Stadium deal could have Falcons back outside by 2017
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/DLedbetter@ajc.com)
The Falcons cleared a major hurdle today in their quest for a new outdoor stadium.
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority and the team have entered into one of those “memorandum of understanding” about the project.
Here is the stadium that Falcons provided to the AJC about the matter.
“The Georgia World Congress Center Authority commissioned and has received the results of the study performed by Populous regarding the potential for a new stadium on the Authority’s campus.
“The Authority has shared the report with us as part of our joint exploration of development options. The report addresses a number of topics that will be considered by the Authority and the Falcons as planning discussions move forward.
“We appreciate the Authority’s diligence in working through this process in a thorough and thoughtful manner. We continue to have open dialogue with the Authority on a range of topics and options, with the shared goal of working toward an agreement that is in the best interests of the community, our fans and all other stakeholders involved. At this point, no decisions have been made; therefore, we will have no further public comment at this time.”
Here is the news story on the stadium.
Check out the master plan, here.
Bundle up y’all, the Falcons could be back outside by the 2017 season.
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372 comments Add your comment
marty marty
February 22nd, 2011
9:45 pm
What you are seeing here is pure socialism. The wealthy get the socialism and the middle class/working poor/and poor get the bill and the shaft!
For those who think health care and welfare are solialism….building a new stadium at taxpayer expense is the purest kind of socialism. It is practices all over America!
Rod
February 22nd, 2011
9:50 pm
What a waste of money! With so many people out of work, families struggling, the HOPE grant in jeopardy, the state of Georgia in the shape it’s in…this money could go a long way.
Blank Needs More Money
February 22nd, 2011
10:02 pm
With some of his investments down, Arthur needs a big boost of cash flow—this new $700 million stadium, paid for by atlanta taxpayers, will do the trick, with tons of pricey corporate suites, boxes, tons of new concessions…he’ll make millions per game from you atlanta chumps. pay up–or he may go somewhere else.
Bummer
February 22nd, 2011
10:04 pm
Come on Authur, the economy is in the trenches! The City needs more Police, Firefighters, Teachers, and better educational facilities. Last Falcons game I went to my car was broken into by some Thug knocking out a window. Called 911 then was directed to a 800 number to leave a Police report. APD did not have enough of officers to do a onsight report. No one loves football more than I do, but spending any money on a new stadium would be wrong when the city has so many other needs.
willie
February 22nd, 2011
10:06 pm
I can hardly ever sit in my GT seats because it’s so freakin’ hot. Why in the world are they doing this. At least the first half of the season will be miserable.
KB
February 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
Our current stadium seems to be in fine working order AND accessible by public transit to boot. Why exactly do we need a new one?
How about we put some of that stadium money into our education system?
firedteacher
February 22nd, 2011
10:36 pm
EFF you tired old rich biches!! If the stadium is such a great investment, then, Arthur Blank, Falcon Players and other NFL investors, PUT YOUR OWN MONEY AT RISK!!!! You want a new stadium? Build it your goddamned selves, gurlz!!! DO NOT use taxpayer $$$$ and do not ask us to guarantee bonds to the project! Solvent investment?? GOOD… invest your solvent dollars in it, GURLZ!!!
Tucker
February 22nd, 2011
10:45 pm
Maybe Arthur should sell the Falcons to Bernie since Bernie appears to be the only Home Depot founder with the means and know how to build something himself.
KU Season Ticket Holder Sec 127
February 22nd, 2011
10:54 pm
This is the WORST IDEA EVER!!! WHY Mess up a good thing….
Authur B you will regret doing this. Please listen to your “Paying” FAN Base…..
Say it with me RE-TRACT- ABLE ROOF !!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely
KU
mike
February 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
Sorry, but this Falcon season ticket holder is not going to pay a PSL and then pay for season tickets for any new stadium. I can almost guarantee that PSL’s will be used to defray the cost of the stadium.
And after the FIASCO in Arlington what do you think will happen when a freezing rain and ice storm hits Atlanta during a game in december or on the last game of the regular season in the middle of january (18 game season will be in effect then). Also remember what happened to the Carolina season ticket holders that could not afford playoff tickets against Arizona. They lost their seats for the next year. They also lost their PSL money.
