During her time in Atlanta from 1994-2000, Janet Marie Smith was President of Turner Sports and Entertainment Development and Vice President of Planning and Development for the Atlanta Braves. In addition to helping transform the 1996 Olympic Stadium into Turner Field, she also led the concept design thinking for the development of Philips Arena (now named State Farm Arena). The venue became one of the region’s premier event venues, was and is home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and was the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers’ home during the franchise’s tenure in the city from 1999-2011 before the club relocated to Canada in Winnipeg.

Smith worked for Stan Kasten – at the time, the President of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks and now Smith’s colleague as the President and Co-Owner of the Dodgers. The goal for the construction of Phillips Arena was to anchor the newly refurbished downtown neighborhood development in the wake of the success of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Phillips Arena was a well-received modern replacement to the 1970’s-era Omni Coliseum and elevated the venue, player, and fan experience for the Hawks and Thrashers.

Smith’s work at Phillips Arena paved the way for many more venue projects that she pursued across her career impacting different cities and fanbases.