Are you Falcons fans ready to head back outdoors?
080730 ATLANTA: The replacement of the questionable mauve and teal exterior at the Georgia Dome with new red and black exterior definitively gave the Dome a Falcons flavor. Wednesday, July 30, 2008. POUYA DIANAT / pdianat@ajc.com
Birdland – It’s real simple today, folks.
Loading ...Here’s a snapshot of the stadium situation.
Here’s a look at the modified Georgia Dome after its 2008 refurbishments.
A lot of work has already been done on this project and they usually take almost a decade to complete, so expect more
The Buc's pirate ship. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC)
twists and turns along the way.
Fortunately, this isn’t our first Stadium Rodeo (worked on the Lambeau Field refurbishment and the building of Miller Park and their retractable roof that never seemed to work in the early stages.)
Falcons president Rich McKay was a key figure in the Tampa stadium build up and they have that cool Pirate Ship in the end zone.
Just check in and let us know where you stand on an outdoor, downtown stadium that could possibly host World Cup games in 2018 or 2022.
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204 comments Add your comment
Ryno
May 20th, 2010
9:09 am
If you’re going to build a new stadium – just make it a retractabile roof stadium. Then you can play outdoors when it’s nice and shut the roof when it’s bad.
1. The league will reward you with a Superbowl
2. You can still keep the Chick-Fil-A kick off classic and the Chick Fil A Peach Bowl for extra money for the city.
3. Please make sure it’s Marta accessible since parking down town is a pain!
lamar
May 20th, 2010
9:10 am
Why not remove the roof,from the present dome.The technology is currently available.We Don’t need another stadium built.The state has so many obligations already that we can’t meet.Let’s get real about how we spend taxpayers dollars.Enough is Enough.
JDW
May 20th, 2010
9:10 am
I had season tickets for more than 10 years in the old stadium and have never set foot in the Georgia Dome. I will never attend a Falcons game in the dome. An indoor stadium in Atlanta is just plain stupid. If they go to an outdoor stadium I will go back.
real fan
May 20th, 2010
9:14 am
I have been a season ticjet homder since. 98 and have attaended games at fulton county stadium. I also was a season ticket holder for the jets when I lived in NY. With the price of tickets the way they are and as I come into my mid 40s I would not renew my tickets if we moved back outside. Nothing worse than sitting in the rain trying to watch football . As far as PSLs they are a horrible idea. Falcons cant sell out now. And when we do its because we low ball the cheap seats. Im a little pissed off Rich Mc Kay made this statement without even taking a season ticket holder survey. What happened to theyre fan appreciation for there loyalty through all thoughs crappy seasons.Guess my dad was right. They dont give a rats arse about the fans.
And 1
May 20th, 2010
9:18 am
Rather enjoy the game with my family – less hassles INDOORS INDOORS -
DamntheButcher
May 20th, 2010
9:18 am
If the Falcons pay for all of a new stadium then let them build whatever they want. If taxpayer money is involved in any form then the stadium better at least have a retractable roof. No bowl games and no conventions are going to come to town and sit in the cold or hot. The stadium needs to be used more than the 8 home games per year plus the 2 pre-season games. Spending 400 milling dollars or more needs to be used more than 10 times per season.
And 1
May 20th, 2010
9:18 am
NO ON PSL’S and NO OUTDOORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And 1
May 20th, 2010
9:19 am
IN DOE
skip
May 20th, 2010
9:19 am
Indoor, outdoor, downtown, northside, southside…..who cares. I’m watching from my living room.
Deon's House
May 20th, 2010
9:20 am
While the Dome has superior sight lines than the old stadium (where a 50 yd line seat was also 50 yds from the field), I’d rather be a mile from the field and outdoors any day of the week. Football in the south in the fall is meant to be outdoors … Seems to work OK for ACC/SEC teams … can you imagine the outrage if UGA announced they were doming Sanford? Problem is politics: if the STate is going to be in the mix, they want a multi-purpose facility downtown which is how the Dome came to be in the first place, after Rankin Smith’s bluff to move the Falcons to Jacksonville. Why can’t we keep the Dome as is for SEC Champ, Peach Bowl, motocross, etc.? Who needs the Super Bowl, really?
