Memo to Mr. Blank: Atlanta is a COLLEGE football town

Why in the hayel do these guys insist on wasting money? Seems asinine to me.

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If the Florida Marlins in Miami can build a retractable stadium, geez Atlanta can surely get it done right?

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I agree 100% Tony. To build anything other than a retractable dome in ATL would be folly. I hope it’s not my money that would be mis-invested that way. Love the Falcons; they’re a good source of amusement. But LOVE college football even more.

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Tony, you are correct the ATL is a college town. I am old enough to remember watching games outside in Atlanta in the winter and would not go back to freezing my but off for the Falons.

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The Georgia Dome is still good enough for the NCAA Final Four and the SEC championship game but not for the Falcons? Fine, let Arthur Blank reach into his own pocket without a dime of taxpayer support and build a new venue for the Falcons of whatever type at whatever location he wants. If necessary he can take the Falcons out of town and out of state for all I care. The idea of an owner whining about a facility because it doesn’t have enough luxury boxes and Jerry’s is newer in this economy makes my blood boil.

And yes, Atlanta is a college football town.

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Keeping up with the Joneses…retractable roof. Arthur needs another hurricane to hit Florida so his stock price will rise and he can build Arthur-World in Doraville.

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I agree wholeheartedly that Atlanta is a college football town…and we’re far better for it, too. Saturday is THE DAY in the South during the fall. The main reason Atlanta is not a pro football town is due to the fact everybody here is from somewhere else, most notably the Northeast and (to a lesser extent) the Midwest and those deep-seeded loyalties remain on Sunday afternoon.

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Really don’t like indoor football. If they can play outdoor games in December in Green Bay, Chicago, Pittsburgh, etc, they can play them outdoors in Atlanta in December. Hearing Atlantan’s complain about the thought of an outdoor football game in December is just downright funny.

That being said, operating the Dome and a new outdoor stadium at the same time doesn’t make much sense. And having a Dome certainly helps for other events mentioned. Though an outdoor stadium could certainly help for soccer in the future. Tough choice. A retractable roof sounds nice, but at the slightest chill they are going to close the darn thing and we’ll be back to lame indoor football games.

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Bunch of whiny babies. You play every football game OUTSIDE. Your argument makes no sense. The game is the first week of DECEMBER. I can understand your argument on the chikfila bowl. But the sec one is weak. Also if the chik ever got a a bcs game, that would come into play.

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Tony how is your 401k doing?

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Yes, Atlanta is a college football town that pulls for a college team in another town.

Yes, Tech is the hometown team.

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Haha. GT and UGA play the week before the conf championships OUTDOORS every year. This argument is a joke on the football side. It matters only for basketball and you have phillips for that.

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Without a doubt the ATL is a college football town. If another stadium is built sans a retractable roof it will be just one more half a$$ed project completed without real thought as to what is needed here!

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Hey, Old School. I remember when day-old news was dropped on my driveway, outdorrs in the elements. But I don’t miss it. Nor do I miss Jay Bookman (what does he do now?). Retractable domes are a good thing, called progress.

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If Blank wants a new stadium similar to Dallas (which is an 11 on the 1-10 scale) let him come up with the means to finance it, similar to what Jerry Jones did. It will only add to the value of his franchise.

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Thanks for the update Tony. We had NO CLUE that this is a college football town.

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You are a hick from central ga. Keep your mouth shut on business affairs by real men. Stick to your college ball and stay out of real world matters.

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BINGO TONY!! I’M A FALCON SEASON TICKET HOLDER & WHEN I READ THAT STORY YESTERDAY I SAID TO MYSELF….SELF IF THE BRAIN TRUST(AND I USE THAT TERM IN JEST) FOLLOW THRU WITH AN OPEN AIR FACILITY I WILL NOT BE A SEASON TICKET HOLDER ANYMORE!!! NOTE TO SAID BRAIN TRUST…THIS AIN’T MIAMI BOY’S!!!

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I agree. Football should be played outdoors. How can you make this silly argument when 3/4 of the teams in the acc and sec play the week before the sec champ game outside!
Your argument is lame

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Retractable roof or open air. Either one is fine, just please, no more indoor football in Atlanta. Having been a season ticket holder at both Atlanta Fulton County Stadium and the Georgia Dome, I say there is no comparison. Football in Atlanta NEEDS to be outdoors.

I understand the need for the Final Four, SEC Championship, and future Super Bowls(good luck on that thanx to Ray Ray), so if it has to be a retractable roof, so be it. But Falcons football fans deserve to see their games outdoors where they belong.

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Can’t Arthur save some money by using his Home Depot discount card?

