Does a retractable roof on the Georgia Dome make sense?
Would putting a retractable roof on the Georgia Dome solve the Falcons' revenue problems? (POUYA DIANAT / pdianat@ajc.com)
BIRDLAND – It’s been kind of quiet on the stadium front.
But today, AJC staff writer Leon Stafford reports on the possibility of a retractable roof being placed on the Georgia Dome.
There’s some political bigwig meeting tonight where the bigwigs will discuss a recently completed study. The study doesn’t tell how much it would cost to put a retractable roof on the Georgia Dome, nearly triple the parking spaces and have enough space for a practice facility.
Architect's rendering of what renovated Georgia Dome could look like. (Populous)
Ofcourse, last month the Falcons said that they prefer a new open-air stadium and that they want to stay downtown in a public-private partnership type deal.
Check out the story. Does a retractable roof on the Georgia Dome make sense to you all? How about selling the naming rights? Coca-Cola Dome? Home Depot Dome? Georgia-Pacific Dome? UPS Dome?
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115 comments Add your comment
David Simon
June 29th, 2010
3:50 pm
Tear down Northlake Mall off 285/La Vista. If GM plant won’t sell to Blank, Simon Properties will. Best place between Gwinnett/Flowery Branch and downtown. They would pull from all suburbs and downtown in that spot and have easy highway access.
JEM
June 29th, 2010
3:51 pm
If there is a a retractable roof installed, they will just keep it closed for the home advantage noise factor. So whats the point?
Ole Techs
June 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
Who cares you will all watch on TV anyway.
Honesty is best policy
June 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
oh please no. get the Falcons out of the ghetto.
SirReal
June 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
Erik,
I’ve talked to quite a few people who say this isnt a good idea. They like the idea but hate the cost and Blank’s team hasnt done enough to make people blindly go for it just because we’re a winner. He should ask again in 3 years after the city has a Lombardi Trophy.
Roscoe
June 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
If Arthur Blank wants an open air stadium than let him pay for it. All of it. Land, structure, etc. And pay property taxes on the land and the structure like any other real business. And then he can keep whatever profits he can make.
The Falcons play 10 games or so a year in Atlanta, depending on whether they make the playoffs or not. The GWCC has to book other stuff in the Dome to make it vaguely pay for itself. Fill in those 10 days with other big events and let the Falcons go wherever they want – on their own nickle.
In a state where we won’t afford provide decent schools, highways, state patrol and all kinds of other necessary services because we are to cheap to pay the taxes to provide for them it is ludicrous to spend our tax dollars on bread and circuses for the benefit of a private business.
Not a penny for professional sports and I’m including NCAA Division 1 football and basketball in that statement. Not ever. They are businesses and shouldn’t be subsidized. Let them rise and fall just like the thousands of small businesses that are the real backbone of our economy.
Honesty is best policy
June 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
Really, the Falcons organization needs to hire security to protect tailgaters. I am sick and tired of bums asking for money. Who knows when it could escalate to more serious crime like a robbery or murder. Seriously, the the “smash and grabbers” i.e. the thugs have taken over the streets.
jroc
June 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
John i meant that Atl has the third best skyline.And John aren’t you proud of places like Buck-Head and Dunwoody,or Smyrna or the Burbs Man.
Don't Do It
June 29th, 2010
4:24 pm
Downtown is the perfrct location. We do not need to move any facility outside of the perimeter. We are getting a new police cheif. It should be the city’s resonsibility to take care of any crime issues, pan-handling, thugs. ( you people do realize thet crime is everywhere you dine, eat, etc., not just downtown) It’s not conveient for some of you, because half of you made the choice to live outside the perimeter darn near, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Falcons need to stay where they are. Go Falcons !
DomePlayer
June 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
The question is, Can they do a full state of the art renovation in between seasons? I dont think there will be enough time. People are looking at replacing a whole different roof, more parking, and any other renovations. What about the idea of turning turner field into a football stadium, kind of like dolphin stadium?
Bama Falcon Fan
June 29th, 2010
4:28 pm
Last time I attended Falcon game was at old Fulton County. However, the idea of playing outdoor football in Dec or Jan in the Atl is foolish. I like the idea of putting the retract. cover over Georgia Dome. the “Depot Dome” does have a catchy name.
