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
ITS A POLITICAL MONEY GRAB
June 30th, 2010
11:16 am
See this link for a history of the political manauvering that went into the new Cowboys Stadium. It offers a sample of whats to come in Atlanta.
Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboys_Stadium
See this link for a history of NFL Stadiums.
Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_National_Football_League_stadiums
Pay close attention to the NUMBER of Super Bowl Wins
with the year of stadium construction.
Lambeau was built a LOOOOOONNNNGGGG time ago.
The Packers have MULTIPLE Super Bowl wins, and they STILL dont see the need to build a BRAND NEW stadium.
Despite all the spin to “convey” the message……
There is NO CORRELATION between a building a New Stadium and to help get Better Players, and Team Performance, or Super Bowl wins.
The so-called “bigwig” meeting is a total sham.
The cost projection of the renovation is PURPOSELY DESIGNED to make a
“retro-fit” of the GA DOME “look” like a failing proposition for the purpose of justifying a NEW stadium.
Next, here we have a MULTI MULTI MULTI Billionaire that will surely want to use Taxpayer money to fund the construction. “They” will SAY that it will be funded by Hotel/Motel taxes, and rental car taxes so only the out-of-towners or visitors will be paying the cost.
In case no one has noticed, the economy is getting WORSE, not better, which means A WHOLE LOT LESS DISPOSABLE INCOME FOR NFL TIX AND FAN TRAVEL. The local taxpayers would be on the hook for any shortfall from the “visitor taxes.”
WHATS IN YOUR WALLET ??
The stated goal of a new, or even renovated stadium, is new club-level, or box seats and other “luxury” features is to generate MORE REVENUE for the Falcons. I seem to recall LOTS AND LOTS of EMPTY SEATS in the regular seating areas last season. Even the new RED seat painting could not hide the GLARING gaps of empty seats.
If the Falcons cant even fill the REGULAR SEATS, how in the Hell are the going to fill the LUXURY BOX SEATS.
If the Falcons want a new stadium so badly, let Mr. Blank pay for it.
He HAS the money. The State of Georgia and the taxpayers DO NOT.
Rankin Smith “threatened” to move the Falcons out of Atlanta if he didnt HIS new stadium. He got a new stadium.
To what other state would Mr. Blank like to move the Falcons
if he doesnt get HIS new stadium?
sam
June 30th, 2010
2:26 pm
From this fan’s perspective, a bigger bang for the buck would be to buy up some of the depressed areas around the Dome and build more PARKING. Open air TAILGATING is what people want more than and open air stadium!
The Braves and Marta
June 30th, 2010
3:18 pm
The Braves are ecstatic that Marta is cutting service because they’ll make more money in parking revenue.
I don't give a rats A**
June 30th, 2010
4:10 pm
’bout as much sense as a refrigerator at the north pole
Go ahead, let ‘em name it anything they want…..it’s just a business…..all the sport was taken out long, long ago. All pro football is about anyway is greed and income re-distribution
NONONONONONO
June 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
bruce
June 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
what about the soon-to-be-closed fort macpherson area? it does have a golf course (= parking and practice facility), marta access, and an area where land is super cheap. Plus, it would help revitalize the area.
But Bruce, how many fans would get killed before the revitalization materializes? That’s probably a worse area than downtown Atlanta and that’s saying a whole lot. In twenty years, Atlanta Downtown will be like Detroit’s now.
ATL_native
June 30th, 2010
4:42 pm
Here’s another alternative. It keeps the Falcons downtown, and better integrates the stadium. It also gives the Falcons what they want: an open-air stadium. It’s pretty interesting- give it a look.
http://cloudarchitecturedesign.com/?p=13
Falcon fan 2
June 30th, 2010
4:47 pm
Doraville (old GM site) airport right nxt door, marta line right nxt door, 285 right nxt door, center of top end perimeter, easy access to I-75, I-85, and Ga.-400.
KCMO
June 30th, 2010
6:32 pm
Wow, now how about that? The house that Michael Vick built with a retractable roof…… lil Mattie just might be able to complete a pass down field now…..
Jerome
June 30th, 2010
8:32 pm
KCMO, it is acttually the house that Deion built. Shows how long you have been a Falcons fan. Retractable roof keeps all parties happy, GHSA, SEC, Live Nation, Motorcross, the many conventions held there, etc.. Just spend the money. I would pay a one cent sales tax.
James
June 30th, 2010
10:16 pm
I have a really good Idea use the teflon, But turn it into a convertible soft top. It will be cheaper trying to make a hardtop retractable roof. Have it lift like sails and make back like the original dome. By the way I like that Coca Cola Field at the Georgia dome.
KCMO
July 1st, 2010
12:20 am
Shut up Jerome. Dion and Mike both paid for it. Funny you should bring up Dion because he’s real and stood up for Vick in his time of trouble like a real friend. In fact the only time that I have been interested in the birds is when Vick, Dion, Risen, J.Tuggle, & J.Anderson (Superbowl team) era’s. How many Super bowls have the birds won??????? NADA !! Looks like they are bird-less. The Eagle has landed!! How’s that for a proud Falcons fan?? LMAO
Phoot
July 1st, 2010
11:18 am
I remember some really bad weather at the old Atlanta Stadium where it was cold and rainy.
Also on some days early in the season it felt too hot for football. A retractable roof sounds like a great idea to get the best environment for the fan’s comfort.
Marta’s train access from north,south, east and west is a plus for the GA Dome.
locdog59
July 1st, 2010
3:36 pm
Heaven forbid Falcons fans actually sit in the cold! Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland, New York, New England, Green Bay, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cincinnati all open air stadiums and all with much worse weather than Atlanta. We have plenty good enough weather for an open air stadium. And by the way the Falcons have always said they want a Public/Private partnership and are willing to pay a share of the new stadium. They have already spent millions of their own money on the dome, which doesn’t even belong to them.
Don’t underestimate the value of a professional sports franchise in the downtown area. Ask the businessmen in St. Pete who are sweating the possibility of losing he Tampa Bay Rays right now.
.
All of you who are afraid of panhandlers, stay in your cul-de-sacs. You are not cut out of in town life.
Delbert D.
July 1st, 2010
7:37 pm
Build it open air, private or private/public, out of reach of Atlanta-Fulton County tax grubbers.
jackyldo
July 1st, 2010
7:45 pm
The reality is more NFL teams play outside of downtown than do downtown.. Jets and Giants in another state, Patriots 40 miles from downtown Boston.
If you can retrofit and have a retractable roof, then it should be done… The structure is in place, With more parking, the access it has to MARTA… We’re talking Falcons games, college football, high schools where on a decent day / night you can have all the elements of the outdoors with no worries about climate control… When it’s inclement you can close the roof.
Think about a major event off season soccer 2018 world cup ? Concert U2 under the open dome ? Conventions..
This is an economic engine for Atlanta and must be primed.