Who Owned the Atlanta Braves? A Local’s Guide to the Team’s Owners Through the Years

If you live in Atlanta, spend weekends at Truist Park, or you’re just trying to understand how the Braves fit into the city’s business and sports landscape, it’s natural to wonder: who actually owned the Atlanta Braves, and how has that changed over time?

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused walkthrough of the Braves’ major ownership eras, how those owners shaped the team and the city, and what that means for fans and residents today.

The Short Answer: Who Owns the Atlanta Braves Now?

As of the most recent publicly available information:

• The Atlanta Braves are owned by Liberty Media Corporation, a large media and entertainment company.
• The team is held in a special tracking-stock structure commonly known as the Atlanta Braves Holdings (or Braves Group) within Liberty Media’s broader business.
• The club plays at Truist Park in Cumberland (just outside the Atlanta city limits in Cobb County) and is surrounded by The Battery Atlanta, a mixed-use development that’s closely tied to the team’s current ownership strategy.

For Atlanta residents, this ownership model matters because it has influenced:

• Where the team plays (the move from Turner Field to Truist Park)
• How the area around the ballpark was developed (The Battery Atlanta)
• How team finances are organized (through a publicly traded structure rather than a single family owner)

Now, let’s walk through how we got here.

Early Days: The Boston and Milwaukee Years (Before Atlanta)

Before the Braves arrived in Atlanta, the franchise had a long history in Boston and Milwaukee. While this is outside Atlanta, it helps explain how the team eventually landed here.

Key points from the pre-Atlanta era:

• The franchise began as the Boston Red Stockings in the 19th century and went through multiple name changes and owners.
• In the 1950s, the team moved to Milwaukee and became the Milwaukee Braves, owned by a group of Milwaukee-based investors.

By the early 1960s, team executives were looking for a new market with stronger growth potential, and Atlanta’s civic leaders were actively recruiting a Major League Baseball team, setting the stage for the move south.

1966: The Braves Arrive in Atlanta

The Braves moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season, backed by team leadership and local political support that saw big-league baseball as part of the city’s growth strategy.

At that time, the Braves’ ownership structure was essentially a group of private investors, but the name most Atlanta fans eventually associate with early Braves ownership is:

• Ted Turner, who would later become the most influential owner in Atlanta Braves history.

Ted Turner Era: 1976–1990s – When the Braves Became “Atlanta’s Team”

For many Atlantans, the answer to “Who owned the Atlanta Braves?” starts and ends with one name: Ted Turner.

Who Was Ted Turner in Braves History?

• Ted Turner was an Atlanta-based media entrepreneur who built Turner Broadcasting System (TBS).
• In 1976, Turner bought the Braves, seeing them as valuable programming for his cable TV network.
• He later acquired the Atlanta Hawks as well, weaving Atlanta’s sports identity into his media empire.

Why the Turner Era Matters in Atlanta

During Turner’s ownership, several key things happened that directly shaped the team’s place in the city:

• TBS “Superstation” broadcasts: Braves games were aired nationally, turning the team into “America’s Team” and massively increasing its fan base—while still rooted in Atlanta.
• Significant investment in the farm system and player development, setting the stage for the 1990s success.
• The rise of legendary Atlanta figures like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, and manager Bobby Cox.

1995 World Series and Atlanta Pride

Under the broader Turner ownership umbrella, the Braves:

• Won the 1995 World Series, bringing a Major League championship to Atlanta.
• Dominated the National League East throughout the 1990s.
• Helped define Atlanta as a major-league sports city, alongside the Falcons and Hawks.

For fans who grew up in Atlanta in that era, the mental answer to “Who owned the Atlanta Braves?” is usually: “Ted Turner and his media company.”

Corporate Ownership: Time Warner and the Late 1990s–2000s

As Turner Broadcasting grew and went through mergers, the Braves’ ownership shifted from a local media mogul to large corporations.

Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner

• In the 1990s, Turner Broadcasting merged into Time Warner.
• This meant the Braves were now owned by Time Warner, a major national media corporation, not just a local Atlanta-based operation.

From an Atlanta resident’s perspective:

• The team was still deeply connected to the city, playing at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and later Turner Field (named after Ted Turner).
• However, decisions about spending, payroll, and long-term strategy were increasingly tied to a large corporate structure.

The Turner Field Era

• The Braves moved to Turner Field in 1997, a stadium originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• After the Olympics, the stadium was converted into a baseball park and became the Braves’ home in downtown/near south Atlanta.

For many Atlantans, this period felt like:

• A time of continued on-field competitiveness.
• A shift from a local-owner vibe to a more corporate, big-company ownership feel.

Liberty Media Takes Over: 2007–Present

In 2007, Liberty Media Corporation acquired control of the Braves from Time Warner, marking the beginning of the current ownership era.

Who Is Liberty Media?