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Fact is the only people that buy Falcons tickets regularly either are northern transplants or can’t afford UGA tickets. Falcons season tickets can be had for a few hundred bucks. UGA tickets costs thousands once you figure in the GSEF donations required to buy them. UGA plays North Nowhere State U. and sells 95k tickets. The Falcons can’t sell 72k unless it’s late in the season and they are in contention for the playoffs. This is 100% a college FB town. Atlanta has huge Auburn, Florida and Alabama alumni numbers in addition to the obvious UGA fanbase. Blank and the GWCC better tread lightly where this is concerned. If they lose the SEC game, the Peach Bowl (hey, I’m old), and the Chick-fil-A kickoff game the college fans will not treat the Falcons lightly. One more thing… does Blank not see who goes to his games? Very casual fans that like to sit indoors, comfortably and have some drinks and talk trash. Trust me… they will not come out in such numbers in rain or cold.

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Tony, I agree this a College Football town and could care less about the NFL, especially the Falcons. However seeing the Chik Fil A game, and SECCG leave Atlanta is enough to make me want to see the Falcons get their new stadium. CPJ had it correct when he said the games doesn’t help UGA or GT in their recruiting.

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A darn good article Mr. College Football!!!

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Every time I go to the Dome I am impressed with the facility. The place is electric during the SECCG and Chick-fil-A Bowl. The high school kids think it is great during their playoffs. I guess it is just not good enough for the pros. The building is only 18, not even old enough to buy a drink.

Why do the Falcons need new luxury boxes? Because they do not sell enough general admission tickets. Why not? Because they are a boring, lousy team.

Finally, every time we hear about a new stadium we are told about the hundreds of millions of dollars it will generate. If that is the case why do we have a hotel/motel tax that runs for the next 35 years? It seems this building should be self funding.

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Actually, I am quite willing to lose the Falcons and keep the Chick-fil-A Bowl and SECCG.

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I think having a passionate following of a college football team when you’ve never even set foot on the campus as a student is pretty pathetic. I prefer pro football with the higher degree of talent a million times to college. Why do I care what a player can do against a 19 year old sophmore? I want to see how they perform against the best in the world! I don’t watch minor league ball too. The way I see it, if you’re worth watching, you’ll be in the bigs in no time. The fall in Atlanta is too nice to not have an outdoor football stadium in Atlanta.

I’d eliminate the entire UGA Bulldogs football team to have one if was up to me.

Now, the money issue is something else entirely. However, unlike most of the posters here, I don’t assume that I know what Atlanta’s budget is and what kind of deal could be struck to bring profitability into the city as a result of the stadium. You have to spend money to make money, but that’s a fact that seems to be lost on many Georgians.

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…and the dome is great!

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Frankly, it’s disappointing that the Georgia Dome is considered old after 20 years. The Superdome was built in the early 70’s.

If these teams paid for the stadiums themselves, they would spend the money a lot differently. Instead, they are willing to spend public money with reckless abandon.

The economic realities are that Blank should be content with the Georgia Dome, or build a new one himself.

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Gooooooooooooo Falcons, ……….and take the Hawks with you !!

Haaaaauuuuuullllll

Azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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The SEC Championship is basically the Redneck Superbowl. Seriously, have you seen the attendees? Build your own stadium you leeches with all the money you are not spending on building your academic programs.

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Easy to understand Carl’s dislike of college football

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Sir Carl, so if a person is a fan of a university’s football team, he/she is “pathetic” because he/she didn’t attend the school? You, sir, are a snob, looking down your nose at millions, yes, millions of college fooball fans, most who are law-abiding, hard-working, tax-payers who couldn’t afford or couldn’t take time to go to school because of desire or need to earn a living.

I won’t even ask about your education or vast wealth. It’s obvious you are smarter than us “pathetic” folks, probably a brilliant descendent of royalty who has studied in all of the finest institutions, the world over.

We pathetic ones will try to tone down our passion, Sir Carl.

And by the way, moron, it’s not up to you to do a damn thing to UGA!

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Really, it would mean JOBS for a year or so amigos.

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You’d think the so-called toughest conference would have the toughest players and toughest fans who, presumably, could handle those brutal 50 degree days in December.

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tbh…..Well someone in Atlanta needs to produce a championship game, so if its college football and their “redneck superbowl” then so be it. Because certainly the countless professional losers that city has had (Falcons, Hawks, Braves, Thrashers) won’t produce one any time soon.

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[...] have all the respect in the world for Tony Barnhart, and he makes several good points in this article. (Hat tip: Team Speed [...]

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Hey…come on up…Knoxville will host the SECCG….100K+ fans divided down the middle would be a sight to behold.

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1st off YES, ATL is a College Football City first and foremost (always will be because it’s in the heart of the South).