Falconidiot
June 29th, 2010
4:28 pm
Move the team North of the ATL.
Say What
June 29th, 2010
4:30 pm
Falconidiot ,
The name fits.
Mike V.
June 29th, 2010
4:31 pm
Whats the point ? I play in Philly now !
Stadium Neighborhoods at I-20 and I-75
June 29th, 2010
4:44 pm
Imagine an enjoyable fan experience you don’t get from the Falcons and Braves… Imagine putting the NEW stadium right next to Turner Field!
You could run a Marta spur to the baseball and football games. There’s plenty of vacant land available so displacement of residents will be minimal, you’d already have the parking lots from Turner Field and then you could open some year round attractions that would liven the fan experience. Some bars, some restaurants, some stores… the impact on the community would finally revive neighborhoods the city long forgot about.
Falster
June 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
Dawgs2010
June 29th, 2010
1:46 pm
“Too late for a retractable roof for the Georgia Dome. Why bother? The building is out-dated and there is a lack of nostalgia.
The building is boring and it is in the worst part of town.
A new open air stadium would be great.It would allow more light and space as opposed to a big hole in the ceiling like a big sunroof.
It is time to move on for the Falcons. As for the Dome doing this for the Dome, then who is going to pay for it?
Go Falcons!”
I concur wit this post!
Falcon Devil
June 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
Doraville makes the most sense. Big area, next to Marta, off 85 and 285 and out of the GHETTO!!
Kel Varnsen
June 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
Falcon Devil,
Doraville is every bit as dangerous if not more so than Downtown, and it hideously ugly. Peachtree Industrial Blvd may be the ugliest street in America.
tau
June 29th, 2010
5:12 pm
You want to build a stadium in East Point????? Only if you want to kill the franchise. The rub now is that the current stadium is in a bad part of town. Fort Mac?
It really doesn’t matter. There are so many issues that control this decision it isn’t even possible to list.
I say put on a retractable roof.
Kel Varnsen
June 29th, 2010
5:12 pm
And to whoever said building a stadium outside of the city would attract the Super Bowl…WOW moron. They want to have a super bowl in cosmopolitan cities not DORAVILLE. where would they stay the Savannah streets hooker motel on P-Tree Industrial, or the exciting office parks of Perimeter Center!? Having a new stadium in town lets people stay in hotels in Midtown and Buckhead you know… in society. The ideal area would be somewhere on the periphery of Midtown since that is our most cosmopolitan and walkable area. The events from the dome would jump start the Midtown Mile but it would most definitely be the nail in the coffin of Downtown, but thats ok. We need to be like NYC and promote Downtown as the 9-5 Business area and steer our tourists uptown to Midtown and Buckhead where they will have a much more enjoyable experience. Unfortunatley they invested a lot in Centennial Park and they won’t let that happen.
Mike V.
June 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
Wyoming has plenty of space!
Kel Varnsen
June 29th, 2010
5:16 pm
I say the Bulldoze the entire area of Boulevard right at Ponce and put it there, perfect location and would get the last “undesirable” crowds out of an other wise very cool area.
Sebastian
June 29th, 2010
5:16 pm
Let them play where they are now and just rename the Dome Bum Field at Panhandle park. Nothing like that ATL street vibe.
Jason
June 29th, 2010
5:16 pm
Haha… suburanites are such cowards. Some old man asks for change and y’all freak out and equate it to attempted murder.
America, Home of the Brave.
Georgia, home of the wussy coward.
Damien
June 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
The next to turner field idea sounds pretty good. I like it a lot. If that couldnt work keeping it right where it is. they could build a new stadium in the huge parking lot north of GWCC. The birds can play in the old dome while the retract is being built and afterwards the old dome could be torn down and be turned into parking and more green space for tailgating and whatnot. That way more people would be able to park on the GWCC campus and not in Vine City (where i lived for 2 yrs.) By the way Mr Blank is trying to improve the neighborhood. thats sounds like the best thing for all everyone as long as we dont have to pay for it
Sebastian
June 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
Why can’t they play in the Dome when it rains and Grady stadium when it’s nice. Grady would be plenty big enough because so many people are scared to watch a game outside.