Mark
May 20th, 2010
9:24 am
Here we go. All the folks in Vanilla Valley (Alpharetta, Cherokee, Cobb, Gwinnett) are gonna want something that’s close to them (but please keep the “undesirables out till my lawn needs mowing) so they don’t have to go “all the way downtown”. Guys, it’s the Atlanta Falcons NOT the Alpharetta Avarians so get over it. Without downtown, your area would still be tranquil farms instead of strip malls and Dave & Buster’s with cookie cutter developments.
Be a man, like in the traditional NFL cities of Philly, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Houston and the like. New Stadium: Outdoors, in the city the team is representing, tailgating with a skyline in the background and making a day of it. Otherwise, go watch Arena football in Gwinnett.
GO ATLANTA FALCONS!!!!
SirReal
May 20th, 2010
9:26 am
@The Insider. I AGREE WITH YOU TOTALLY!
All,
It seems like the retractable roof is the “chic” thing to do in sports right now. Forget it, the Falcons are too cheap. Its either going to be indoor or outdoor. No sexy tops coming off guys. Sorry.lol
mrj
May 20th, 2010
9:28 am
Come to the Northern Burbs! GM Plant site on PIB would be perfectly suited and easily accessible via Marta and several freeways.
Andre
May 20th, 2010
9:36 am
A retractable roof stadium would be ideal, it’ll be perfect to keep all the other events that use the Georgia Dome year round. Technology does allow the Falcons to renovate the Georgia Dome and keep it up to date, but I’m sure they would rather new digs. I’ve always felt moving the stadium to the GM plant site was selfish and I live in Gwinnett. I have family and friends that come to the Falcons game from all over the south and moving the stadium that far out, would just make their ride much more longer. I hate those suburban jungles, look at D.C. they’re begging to come back into the inner city. The Detroit Lions, they moved back into the inner city, and I know half of yall wouldn’t fly over Detroit in a plane. Look at Dallas, they were so selfish and cheap, they missed out of the new Cowboys stadium, they had their chance, but didn’t want to pony up. So a suburban city did and now they’re reaping all the benefits. Houston Texans are downtown, Indianapolis Colts are downtown, the game was played in the Metrodome, but if the Vikings move outside, they will lose the final four. Don’t forget, the state legislature passed a provision that would require the Falcons to STAY DOWNTOWN. FOR THE TAX MONEY!!! DUH Why would the super bowl come to Doraville, GA? Why would the Final Four come to Doraville, GA? There are no hotels out there, traffic at the Spaghetti Junction would be a nightmare. Georgia doesn’t want to help pay for MARTA, so that’s unreliable.
dangerousdan88.5
May 20th, 2010
9:37 am
How many dome teams have won a Super Bowl? one? I hate indoor football. Just think Vick would not have broken his leg on that crap turf, Dan Reeves could’ve straightened him out and we’d have a SuperBowl win or 3 by now. No wait, Blank had go through his Home Depot management style 1st by hiring his punk Mora. Oh well. Bring on the grass ,rain slickers.and the Gladitors of steel.
headmofo
May 20th, 2010
9:39 am
If we have an outdoor stadium all bets are off. You can barely get all of the transplant people who live her now to enjoy a game inside the dome….. Why would the Falcons brass think the fans would enjoy the elements?? No one wants an outdoor only stadium!!! A retractable roof is one thing, but when the elements are such that it takes away from the fan experience, I will pass.
Rich, please stop trying to turn Atlanta in to Tampa. Its not warm year around and we do have true winter days.
Focus on improving the fan experience inside the Dome. Scout out an area with better parking and and adequate space for tailgating.
I hate to say this Rich, “we have been spoiled by the Dome”.