2nd for all y’all who keep mentioning the fact that SEC and ACC plays football outside have you EVER been to one of those games when the weather is lousy? I graduated from UGA and I can tell from first hand experience that the stadium is NO WHERE CLOSE to being full when it is raining outside and especially if it is cold and raining. I went to a game in Athens against Tech when it was raining and a huge chunk of fans left at halftime because of the weather. I also went to the game when they played arizona state and not only was the stadium NOT full, the tailgating experience was diminished too because of the rain. I also went to this past SEC Championship game with Bama & Florida and it was freezing. If that game had been outside the experience would not have been close to being the same.

Also, think about where marquee events for the NFL and NCAA are held. The NFL NEVER goes to green bay, new york or chicago for the Super Bowl because of weather concerns even though new york and chicago are 2 of the largest markets in the nation. The BCS games for football are held in LA (Southern Cal with great weather), Arizona (where they have a retractable room stadium), NOLA (Super DOME) & Miami (the furtherest point south you can get in the nation).

Also, the Peach/Chick-fil-a Bowl didn’t start this streak of sell out bowl games until AFTER the game started being played in the Dome. The SEC Champ game didn’t come here until AFTER the Dome was built.

Rich McKay is only posturing to get the city to flip a higher percentage of the bill but i hope they don’t fall for it because a retractable roof stadium is the way to go.

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Tony I ask again. How is your 401k/IRA doing? Are you getting kicked around like your college team? Does it feel good?

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I think you are wrong about Atlanta just being a college football town. If we built a new outdoor stadium then it would help the Falcons significantly and would propel our football team to the next level attendance wise. Many Falcons fans have talked about this for a while. The Dome just isnt all that great to watch a football game in anymore and a big change preferably outdoors would be welcome. I would have no problem having both stadiums if they could afford it though.

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All SEC football games are played outside. And real fans will watch their team in the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP regardless of weather.

But WHY exactly does the Falcons need a new stadium?

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I disagree that ATL is a college football town. In fact, almost all of the larger urban areas in the South (and for that matter, anywhere else) are PRO sports towns. Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Charlotte, Nashville. And those are in the college football belt. Cities up north are even more so professional sports oriented. And I speak as someone who would as soon pro sports disappear. College football is indeed king in the South, I think; just not in the big cities.

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ATLBadger…who cares about soccer? How would that have an impact in Atlanta?

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Gen – the weather/temps would make for a great equalizer….Football players are supposed to be the toughest around….they shouldn’t be afraid of a little chill.

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Tony, yes Atlanta is a college football town, but you can’t honestly expect the Falcons organization to want to do something that might benefit others but wouldn’t be in their own best interest do you? They are a business that’s trying to maximize its revenue, after all.

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Atlanta is getting bigger and bigger. Didn’t we add 1million folks in the last 10 years?

Yes, Atlanta is a college sports town, but it’s big enough to support a premium Pro Football team too. Just ask the Braves.

That being said, I want the Falcons move to a better place. G Dome just doesn’t cut it for me. The experience is too dull. Restaurants and shops are not hard to find.

Yes, the old GM site in Doraville should be better.

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Is all this posturing by the Falcons about a new stadium just to get a better contract for bigger cuts of revenue from the Dome?

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You are wrong. Atlanta is NOT a college football town. Georgia Tech barely registers on the college football radar IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA! Tech has ZERO national following.

So, one can only assume that you are claiming Atlanta as a college football town because they host the SEC Championship Game, the Chic-fil-A kickoff classic and, perhaps, based on some nostalgia for the great games played there between Alabama and Georgia Tech. However, that does not make Atlanta a “college football town” anymore than it makes Birmingham a college football town. Let’s face it. Having a college football campus with a team that sells out its stadium on a regular basis makes the town a college football town.

Unless GT plays Florida State, they don’t even get more than 50K in their stands if the only other important game on their rinky dink schedule is played in Athens.

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Whether or not Atlanta is a college town is irrelevent. I am inclined to believe that football should always be played outdoors on real grass. However, it would be a terrible business decision to build a completely open-air stadium. If you do, I agree with Tony that the SEC Championship will likely move, and the Peach Bowl will suffer as well. Bad weather makes for bad football. That leaves only Falcons games and maybe a neutral site college game to generate revenue. However, a dome or retractable roof stadium pretty much guarantees the SEC Championship, Chick-fil-a kickoff games, NCAA tournament, and other events stay. Also, you’re going to sell more tickets if you can control the climate in the stadium. People stay home if they’re going to get rained on all game. Plus, if you have a retractable roof, you can always open the roof for football games on nice days and have real grass, like they do in Phoenix. Its the best of all worlds, and even though its more expensive, we know it will get paid off easily with all those events, plus help from the city and public.

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Um, Alphare, have you been to a Falcons game lately?

Remember when the seats were blue?

The reason Blank had most of the seats re-done in RED was to
hide the GLARING HOLES of unfilled seats …in prime locations.

