Alpharetta City Council has approved redevelopment of the North Point Mall site into a mixed-use entertainment district centred on a proposed arena that could host an NHL team. The 4–3 vote is a significant step for one of two groups seeking to return NHL hockey to the Atlanta area, as the league considers potential expansion franchises.

The scheme, led by Jamestown with Machete Group, includes a 20,000-seat arena, which would be the NHL’s second-largest behind Montreal’s Bell Centre, alongside a music venue, community ice rink, cinema, hotels and conference space. A separate NHL arena proposal is being considered in nearby Forsyth County; Atlanta previously lost the Flames in 1980 and the Thrashers in 2011.