David
May 20th, 2010
9:40 am
@Mark, awesome post! Also SirReal…if you didnt see my post..they are doing this also in hopes of the world cup bid…you know how much money is generated through the world cup?…I’ll tell you 3-4 BILLION dollars!…
rebeldawg
May 20th, 2010
9:40 am
Birmingham apparently has plans to build a Dome. The SEC headquarters are in Birmingham. So if we follow through on building an outdoor only stadium then you can pretty much bank on having to drive 2.5 hours west on I-20 for the SEC Championship every year.
Falconsnut
May 20th, 2010
9:41 am
I usually go to see the Falcons at Carolina and I am always glad we have a dome and no PSL’s. Last year, October was nice but won’t go this year in December. Would not renew my season tickets to sit in cold/wet conditions. I would go no matter where it is located.
F-105 Thunderchief
May 20th, 2010
9:49 am
We, the taxpayers have built them a fine stadium. If they want to pay to build a new one, fine. But, the Georgia Dome is 16 years old and has been updated once already. There’s not one thing wrong with it.
FalconFan
May 20th, 2010
9:52 am
Mr. Ledbetter,
Your provide one instance of a retractable roof issue, and you expect everyone to be convinced they do not work? This is beside the fact that the article is dated 2002 … 8 years ago. I am sure Jerry Jones built his 1 billion plus stadium without considering the potential issues with a retractable roof, or Relient stadium, or The University of Phoenix stadium, or Lucas Oil… There should be no issue with a retractable roof if it is engineered and constructed properly.
Alan
May 20th, 2010
9:53 am
I hope Rich McKay and Arthur are outside when the rain comes. Oh no, they will probably be in their box.
mr bobby's gotta go
May 20th, 2010
9:53 am
football is an outside sport. nix the dome pls.
mr bobby's gotta go
May 20th, 2010
9:56 am
the weather is what makes football so exciting at times. rain, sleet, snow, makes for unpredictable outcomes. who didnt like playing in the rain and snow growing up?
FalconsFan
May 20th, 2010
9:56 am
Gotta love the Yuppies that think moving a stadium close their homes is the solution. I’d love to know how many people whining about the Falcons playing in downtown Atlanta have been to games at a stand alone stadium such as Giants Stadium/FedEx Field or even the Linc in Philly. Want to talk about logistical nightmares? How about getting 30-50,000 cars in/out of one massive parking lot using a limited number of entrances. Also, have you noticed what happens to the areas around pro stadiums that reside outside of cities? They’re either run down to begin with (cheap property) or they become run down over time (because property becomes cheap).
Bottom line, the World Congress area is a great place for a stadium, which is why the Falcons want to stay there if possible. There are plenty of ways to get in and out of the area and on to the local highways. Panhandlers/the Homeless? Do you not think they would flock to a stadium outside of the city as well? Also how many are there really? I see more annoying religious fanatics creating issues than the one or two guys that consistently pan handle at the Dome.
Dled, I see your point about retractable roofs, however, how many NFL stadiums have had issues?
And 1
May 20th, 2010
9:57 am
@ Rich McKay – Fan experience – Season Tickets – Luxury Boxes – Pays your salary. Focus on the FAN and family. Cold Wet Rain is not sexy or REAL football. The enjoyment of being with like minded folks who care about the FALCONS is fun. As a season ticket holder I WILL NOT renew my SEATS to sit in the COLD WET RAIN SNOW WIND.
Hollywould
May 20th, 2010
9:59 am
Mark, you do realize that DALLAS plays in Irving.
Butts Wagner
May 20th, 2010
10:01 am
I don’t care where the Falcons choose to play-as long as they pay for every bit of the new stadium. It is not the taxpayers’ duty to fund playgrounds for billionaires and their millionaire employees.