Phil Lunney
February 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
I was a season ticket holder but i really prefer to watch from home. I think the Georgia Dome is a great place to watch football. 2 times my seat has been almost the top row in the end zone but you still have a “bird’s eye view”. When my seats were in the club level they were good.
If they build a new stadium with no public money, I will not be against it. But if the only reason to build it is for another Super Bowl, and public money is used, I vote no. Reading the comments and talking to people around town, most are happy with the dome. The Peach Bowl sells out every year, now the kick off classic. If they want to spend some money to upgrade the facility, that would be money well spent. It will be the NFL’s loss if they don’t come back to Atlanta, not ours.
SawThat1nce
February 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
I don’t even like to watch a game played in the rain, snow, or windy conditions on TV.
Common Fan
February 22nd, 2011
10:56 pm
Get it out of that crime infested area! MARTA is a joke!
Barry
February 22nd, 2011
10:58 pm
Retractable Dome on the current stadium. NO NEW STADIUM. We can’t afford it. If the steal more of our money for it–at least put it north of the perimeter so the people who go to the games don’t have so far to drive.
SawThat1nce
February 22nd, 2011
10:59 pm
Why in the heck would any sane person prefer to watch a football game in foul weather conditio to watching a game in nice climate controled seating.
PJM
February 22nd, 2011
11:01 pm
Falcons need a new team!
SawThat1nce
February 22nd, 2011
11:01 pm
If you don’t live in the ATL area, and state tax money is used, what kind of economic impact is a person going to realize.
SawThat1nce
February 22nd, 2011
11:03 pm
Saying football is meant to be played outdoors, is like saying that mankind, is meant to live outdoors.
jim
February 22nd, 2011
11:30 pm
Geez!!! wouldn’t it be cheaper to remove the dome from the current stadium?
heather
February 22nd, 2011
11:34 pm
Why do they need an open air stadium. If there are really bad rain storms, they have to cancel the games. In the summer it’s going to be hot. In the 90’s most days. They should just remodel the old stadium. The whole point of a dome is not to cancel games.
Dan
February 22nd, 2011
11:34 pm
Thank god for a new outdoor stadium!!! This is the way its suppose to be! In Atlanta especially we need to be outdoors! Anybody that says differently is an idiot!
Life time fan
February 22nd, 2011
11:37 pm
I’ve been a season ticket holder for six yes but no more when I may have to sit in the rain
Atlantan
February 22nd, 2011
11:42 pm
The Ga Dome is ugly. Let them play outdoors. I’ll go!
captguitarman
February 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
I am reminded of the TV cell phone add when the cell phone addict drops his phone into a uninal — while using it — and quickly sticks his hand in to retrieve it . . . . .Really???? Really????? It’s about that bad isn’t it? There is nothing else this city, this region, this state . . . needs more than a new outdoor stadium? Can’t think of a thing? Call their damned bluff. Be the first city, county, region, state to do that. Start a trend. It might catch on. Or, here’s a novel idea, do it for a share of the profits. For the same type a share a private lender, partner, or financier would demand. Oops. There goes the NFL business model that keeps them all the owners billionaires and all the players millionaires. No free stadium??? What are you, a communist? Cities, counties, states, the Feds are all flat busted broke – and we need a new stadium to replace one with years and years of useful life left ???? Are we living in an insane asylum. Call their bluff. Let them leave. How many minutes before someon else will want the Atlanta market and to set up shop in the Georgia Dome. Five minutes. Ten minutes? The NFL will never do it, because they are afraid that if someone does — it might start a trend of no more free stadiums costing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars that they can get tired of and leave in a few short years — unless they get more. And think about this. The Super Bowl has not been back since 2000. The NFL was displeased. Seems there was an ice storm the morning of the game that kept the Georgia Dome from filling up completely with fans before game time. Now they want to put the whole damned thing outside???? Is this the Twilight Zone? Seems like it.