And, somehow a retractable roof is gonna “fix” attendance?

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Atlanta would be an NFL town if the team would have been worth a d@mn for most of it’s history. We have a historically awful franchise with little to no success. That isn’t how you build passionate fanbases. We’re just now starting to turn things around and it only took 44 years.

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1. Amen brother!

2. I duno. Football is made to played outdoors. Although Dec in the south is usually wet. All the other SEC games are played outdoors, I don’t think this would be that big of a deal.

3. K, don’t care that much but K.

4. Good point…sorta. Orange bowl? Fiesta Bowl? Rose Bowl? In fact, to my knowledge the Sugar bowl is the only one in a dome. Although I’m not 100% sure about the Fiesta and the NEW Orange bowl.

5. It’s hard to see them going from a dome to an outdoor stadium. That has a feel of stepping down doesn’t it?

Honestly I don’t see what’s wrong with the dome. It’s in good shape, and it does what it’s supposed to do. I feel like I’m listening to a bunch of fisherman gripe about what bass boat they are going to use.

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I guess I’m still trying to figure out the argument you are proposing, Tony. What does Atlanta being a college town have to do with a tractable/open air/domed stadium? ALL of our major college football events happen outside except the Chick-fil-A Bowl. I’m also NOT a propoenent of the stadium in downtown Atlanta. NO ONE can tailgate there. The event is more than an NFL/College game. Folks want to tailgate to the game with your friends and the current Dome location is miserable.

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Tony, the SEC would never move the championship game back to Birmingham – for the very reason you said Atlanta would lose it. Birmingham doesn’t have a dome, and they won’t have one in the foreseeable future. The city just put a 10 percent pay cut on all of its employees. Unless a private funding source steps up, Birmingham won’t have a dome.

I don’t know that I would agree that Atlanta is a “college football town,” and while I agree with your idea of Atlanta doing something similar to what Indianapolis did, I have gotten the impression that two facilities is not an option, at least not from the perspective of the management for the Georgia World Congress Center.

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Uhh “Think Super Bowl,” what do you care whether we host a Super Bowl? Are you going to get a ticket? Green Bay and Chicago have both WON Super Bowls. They don’t need to host one.

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No problem, Ga. State will take over the dome when we become a member of the Big East in 2015

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Rich – Win a freakin Super Bowl then you can talk about a new stadium. It is sad that NO has already accomplished this and ATL has one lousy appearance in the big game. McKay should have been canned a few years ago. ATL gets alot of revenue from the NCAA basketball championships, SEC tournament, motocross, monster trucks and the use of the dome for conventions. All of that would be lost.

I am a native ATL and remember when you could not give a ticket to the Peach Bowl away because it was going to be played in lousy weather. There were many PB’s played in rain and snow. The attendance was terrible. I remember the hoopla about the motorcross being ran in the old ATL-Fulton County Stadium that it tore up the sod. Now it ran on concrete covered with dirt. There is just too much to lose without some type of “domed” stadium whether it is the dome or a retractable roof stadium. Mckay put a good product on the field and people will come and your revenues will go up. Last year is a great example. All of this talent and we could not make the playoffs.

Better yet, do like Jerry Jones and break the rules and get your own sponsorship deals. You can’t tell me Jerry Jones built that stadium just for the Cowboys alone. Check to see how many other events were held there. I know that the Cotton Bowl was played there.

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Okay Tony, we’ve established that Atlanta is a college football town. I think the Falcon brass is looking at a city of 5+ million and see tons of folks who didn’t grow up with pictures of Herschel Walker or Bear Bryant mounted on their parents’ living room wall. The problem is that many who fall in that category are from other places and could care less about showing up unless their hometown NFL team is playing here. But don’t take my word for it; ask the Braves how many Cub, Yankee, and Red Sox fans have magically appeared when they’re at Turner Field, only never to be seen again after they leave town.

I think it’s simple postering and the beginning of a long negotiating process between the Falcons and the GWCC. At the end of the day, we will have a retractable-roof stadium and the Dome (which to be quite truthful, is a dump compared to the newer facilities other NFL teams are playing their home games in) will be no more.

The same folks who say that football should be played outdoors are likely the same ones who will be at home when the first cold front arrives in mid-November while wondering why reruns of Cops is showing on Fox instead of the game (can you say blackout?).

There’s a reason why tons of people migrate south; COMFORT. No one wants to freeze their hindparts off in the upper deck nor get rained on, especially if/when the team isn’t winning. If that wasn’t the case, the old Fulton-County Stadium would’ve been packed during those 5-11 campaigns, not to mention those hideous Peach Bowls back then.

