“I didn’t know this sport was so exciting!” That’s a common reaction Atlanta Vibe owner and Gwinnett Chamber Chairman’s Club member Colleen Craig hears when fans watch their first professional women’s volleyball match at Gas South Arena. The Atlanta Vibe, the city’s first-ever professional women’s volleyball team, is rapidly gaining popularity and adding a new dimension to the metro area’s sports scene.
Craig, a former dual D1 athlete at Cornell University and an MBA graduate from Harvard Business School, has a profound passion for sports and business. She honed her business skills in New York’s financial sector, eventually managing a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund. After moving to Atlanta to pursue a different lifestyle for her family, she identified an unmet need in the sports market and founded Rally Sports Management, which hosts volleyball clinics and tournaments for youth. More recently, she set her eyes on bringing professional women’s volleyball to our area and founded the Atlanta Vibe. “Sometimes in life, you’re working on different projects and don’t really understand why. Now, I can see how all the pieces of my life fit together to prepare me for this moment,” Craig reflects.
Creating a Platform on U.S. Soil
Despite the popularity of volleyball — which recently set a new world attendance record for any women’s sporting event when a University of Nebraska match drew 92,003 fans — the sport lacked a professional pathway for women in the United States. Elite players who wanted to continue volleyball after college had to play overseas away from family and friends and often in difficult conditions, Craig explains. The Pro Volleyball Federation, a league that includes the Atlanta Vibe, changes that by offering a platform for talented female players to showcase their skills domestically. “I’m honored to be working with these amazing athletes, creating a sustainable platform for women’s professional volleyball on U.S. soil,” says Craig.
The Atlanta Vibe’s inaugural season has been a resounding success, with home matches drawing thousands of spectators and significant engagement from the community. The team has brought together people from diverse backgrounds, creating a unique intersection of culture, sports, entertainment and fashion. “People are already comparing us to Atlanta United and the Atlanta Dream, and we’re only in year one. It’s phenomenal,” Craig notes.
A Vision for the Atlanta Vibe
“What baseball is to Cobb County, we want to be for Gwinnett County,” she says. “We’re building intentionally and looking for the right people to partner with.” The Atlanta Vibe aims to be a championship-level team that drives economic growth in the local community while giving female volleyball athletes a platform to continue the sport they love.
Craig’s involvement with the Gwinnett Chamber has been instrumental in integrating the Atlanta Vibe into the local business ecosystem and enabling her to quickly connect with business leaders. She currently serves on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “We want to make sure the Atlanta Vibe is an asset for the community and the Gwinnett Chamber helps us do that,” she adds.
Looking to the Future
Craig is optimistic about the future of Gwinnett County and the Atlanta Vibe. “The possibilities are endless, and the energy of Gwinnett is palpable. Just look at the variety of events you can engage in here,” she says. “Plus the business community is filled with positive individuals who lift up others. What an incredible place to do business.”