University of Georgia graduate
February 23rd, 2011
12:24 am
No tax money for greedy NFL owners! The stadium should be built only if Falcons owner Arthur Blank pays for it himself. The new stadium would include many new executive boxes for really rich guys and steal from Georgia taxpayers. About a third of the Dallas (Arlington really) stadium was paid with taxpayer money and New Jersey taxpayers are still paying off the bonds for the demolished Meadowlands stadium. I am driving on streets that need repaving and make it seem like we live in a Third World country. Any additional taxpayer revenue should help restore the numerous cuts made to education from Gov. Sonny Perdue and repave roads/bridges.
ls1z28chris
February 23rd, 2011
12:48 am
$700 million on a stadium that Atlanta area “fans” can flee during the third quarter of playoff games? This plan has my official endorsement.
KEEPING IT REAL
February 23rd, 2011
1:08 am
THIS IS CRAZY… NEW STADIUM = PSL…. ask Jacksonville if they like PSL, ask Carolina if they like PSL… we are not a football city, we do not have a football organization, were asking for the Falcons to leave Atlanta…
I hate to say this, we cant trust RYAN on a 30 yard pass in a dome with no wind, what will happen on a 30 yaard pass outside…
KEEPING IT REAL
February 23rd, 2011
1:18 am
SUPERBOWL… WHAT A JOKE….
I’m going to keep it real… The GA DOME is not the reason why Atlanta didn’t get the superbowl. The weather in Atlanta isn’t the reason we didn’t get the superbowl..
ATLANTA didn’t get the superbowl because the NFL owners didn’t like Aurther Blank… The owners didn’t like AB because he was a business man and not a business man with football knowledge. AB really pissed them off when he was rolling MV on the field after he broke his leg… So the owners black balled AB in the voting of the superbowl… So just because we get a new stadium, it doesn’t mean were an automatic vote for a super bowl…
An open air stadium with reduced seating will increase the ticket price and the die hard fans will not be able to afford a ticket…LEAVE THE FALCONS IN THE GA DOME… NEW STADIUM = 1 LESS STH
Mitun
February 23rd, 2011
1:42 am
I understand that they want an Open Air stadium and what is my going to be, it’s going to be NOOOOO! because I don’t want some of our games get cancelled with Snow, Rain or whatever. If we had an retraceble roof then it would be great for us.
I am going to Wrestlemania next and if the stadium was an open air stadium and it’s raining u can forget about it.
JSS
February 23rd, 2011
1:57 am
captguitarman
February 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
“Be the first city, county, region, state to do that. Start a trend. It might catch on. Or, here’s a novel idea, do it for a share of the profits. For the same type a share a private lender, partner, or financier would demand. ”
Sorry, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland did that 30 years… You guys come on here and call them “socialists.” They told the NFL to either finance it or take a walk… They wanted to see the books and Al Davis and Rozelle scoffed… When Rankin Smith did that, the State of Georgia folded like a card table!!!
Darko
February 23rd, 2011
3:42 am
Do it if they can make it happen without tax money. Otherwise, if they expect the taxpayers to fund it, I hope the idea dies.
RED RYDER
February 23rd, 2011
5:53 am
so we should spend $700m to build a stadium to replace one that hasn’t even been paid for ??? let Artie and his pals spends there own money if they want one. reckon we would build Coca-Cola a new headquarters is they threatened to leave without it?? don’t think so and they certainly are more valuable to Atl the the Falcons!!
willdawg
February 23rd, 2011
6:26 am
Stupid stupid stupid…not getting out of downtown, open air with no retractable roof, NOT getting a SUPER BOWL is what that’ll get you. Gettting smaller is NOT a trend. Jerry world 100,000 Fedex field 92000. Another reason why I still root for Carolina and not this bunch in Flowery Branch.
shaggy
February 23rd, 2011
6:31 am
Football is SUPPOSED to be played outside, on grass. You wannabe fans that say you are too delicate to sit outside, should just stay home anyway. You are wimps and wouldn’t know real football if Matt Ryan hit you in the face with one, however I would howl with laughter if I saw that happen.
Real Talk
February 23rd, 2011
6:36 am
Really are you serious with ga weather, hell we don’t know what we gone get and you want to build an open air stadium?