Falcon Devil
June 29th, 2010
5:23 pm
Kel,
If you think Chamblee, Dunwoody, Norcross and Tucker are as bad and dangerous as the area surrounding the GA dome you are either a fool, ignorant, or possibly both. Buford Highway and PT Industrial are nasty to look at but not comparable to downtown in respect to aggressive panhandlers and shady characters hollering for their crack dealers.
A Disgusted Teacher
June 29th, 2010
5:29 pm
At a time like this, how can anyone in his or her right mind possibly have the audacity to suggest such a thing as a multi-million dollar retractable roof on a perfectly fine (as is) professional sports facility-with taxpayer money, no doubt? So many people are STILL losing their jobs or have been unemployed for months- if not years. People are losing their homes because they have lost their jobs. These are people who never thought they would ever have to ask anyone for help or worry about a roof OVER THEIR HEADS! When will these sports moguls and the politicians get a clue and realize priorities in this country are completely screwed up? Since when did it become “fashionable” to consider a sports facility “outdated” after less than 20 years (as has been the case in other cities)? Students and public school employees spend 180-plus days working in buildings that are approaching 60-80 years old with leaky roofs, faulty electrical wiring, flooding problems, mold, and roaches that could qualify for the Guiness Book of World Records! In my school system, the thermostats in the schools don’t even work because the school board office controls the temperature in every sweltering room-due to budget concerns. The heat or air-conditioning (such as it is) cuts off everyday before most employees can even finish their work. Ask those of us who are fortunate to even have jobs about how much our pay has been cut in just the last year through furloughs, hours cut, etc. At the same time, our taxes keep going up along with insurance premiums, the cost of food, gas, water, sewer, etc. However, such issues are of no concern to the news media. It’s so much more important to publicize the “needs” of a professional sports franchise that pays athletes more money in one minute to play a game than 99% of the US population will see for YEARS of hard and TRULY IMPORTANT WORK!
MCook
June 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
It’s not gonna happen for a LONG time so who cares…
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
June 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
Sounds like a better plan than tearing down a building that’s not all that old and has already undergone major upgrades. You can make the Falcons, the SEC, NCAA, Peach Bowl and Georgia World Congress Center happy with that plan.
Mike V.
June 29th, 2010
5:41 pm
Arty just gave me a call and said the Falcons need to show him sumtin first “fore he makes Atl build him a new stadium so y’all should be alright for the next few years
Drez
June 29th, 2010
6:00 pm
The Falcons definitely need a retractable roof for their fair-weather fans. Most don’t show up on time for games inside. I can only imagine how many will really show up and sit outside on a rainy Sunday afternoon. This is the south, where college football rules. Northerners will sit through bitter cold weather and blizzards to watch their teams. Can Falcons fans honestly say they’ll do the same? The same fans that sell their tickets to Cowboys and Steelers fans when those teams are in town. Build a stadium with a retractable roof!!
Build the new stadium next to Turner Field!!!
June 29th, 2010
6:02 pm
I’m a white guy living near Downtown and I’ve never had a problem. Stay observant, say NO to the panhandlers, don’t put your flat screen in the window, keep your car clean and get a dog. It’s that easy.
The only fear sports fans should have of downtown are the many choices… So many restaurants to eat at, museums or parks to play in.
Build the new stadium next to Turner Field!!! There’s plenty of parking, endless access points to the highway and lots of tax incentives.
Delbert D.
June 29th, 2010
6:14 pm
I think it worked in Foxboro, too. Build it north of the city, away from the grubbers of Atlanta & Fulton County governments.
Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
June 29th, 2010
6:16 pm
How about Varsity Field, or Gone With the Wind Field, or Tara Field, or Grits Stadium (now I’m getting silly).
Go Falcons!!!
Joe Don't Go Squad
June 29th, 2010
6:35 pm
http://joe_dont_go.webstarts.com/index.html
ryan
June 29th, 2010
6:54 pm
Yea i agree changing the dome would make sense instead of spending the money to build a new one and fighting with other towns in court. And adding new luxury sweats and new indoor practice facility and with better parking access might get us a Super Bowl and BCS championship game. SO LETS GET IT DONE.
