees wait for further word, the Associated Press says.