So calm down, ladies and gentlemen. Until you see sides shaking hands on an open-air stadium, just wait this one out and see how things go…

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Falcons>Ga Tech football. Atlanta is a major market with a ton of potential for pro sports. Give Arthur Blank what he wants. I wish he owned the Braves.

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Atlana may have a lot of college football fans but the city is lacking anything close a possible contender in Georgia Tech. They are and always will be a mid level team.

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The Georgia Dome blows. I’m a senile SOB and even I know outdoor football is where it’s at.

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The dome is important for more than just pro football. FIrst of all,I hate having the weather decide a game. Second, if i am spending 100-300 on something I want to be as comfortable as possible. What are the chances of getting another superbowl with the open air stadium. The NCAA and SEC BB tourney always draw more fans than Phillips can handle. For the hogh school fans, who wants to sit out side for hours at a time if you want to watch multiple games and heaven forbid it rains and you are trying to have 5 games on natural grass. Then what about if the falcons have a game the next day?

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You’re absolutely right this isn’t dallas! I lived there for three loooonnnnnng years, and wouldn’t think of returning. And if you think that Mr. Blank doesn’t have the resources to build his own playland like Jerry’s Kid then you are truly a Texan! And I mean that in the most sacastic way possible!

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Tony,

1) Football, whether it be of the professional or collegiate variety is always best played in an open air environment.

2) Atlanta, Georgia, has what many has beautiful weather in the fall; perfect for football games. Early December in Atlanta produces cool, crisp, perfect football weather: not too cold, not too hot.

3) Playing in a dome in Atlanta the heart and soul of football dies a slow death. We have optimal, God-given conditions for outdoor football and we sell this right to make a few dollars because we might get a Final Four every 8 or so years.

I wholeheartedly disagree with your reasons. Whether or not Atlanta has more college football fans than NFL fans is not the issue here. The issue is delivering to fans the best football experience possible. For years, there has been a huge groundswell of fans in Atlanta longing for football games to be played in open air stadiums.

To your point that college football fans should somehow be upset about this, I don’t get it. Have you ever in your years of covering college football heard a fan say, “geez, the Florida-Georgia (or Auburn-Alabama0 (or insert college game) is pretty good, but I sure wish it was played in a dome. Wouldn’t that be awesome?!” No. I have never once heard anyone even hint at that. Has the Big 12 champinoship suffered when they play game at Arrowhead in the cold? No. It has produced excellent games in an even better football atmosphere.

If Atlanta chooses to build an open-air stadium, and God-willing they will, why on earth would the SEC Championship try to move. They too would want use of the state-of-the-art stadium, with premium seats, luxury boxes, etc. You know why Tony, because they can charge more for the tickets. Atlanta has a perfect central location in the SEC footprint, they won’t move the game to New Orleans. Birmingham is the only possible competition; and unless they plan to build a better stadium than the Falcons are planning, I doubt they could pry the game away. Come to B’ham SEC, you’ll make less money isn’t exactly the best sales pitch in the world.

As far your argument that the Chic-fil-a bowl possibly being in line for the next BCS upgrade, we all know that shipped sailed when Jerry-world opened its doors. It just did. The BCS Cotton Bowl ( I presume) could charge more for tix to that palace than the Georgia Dome/Peach could dream.

As far as basketball tournaments, who cares? I thought your main beef with Mr.Blank’s plan is that it would hurt the SEC Championship. And that simply isn’t true, it would make it a better game for all parties.

TOny, I love your column, but I think you should find the good in this stadium, not the bad.

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You can say the same thing to the Dawgs……Sorry Dawgs this aint Dallas.

Grantham – From 11 All Americans on D in Dallas to 0 at UGA

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Atlanta is a small time town posing to be a big city. What other MAJOR metropolitan city in America (aside from Miami) cares more about collegiate athletics (translation amateur sports)more than its pro teams? We’re a city of five million plus and we have more in common with Tuscalosa than we do Dallas, New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. We’ve held the Olympics, won a World Series, and had teams in the playoffs (things other towns would die for) and yet we don’t support any team that pays its athletes over the table. This is SEC country baby!!!!! Yee Haw!!!! Don’t bring no darn opened roof stadium down these parts!

No wonder we’re known as Loserville.

Pathetic.

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Enter your comments here

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Blank became a billionaire by getting other people to do what he wants. He’ll threaten to leave Atlanta, threaten to locate the team in another part of the city…., come up with some bonus “economic study” showing the benefits of the falcons in atlanta—-and ultimately, out of fear, the city of atlanta, fulton county…will cave in and give him $500 million to build his stadium. It never fails. The city’s broke, so they will have to raise taxes to pay for it. But the chumps in atlanta will pay up—Blank needs more billions!!!!!!

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The Peach Bowl is the game with the biggest risk of decline. As other have said the Peach often had poor attendance do to often having bad weather.