Coach Hewitt..
June 29th, 2010
7:26 pm
I like this solution for the Ga. Dome…..Vancouver B.C. Eagles Stadium retro fitted rectractable dome…
Roof Facts
* The blue-sky opening is 100 metres by 85 metres — the same size as the field below.
* The fabric roof section retracts into the centre of the opening, where it’s hidden inside of a pod above the videoboard.
* Each of the support masts is 47 metres tall. All together, the structure is like 18 suspension bridges, each around 200 metres long.
* The new roof is much more energy efficient than the original roof, saving 25 percent on energy costs (or about $350,000 per year).
http://www.bcplacestadium.com/index.php/roof.html
http://www.bcplacestadium.com/index.php/roof.html
jojatek
June 29th, 2010
9:42 pm
It’s the obvious answer (surprised it didn’t surface sooner). Is there anything more to discuss…??
Bob
June 29th, 2010
10:47 pm
I think a outdoor stadium in a residential neighborhood in Braselton Ga would be a great place for the falcons to play.
falcon21
June 29th, 2010
10:49 pm
Dol, I for one would like to see a stadium outside of the city, I see many games every season at the dome with my family but I never really feel safe. It my be the same way every you go but in Atlanta I have been asked for money several times and when I keep walking I hear FU MF and my wife and kids hear it to. I work for every dime I get and I will not give it to some sorry azz that wants everything for free.
falco
June 29th, 2010
11:51 pm
We should use public funds to buy the stadium, but in exchange Arthur Blank must buy the Hawks! The Atlanta Spirit Group needs to be dissolved effective immediately and the Hawks should be sold to a single dedicated owner… Heck, Arthur should also buy the Braves while he is at it.
JP
June 30th, 2010
12:54 am
DOL: What’s wrong with downtown? Where would you like for me to start? Actually, it might be easier to name the things that aren’t wrong with downtown.
… There, already done.
realbirdofprey
June 30th, 2010
1:38 am
YES! A RETRACTABLE ROOF MAKES THE MOST SINCE!!!! PLUS ITS COOL!
JK
June 30th, 2010
2:03 am
When the Dome was built it was built with the option to add a retractable roof or a means to grow grass on the field right? Well, rather than build a new stadium in a less desirable location why not go ahead and see what the retractable roof option would offer the fans and the players? I say go for it. It’s the cheaper and most logical option.
Free Mike Vick
June 30th, 2010
8:19 am
Build what you want. Mike Vick will still whup yalls butt!!!!!!
TMoney
June 30th, 2010
8:25 am
I’ve always wondered why this hasn’t been thought of before. The Dome needs a retractable roof if the Falcons are going to play there. Think about it, early in the seasons the Falcons open the Dome and use the Georgia heat (which they have trained in) to their advantage. Once it starts to cool off too much (or if the weather is particularly nasty, close the Dome and let the fan noise be the 12th man. It’s a win win!
mks21701
June 30th, 2010
9:15 am
I think a retractable roof would be a good idea. There would be nothing better than an open aired football stadium, but I am thinking of all the venues that use the dome due to the roof being enclosed. If everyone is real about this, imagine the Super Bowl coming back to Atlanta, Falcons are in it, and it’s February 1st, how cold is it? Like a said I truly support on open aired stadium. Alot of times I think back and wonder why the Braves didn’t take the GA Dome and Falcons take Turner Field. Don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t change that now, but just wondering.
Bob Mairs
June 30th, 2010
10:32 am
Doesn’t anyone rmember why the dome was build. Fulton County Stadium wasn’t just old but very,very, cold.
nativefalcon
June 30th, 2010
10:48 am
GOD Yes it makes sense, just break out a big old can opener and crack open the top of the GA dome and re structure it and put a retractable top on it, they can change the boxes and seating all at the same time. We need best of both worlds and how long it would take to build a new dome, compared to how long it would take to reconfigure the old dome would make sense and make everybody happy. Call it Home depot field whatever.