The Atlanta Falcons clinched their fifth division championship over the weekend and at 11-1, the Birds are now focused on laying claim to home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Today’s Midtown Patch Pictures of the Day pay homage to their first division title more than three decades ago when quarterback Steve Bartkowski guided Atlanta to the 1980 NFC West Division crown. "Peachtree Bart" was in Midtown recently helping the local Courtyard by Marriott, the official hotel sponsor of the NFL, host a surprise tailgate party before Falcons-Saints game on Nov. 29.
The party at the Courtyard Midtown/Georgia Tech hotel located at 1132 Techwood Drive featured complimentary food and beverages, and raffles to win NFL giveaways including game tickets to that night’s game against New Orleans. The game tickets winner was Sheiree McClinton, who is picture here with Bartkowski, who played for Atlanta from 1975–1985 and remains the club’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
This past spring, Bartkowski was also selected to the College Hall of Fame in honor of his career at the University of California, Berkeley. He'll be inducted tonight during a ceremony in New York City.
What are your memories of Bartkowski during his time with the Falcons?
To engage guests on social media, a Courtyard by Marriott Facebook sweepstakes is open until Feb. 3, 2013 for the chance to win tickets and the ultimate prize to travel to all the winner's favorite team's away games in 2013 (airfare, hotel and transportation included). The sweepstakes will also be giving away TVs, Super Bowl tickets, Courtyard Giftcards, Pro Bowl tickets and more.
Additionally, each week throughout the season, Courtyard and the NFL will honor one standout on-the-road NFL player who will be dubbed the Greatness on the Road player of the week by the NFL and showcased on NFL.com and Thursday Night Football. To coincide with the player award, one frequent business traveler will also be honors with Marriott reward points and featured on Courtyard's Facebook page.
Other fun things Courtyard is doing for guests throughout the NFL season include:
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