• Liberty Media is a large media and entertainment company that owns interests in various sports and media properties.
• The Braves became part of a tracking stock structure often referred to as the Braves Group, allowing the team’s financial performance to be tracked separately for investors.

What This Has Meant for Atlanta

Under Liberty Media’s ownership, a few huge changes have directly affected life and development in and around Atlanta:

1. Move from Turner Field to Truist Park

• In the mid-2010s, the Braves announced a move from Turner Field to a new ballpark in Cobb County, just northwest of Atlanta.
• Truist Park (originally SunTrust Park) opened in 2017.
• While technically outside Atlanta’s city limits, the move impacted:
  • Traffic patterns for metro residents commuting from across the region
  • Economic development in Cumberland and surrounding areas
  • The future use of the old Turner Field site (now Center Parc Stadium, used primarily for Georgia State University football and other events)

2. Development of The Battery Atlanta

• Liberty Media’s strategy wasn’t just to build a ballpark—it was to create an entire mixed-use development around it.
• The Battery Atlanta, adjacent to Truist Park, includes:
  • Restaurants and bars
  • Retail stores
  • Office space
  • Residential units
  • Event and entertainment venues
• For Atlanta-area residents, this turned Braves games into an all-day destination experience, and it’s now a major regional gathering spot even on non-game days.

Quick Reference: Major Braves Ownership Eras

Here’s a simple summary to keep the timeline straight:

How Ownership Affects Fans in Atlanta

If you’re in Atlanta, understanding who owns the Braves does more than answer a trivia question. It helps explain:

1. Stadium Location and Access

• Ted Turner / Time Warner era: Braves games anchored downtown/south Atlanta at Turner Field.
• Liberty Media era: Games moved to Truist Park in Cobb County, shifting:
  • Driving routes and game-day traffic (especially off I‑75 and I‑285)
  • Transit options (limited direct MARTA rail access vs. previous options near downtown)
  • Where surrounding businesses and nightlife cluster on game days

2. The Game-Day Experience

Current ownership has emphasized:

• Entertainment-focused development (The Battery Atlanta) so fans can arrive early, eat, shop, and stay after the game.
• A more destination-style ballpark environment, which affects how Atlantans plan outings—many now treat a Braves game like a full evening event.

3. Team Investment and Competitiveness

While exact budgets and internal decisions are not public in full detail, fans in Atlanta often pay attention to:

• Whether ownership is supportive of competitive payrolls.
• Commitments to long-term contracts for star players.
• Investment in facilities, technology, and the farm system.

Across recent seasons, the Liberty Media era has still delivered:

• A World Series title (2021) and multiple playoff appearances.
• A reputation for strong player development and a competitive roster.

Where the Braves Fit in Atlanta’s Civic and Business Landscape

The Braves’ ownership history also ties into broader Atlanta themes:

Public–Private Partnerships

• Moves between stadiums have involved collaboration between:
  • The organization’s ownership
  • Local governments (City of Atlanta, Fulton County, Cobb County)
• These arrangements influence:
  • Infrastructure improvements near the ballparks
  • Local taxation and development incentives
  • Long-term land use in downtown and Cumberland

Neighborhood and Economic Impact

• Turner Field era: Games drew traffic and spending to neighborhoods south of downtown.
• Truist Park / Battery era: Economic activity shifted more toward:
  • Cumberland and nearby neighborhoods
  • New restaurants, apartments, and office buildings around The Battery

Residents across Atlanta often follow these shifts closely, since they can affect:

• Property values
• Job opportunities in hospitality and retail
• Traffic congestion and commute patterns on game days

If You’re New to Atlanta and Curious About the Braves

If you’ve recently moved to Metro Atlanta or are visiting and want to understand the team’s place in local life:

• Know the names: Ted Turner (historic local owner) and Liberty Media (current owner) are the big ones.
• Visit the key sites:
  • Truist Park & The Battery Atlanta – for a look at the current ownership’s vision of a live-work-play district.
  • The former Turner Field area (now Center Parc Stadium) – to see how the old Braves home has been repurposed.
• Listen to local conversation:
  • Longtime residents often compare the Turner Field days to the Truist Park era, especially around access, traffic, and neighborhood feel.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Residents and Fans

• The Atlanta Braves are currently owned by Liberty Media, through a specialized Braves-focused structure.
• Historically, Ted Turner’s ownership is the most iconic in Atlanta, tying the team to the city’s media growth and 1990s dominance.
• Ownership changes have directly influenced:
  • Where the team plays (from Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium → Turner Field → Truist Park)
  • How surrounding areas have developed (downtown vs. Cobb County)
  • What the fan experience feels like (traditional stadium vs. mixed-use entertainment district)
• Understanding who owned—and who owns—the Atlanta Braves helps explain a lot about how the team interacts with Atlanta’s neighborhoods, traffic, business growth, and civic identity.