Q&A with Bob Williams

1. Talk about your background in Atlanta?

My family moved to Atlanta when I was 12 years old and it has since become a truly great international city. After graduating from the University of Georgia, I began my career as a ticket sales rep for the Atlanta Hawks. Over the next forty years I worked in or managed every department for the Hawks and the two arenas they’ve played in, hosting more than 7,000 events including three NBA and NHL All Star Games, the 1996 Olympic Games Volleyball and a Democratic National Convention. I have seen the growth and evolution of this city first hand through the lens of sports and entertainment.

2. Are you a golf fan? Do you play?

I am a huge golf fan and I check the FedEx standings after every tournament. I also play the game…unfortunately, poorly. Eleven of my college buddies and I play together once a year, and over the 30 years of our tournament, I have aptly earned the nickname, “the caboose.”

1. Why is the culinary experience important to the tournament in Atlanta?

Atlanta is one of the sports, music and culinary capitals of the United States. Therefore, it is expected that events held here—and this is an event town—honor the standards that our residents and visitors have come to expect. One example is when I opened Philips Arena and partnered with The Buckhead Life Restaurant Group which owns eight of the best restaurants in Atlanta. We offered the city’s favorite menu items from their world-renowned chefs at every sports, concert and other events at Philips Arena.

5. What makes Atlanta a great sports town?

What makes Atlanta a great sports town are the same things that make Atlanta a fantastic place to live. The city is dynamic, active, multi-cultural and cosmopolitan. It is business- and artistically-savvy. People come from all over the country and the world to call Atlanta home, and despite our multitude of backgrounds, all of us share a pride in being Atlantans.

6. What does the history of Bobby Jones help mean to the TOUR Championship?

East Lake was Bobby Jones’ home golf course where he developed his magnificent skills. His rich history at East Lake signifies an excellence that is embodied by the TOUR Championship event: the 30 best golfers in the world competing at a legendary club for an historic end-of-season title in the FedEx Cup.