Orange, Fiesta, Rose. Outdoors yes but look at the locations South Florida, Arizona, and California.

Yes I was at the ‘04 UGA game where it rained and many of the fans went home early. Greene looked to have the game well in hand before getting injured and it was GT not Auburn, Bama, UF, UT etc. GT had UGA’s best ever QB in the game throwing it out of bounds on 4th down. I have been to UGA/Auburn games at night were it rained and was just as cold, you could not tell if anyone went home early.

The SECCG will sell out where ever it is played but if it goes open air they will take a serious look at other locations.

Atlanta a College sports town? How many fans in Metro Atlanta drive all the way out to Athens sitting out on 316, shelling out much more money for tickets? ….while the Falcons struggle to sell out the smaller Dome.

I still hope the SECCG and Chik Fil A kick off game move especially the kick off game.

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With all due respect Tony, there are zero SEC or ACC football teams that play in a dome stadium. So why all of a sudden is it so important to play an SEC championship game (or a Chik-fil-a kickoff classic) indoors?

I get the NCAA basketball tourney preferring to play indoors, but McKay and the Falcons aren’t suggesting that the Georgia Dome has to be torn down, just that the Falcons would like the stadium THEY play in to be open air. And that’s how football should be played. Outside in the cold and elements.

If the Minnesota Twins can build an open air baseball stadium, I think we Falcons fans can survive (and the SEC fans too) a little 40 degree weather in December.

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I agree – you loose the dome you loose – They want a new place to play – build and pay for it yourselves – just another form of a bailout – if you make so much money – goldmansachs can get you financing – not the taxpayers

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The public portion of any stadium funds will come from the Hotel/Motel tax. Georgia “taxpayers” aren’t involved, unless they’re staying in a Hotel/Motel.

You’re a college football guy Barnhart; how bout sticking to that, instead of trying to ruin things for Falcons fans!

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I remember the 92 and 93 games in B’ham. Both years it was rainy, cold, just a nasty day both times.It was in Bama’s backyard and in 93 at least it there were empty seats cause the weather was so abysmal. The seccg is much better off and far more profitable being played in a nice indoor arena. The fans come first and the memo to the football purists that football should be played outdoors is this: Get over it. We’ve been playing football indoors in places like the Super Dome, for 40 years now. The whole reason for the major bowls being played in sunny sun belt destinations like Tempe, AZ, the Rose Bowl, the Orange bowl, etc is to avoid nasty weather to begin with.

One other thing. I have tremendous respect and admiration for Arthur Blank and I personally consider him to be a great man. I also was never became a Falcons fan until he took over. I became a falcons fan the day he became an owner because the man is a winner and regardless of how the Falcons have done under him the point is that one day we will get there for the simple fact that he cares and he is a winner.

All that being said the one thing I disagree with Blank on is the need for a new stadium, especially one at taxpayer expense. There is not a darn thing wrong with the Georgia dome. Why he thinks a whole new stadium should be built for the simple fact that he can make more money with a few more luxury boxes is beyond me. If he wants a new stadium for more luxury boxes then be my guest. Just don’t ask me to pay for it when the city and state are both broke and things like Marta are broke, Grady is broke, Atlanta is broke, etc.

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We need to have a retracable roof. This way we get the best of both worlds: outdoor football & Super Bowls. After all the best games are outside in the element of the weather, so regular season should be outside. I gave up season tickets pretty quickly after they moved into the Dome, it is too sterle an atmosphere for good ball. Keep the Dome all all other sports and events. The city needs to revenue, as dpes the hotels, restraurants, etc… Revenue from Super Bowls would help pay for retractable roof, by both Blank and ATL.

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Reading these posts inclines one to realize that those of us that have been to outdoor games in ATL in December know that the average temp of 55 doesn’t hold. The Dec games at the Peach Bowl were frigid, windy, uncomfortable games. Tailgating was horrible. And the same can be said for Falcons games.

The SEC & ACC would play no matter the weather? Of course they would. But the point to be made is that the telltale advantage that ATL has over every other SEC & ACC venue, save New Orleans, is that the game is played inside. You can bet your sweet a** that B’Ham and every other Southern city will be lining up to try to get the SEC Championship game if it moves outdoors.

The best guarantee that was ever given for a football game was made by Whit Hawkins, the 1992 Peach Bowl Chairman, when he said that the City of ATL absolutely promised no rain, no snow and a temperature of 70 degrees. Only in the Dome.