Amen. Did I read correctly that the city will be levying a tax to pay off the Georgia Dome until 2045? How does it possibly make sense to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to build a new stadium? The new stadium wouldn’t be paid off until 2150 at that rate. Let the other cities dig financial holes. The Falcons can take donations or do whatever they can to raise the money themselves. Just don’t turn to the city or state to fund your playhouse. The economy is already a mess.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
May 20th, 2010
10:03 am
If the city’s taxpayers are going to have to foot part of the bill, then it makes more sense to spend the extra money and build a stadium with a retractable roof so that the facility can be utilize in the cold winter months after the Falcons’ season has ended. Otherwise the facility would just be sitting there and not earning any revenue for the city.
Say what you want….but it sure is nice to seat indoors watching the game on rainy and/or cold Sundays at the Dome. I remember the outdoor days at Fulton County Stadium in the rain…believe me, it ain’t a whole lot of fun trying to look around/under umbrella in front of you.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 20th, 2010
10:07 am
Seems like you all are all over the place on this. Private-Public partnership. I think the folks complaining about the rain are getting laughed at by Packer and Bear fans. I’m just saying.
MCook
May 20th, 2010
10:07 am
Tear the roof off the dome and replace it with a retractable one.
And 1
May 20th, 2010
10:07 am
@Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired – I totally agree
GetwhatUpayfor
May 20th, 2010
10:07 am
Hell no to outdoors..8 years at Turner field (season tickets) in Ice , rain, Cold, hot and etc. Keep it inside are you will have half empty stands in bad weather. Agree also that it should be in northside of Atlanta. Many fans don’t care to fight the elements where its at now..sin city!
smoore54
May 20th, 2010
10:08 am
It’s fine to sit outside in beautiful September but I really have no interest in sitting outside and freezing my butt off in December if I don’t have to do it. I’ll just watch on tv for those games. At home or in the local sports bar. Yes, that truly is the definition of a “fair weather” fan but I’m not sure I care. I’ll watch every single game but why be freaking uncomfortable while I do it?
And 1
May 20th, 2010
10:08 am
I root for the FALCONS dont care about bears packer oh my!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 20th, 2010
10:09 am
INDOOR OPTION — Perhaps indoor fans (afraid of rain crowd) can pool together and purchase a suite. http://blogs.ajc.com/business-beat/2010/05/20/open-air-stadium-could-raise-suite-revenue-for-falcons/
Bullseye
May 20th, 2010
10:10 am
I hate the mall-like atmosphere of the GA Dome. Nothing worse than going indoors to watch a Pro Football game. Might as well be in the Mall Of Georgia. The best games I ever seen have mostly been outdoors and the weather was a factor in the game.
Atlanta people complaining about weather!!! You ever been to a game in Miami in October? How about a game in NY or Foxboro in December? You guys are big fat PANSIES.
GetwhatUpayfor
May 20th, 2010
10:10 am
Who cares what Bear and Packer fans think..if they like the cold and Rain… find with me.
And 1
May 20th, 2010
10:12 am
A real FAN and Newspaper person take care of their responsibilities. DOL – Protect your Family Team you worry to much about Opinion of other cities. Go write for them. BYE
smoore54
May 20th, 2010
10:13 am
Orlando –
Yeah, Bears and Packer fans are laughing at us and I have no problem with that while I sit my comfy butt in climate control. When Atlanta starts bringing in the CHAMPIONSHIPS of the Bears and Packers then maybe we can reevaluate how much discomfort a fan is willing to withstand in order to go and see the Birds. Until then, let’s make it better / easier on the fans to want to go and spend money at the stadium for a team that is celebrating just having back-to-back winning seasons as if it were our own little Super Bowl victory.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 20th, 2010
10:14 am
INDOOR OPTIONS IN PHILLY
Luxury Suites 172 Suites
Club Seats 10,828
Club Seats
In a dramatic departure from the confines of the Vet, the new Lincoln Financial Field will include 9,000 Club Seats that will allow patrons to experience events and entertain guests in maximum comfort. Club seats, set in prime sideline locations, will be extra wide and padded. Club patrons will also enjoy waiter service. The Club Seats will be accessible from a luxurious, air-conditioned club level that will house lounge seating, sports bars, video walls, and will feature a pre-game buffet.