Larry
February 23rd, 2011
6:44 am
NO, NO, NO. Let the millionaires and the corrupt politicians have bake sales to raise the money. No more taxpayer money for bread and circuses. This country is finished.
Real Talk
February 23rd, 2011
6:50 am
But when you playing and paying with other people money and not your own you really don’t care how people feel or what they think.
umm retards
February 23rd, 2011
7:26 am
cancelled with rain, snow?
Seriously? Do you guys watch half the games in December and January?
donaldd
February 23rd, 2011
7:35 am
This is totally about a football franchise who cares nothing for their host city or its fans. The Falcons want to play outdoors??? Give me a break….it’s all about money.
Strange Brew
February 23rd, 2011
7:48 am
Most new stadiums have a retractable roof. Why abandon this idea? Even the damn Marlins that NOBODY GOES TO SEE gets a retractable with their NEW stadium.
Arthur continues to be shortsided on this issue.
Oh yeah, great location.
landover
February 23rd, 2011
7:49 am
When we had Atlanta Fulton County Stadium the big attraction was to build an indoor stadium. Now that we have an indoor stadium they think they want an outside stadium. One of the coldest days I ever remember was sitting in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium watching a Falcons game(with a hand warmer). Silly waste of resources to honor undereducated athletes in a town where half the students are undereducated.
Mike
February 23rd, 2011
7:51 am
The dome is fine, we do not need another government funded white elephant. The Super Bowl be damned, if this is such a great idea then investors should be flocking in to build this thing. No more wasteful spending.
Falcon Fans = WIMPS
February 23rd, 2011
7:53 am
I am too fragile to watch football outside…WAHHH! WAHHH! WAHHH!
I’m cold…WAHHHH! WAHHH! WAHHH!
I got my little feet wet at the football game. I’m telling MOMMY! WAHHH! WAHHH! WAHHH!
Arthur Blank is a meaney. He made us sit outside. WAHHH! WAHHHH! WAHHH!
shaggy
February 23rd, 2011
7:55 am
Falcon Fans = WIMPS
You anin’t speaking about this Falcon Fan. I want them to play outside, like God intended.
Blank's Deal
February 23rd, 2011
8:08 am
The outdoor stadium has been approved—it’s a done deal. The only question is how much taxes will have to go up to pay for this $700 million cost. Blank and the Falcons will pay $0—the tax increase will have to come from sales taxes on restaurants, hotels, concessions and ticket prices will have to go way up. Enjoy.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2011
8:08 am
Can you call yourself a football fan if you MUST watch the game INDOORS? Some contend REAL football fans will be just fine outdoors.
A Fan
February 23rd, 2011
8:09 am
Let’s go back to a time where in November at the cherished Fulton County Stadium, it was a drizzling rain, temps in the 40s, and the Falcons were winning or loosing. Didn’t matter. Very rarely on T.V. becasue it was blacked out due to no sell outs. Even in playoff years, did the games get on T.V. much. Outside Football? We had an ice storm for our only Super Bowl in the Atl. Now, why did people migrate to the south? Because of the weather? Yes, it is warmer than those places mentioned, but who is actually going to the games? The people who came down here from there. Retractable roof? Yes. Outdoors in November / December? Probably not a good idea. Mr. Blank just lost about $700,000,000.00 of respect from some of us. And we’re going to pay for his new playground? You Betcha. If the tax payers have to ante up for it, then shouldn’t we have a vote on it?
A Fan
February 23rd, 2011
8:10 am
Hey DLed,
Didn’t you come from Green Bay?
skeezix
February 23rd, 2011
8:11 am
As long as TAXPAYER MONEY is not used!! I have already written my State Representative demanding she vote NO should any bill arise that would require ANY taxpayer money to be spent for a new stadium.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2011
8:11 am
Strange Brew — Add another $300 million for a retractable roof and you’re at $1 billion. Also, they don’t work. Teams end up with them closed all the time for football to create artificial noise. (Falcons’ playoff game vs. Arizona after the 2008 season. It was 70 degrees outside.)