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Who makes the most money for the state in the GA Dome??? It is the Falcons!!! I don’t want to see Florida, Alabama or any other school celebrate in Atlanta after winning the SEC Champ. game. If Falcons want to build a new stadium in order to keep up with the rest of the league, so be it. NFL is #1 league in the USA, makes most money, biggest television contracts, etc. GA Tech football is irrelevant on national stage, UGA is in Athens, so please tell me how city of Atlanta is a college football town??? You’re an idiot Barnhart. Alabama is in Tuscaloosa, UF is in Gainesville, LSU in Baton Rouge, need i go on??? Big cities are pro sports cities, period. Just because most of the graduates live in the big cities and follow their college football teams, doesn’t make it a college football town!!! For all you stupid people saying Falcons are irrelevant, look at the numbers. That might have been the case in the past, but not anymore. Our franchise is valued in top 12 in the NFL, worth according to Forbes. Go Falcons!!!

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Rob,

If a cost/benefit analysis could show fairly conclusively that we would reap financial reward by building a new stadium then yeah I would probably be for it. But I just don’t see how a new stadium is going to bring in any more tax revenues than what the Georgia dome brings in now. I just don’t see it. Is the new stadium going to somehow pack in more fans than the Georgia dome which at 72,500 is already one of the larger venues in pro football? Where does all this extra money come from if the number of fans attending an event whether it be in the Georgia Dome or an outdoor stadium come from? Last I agree with some of these other fans in that the whole reason for living in Georgia is for the warm weather. Who wants to sit outside when its in the 50s or lower in late December?

I would sit in hell if it were the only way to watch an Alabama football game and I suspect a lot of dog fans feel the same about UGA football. But if its the last game in December and the forecast is 30 degrees, windy and with rain I’m not sitting in an outdoor stadium to watch the Falcons. Sorry but I just aint doin it. And its not just me. There are a lot of Atlanta warm weather folks who wouldn’t do it either. It may make us poor pro fans but it is what it is.

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CATlanta,
Something you’re missing, Rich McKay takes care of things like new stadiums and season tickets, the GM in Thomas Dimitroff is focused on winning games and developing players… both jobs can be done at the same time.

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I am a Falcons season ticket holder. I bought them to sit inside after enduring year of games outside (selected opponents/single game tickets.) If they build an open air stadium I will not renew, plain and simple. Too many bad weather days in November and December to endure again….

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JL is right — World Cup is being totally overlooked here. Which does not surprise me in the least — this is a football blog, not a futbol blog. But in terms of economic impact (immediate and ongoing prestige), it absolutely has to be factored in, because Atlanta will get whacked as a host city with the current dome. We’re on the list of finalist cities, but we will NOT remain there in 2018 or 2022 without a new venue. Fortunately, we’ve got plenty of time.

Most of you might not care, and that’s to be expected. But for perspective, as passionate as the South is about college football, that’s how passionate the entire world (outside the U.S.) is about their football — even more so, I’d wager. Sure, you don’t build a stadium for an event that you’ll host just once any more than you build a church based on Christmas Day attendance — except for the fact that this event’s impact would essentially pay for the retractable roof.

And that’s ALL this PR salvo is about — who pays. If Arthur got a financial windfall from the SEC championship or the World Cup, you can bet he’d be all over a retractable roof. He doesn’t. He’s first and foremost doing what’s best for the team he owns, and telling everyone, “if you benefit from those other events, you pay for the part-time roof.” Pretty much the same as every other pro franchise owner in that regard — hardly a surprise.

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idiot: GA Tech football is irrelevant on national stage, UGA is in Athens, so please tell me how city of Atlanta is a college football town???

So all those UGA fans live in Athens?

..or do they sit in traffic coming out of Atlanta

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The world cup is a once in a lifetime opportunity Just like the 96 olympics were. If we get a nice new retractable dome I say that really enhances atlantas chances for the world cup. With that being said i also would like to see the stadium built to where you can see the cities backdrop but if the falcons want to keep up with the big boys they obviously have to have a retractable roof. Also they could build their stadium further north and just keep the dome goin . Blank has money!!!

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The Superdome was built in the 70s, been renovated several times, is very outdated, has been severly damaged from hurricanes, yet is still a great place to go for a football game. And it gets pretty loud in case you haven’t heard. The new retractable domes are so big, that its impossible to get them loud, taking away the home field advantage. Doesn’t matter though, Falcons fans are pretty mild, so getting the dome loud is not top priority for them. The GA Dome should be fine for the Falcons for now.

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My guess is all these fans who say playing the SEC championship outdoors and in the elements dont experience their school in that game too often. I remember those games in Birmingham when Florida played Alabama. It was cold and rainy. Nobody wants to experience a championship game like that. You play it indoors so there is no advantage one way or another based off of weather.

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Message to atlanta–this corrupt, poorly run city is not getting the world cup. The falcon slicks are putting out that idea to get city money to build their stadium. After the olympic fiasco, the international sports community wants nothing to do with atlanta. Mark it down. But, Blank will tell you different–he wants your money!!!!