Luxury Suites
The number and location of the luxury suites at the new Lincoln Financial Field will represent a significant improvement over the suites controlled by the Eagles at Veterans Stadium.
The suites in the new stadium will be located between the lower bowl and the club seating sections as well as between the club seating section and the upper bowl. The lower level of suites will be among the closest to the field of any NFL stadium. By comparison, the suites controlled by the Eagles at the Vet sit atop the stadium, further from the field than any other suites in the league.
Each of the suites will feature retractable glass windows, allowing fans the opportunity to watch the game in climate-controlled comfort or with the open-air experience.
SOURCE: http://WWW.FOOTBALL.BALLPARKS.COM
GetwhatUpayfor
May 20th, 2010
10:15 am
It don’t make a damn what fans want..its all about the MONEY!
Forget your option ORLANDO.
And 1
May 20th, 2010
10:15 am
@bullseye – Name calling is a real thoughtful way to convince someone to spend hard earned paycheck on sitting in the RAIN COLD WET. I pay as a fan. The players are paid millions to be in the RAIN COLD WET.
Man up bullseye
FalconFan
May 20th, 2010
10:19 am
FalconsFan (you stole my name, jk),
I agree that the stadium needs to be downtown, but I disagree with your argument. My job requires considerable travel, which has allowed me to experience numerous stadiums around the country. I disagree that suburban stadiums are a logistical nightmares or taint the surrounding neighborhood. The Dolphins Stadium is a prime counter-example to your logistical nightmare. They literally have created exits off of major highways that lead only to and from the stadium. The flow of traffic to and from the stadium was the smoothest I have ever experienced. If you have ever been to the new Patriots stadium, you would see a perfect example of how the stadium has actually helped the local economy thrive and prosper. The stadium literally has a mall attached to it, which drives a lot of business to its restaurants, shops, and movie theater. My arguement is that it requires due-diligence and proper planning to make a suburban stadium work, as well as a downtown stadium. Again, I prefer a downtown stadium because of the ambiance it generates, but a suburban stadium can be successful.
FalconsFan
May 20th, 2010
10:19 am
You have to wonder if the Falcons have done any research to see how many Season Ticket Holders they would lose or gain if they move to an open air stadium. I know as a ticket holder I get surveys several times a year regarding the Falcons and I haven’t once seen a question about the new stadium. If the Falcons have a hard time filling a 70 degree, dry stadium they’re going to have a lot of fun filling a new outdoor one in December.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
May 20th, 2010
10:22 am
INDOOR OPTIONS IN SEATTLE
Luxury Suites 100 Suites
Club Seats Unknown
Source: Football.Ballparks.com
Club Level and Club Lofts at Qwest: http://www.qwestfield.com/eventbooking/qwestfield.aspx
Suite Level at Qwest: http://www.qwestfield.com/eventbooking/qwestfield.aspx
Source: Qwest Field website
The piano genius
May 20th, 2010
10:22 am
That pirate ship is gay
Bullseye
May 20th, 2010
10:22 am
Pansie 1. Maybe they will install recliners for you at your new Dome. I don’t care if you come to the game or not. Tell me the number of times you’ve sat in the rain for a game. Freezing rain at that. OHHHH the WIND!!!!! I’m COLD!!!!!!!!!
FalconsFan
May 20th, 2010
10:22 am
Dolphins stadium literally has nothing around it. From that Miami natives they won’t go near that place once it gets dark out.. it’s in a really bad part of town. Suburban stadiums COULD be successful, but I think the Yuppies who don’t already attend games would be in for an eye opener when they spend 1-2 hours leaving a game that might be a few miles from their home.
And 1
May 20th, 2010
10:25 am
Never bought the luxury suite/box stuff. I guess that is for the folks who want Outdoor stadium hang out. I work for a living. I dont live to work.