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Sorry Tony but one Superbowl win would change that pretty quick. That being said I don’t think we have to worry about that happening even though we do have the right people from the top down to make it happen but I’m from here and know how it works for Atlanta. One Championship and even that was a strike shortened year so I’m not sure if you really count that one or not.

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it should be open air stadium and it should be outside of 285. open air stadiums keep wimps at home and only real football fans in the stands. no bs family fair, this is football, and less people there that just wanting to be seen. outside of 285 so we can have friendlier more helpful stadium employees, that don’t have a chip on their shoulders towards people just because of the color of their skin. retractable roofs are for idiots that can’t make up their minds if they want to be a wussy today or not. football should be football!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep the dome for the wimps that like to watch their sports in an office setting.

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@World Cup: the city government has nothing whatsoever to do with the decision. Zip. Nada. Zilch. International sports community lusts after Coca-Cola, Delta, UPS, Home Depot, Coca-Cola, and Coca-Cola. If you haven’t noticed, the next two World Cups are in South Africa and Brazil, whose respective governments make Atlanta look like the gold friggin’ standard. Given Atlanta’s sponsor base and airport, the ONLY question mark is the venue.

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Kyle, I doubt it. I watched the Falcons play in a Superbowl well I should say I watched the commercials and was busy working on a college project while the game was on.

One World Series win really changed things for the Braves?

SEC football will always be king in SEC states and ACC basketball will be king in North Carolina no matter what the Charlotte NBA team does.

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Good luck to those of you that have tried, in vain, to enlighten these GA hicks.

As they have stated several times on this blog, the tax dollars that will be used to build the new stadium will come from the hotel taxes paid by those tourists visiting the city of Atlanta and staying in a hotel. Subsequently it is important to have a mixed use venue that can accomodate lots of varying events which will continue to bring in the tax revenue.

A retractable roof or keep the current dome and refurbish it again.

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Tony, I agree with all of your column except for the part about Atlanta being a college football town. Atlanta is a “Flavor of the Month” town. Whatever is hot at the moment is what Atlanta is all about.

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Here’s a novel thought Update the Georgia Dome To a retractible roof
stadium Hmmmmmmmmmm!

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Tony: you’re being extremely naive here. I’m sure the Falcons want the most state of the art stadium that money can buy, and that would include one with a retractable roof. All of these other arguments regarding ancillary events, like the ones you and everyone else have raised make it very easy for the Falcons to now say, “hey, we wanted a bargain basement open air stadium, so if you want one with a retractable roof, which would add $300 million to the price tag, you guys will have to pick up that tab on your own.” You’re just building the momentum that they WANT to have built.

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I would much rather see a pro game than college. half the college games are blowouts! whats the fun in that? High school ball is better than college ball!

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Why is Rich McKay care about the cost anyway? Its sure not his money. Atlanta is certainly a city that could afford an open dome. We may not be Jerry Jones but we need to stay in the same class with him. We can make more money on other events if we have the retractable dome. Suck it up McKay and look at the city not your small brain. The attendance would be back like it was at the Fulton Stadium. Tickets left on cars and when you came back they were still there.

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Watching another mediocre falcons team play on a cold, wet day in November or December, in Blank’s taxpayer paid $500 million stadium????? Not thanks. I’ll stay home. But, he’ll still be rich, with that free stadium and all the ticket money, concessions and parking!!

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When college football becomes relevant with the addition of a playoff system, THEN “Mr College Football” can talk trash about a REAL SPORT. Im a fan of GT and UGA, but lets face it, the BCS makes the season so freaking boring because there are only 5 or so teams every year that have a chance to win it all.
If the Braves and Nationals both missed the playoffs yet played in a “bowl” a week after the season… who would care!? Yet you chumps blindly support college football, which screws over the fans and players. Heres a idea… stop supporting the meaningless bowls, and college football might finally become relevant among the major sports again!
Atlanta is a PRO sports town! At least among us smart enough to recognize what real sports and competition is all about.

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Of course the college football writer will say Atlanta is a college football town. Give us a consistent NFL winner, and it will be more of an NFL town. It’s outrageous the Falcons play in that oppressive dome. We’re 1200 miles south of Foxboro, and those people sit outside. I grew up going to every Falcons game at the Stadium, and I remember being miserably cold only two or three times, one of those being the infamous playoff loss to Dallas.

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I am a ten year/five seat paying season ticket holder with physical disabilities. One of the advantages to the Dome for me is that weather is not a problem once I get to my seats. From my limited perspective, any new stadium must include at the very least a retractable doom. Hey, we’re in a recession – how expensive can it be right now?

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Bravesfan79, how could you say the BCS makes the regular season boring? Im not an advocate of the BCS, but it’s all we have in college football. If anything it makes the regular season more important.

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The other thing about an open air stadium replacing the Georgia dome is that we would lose a certain number of events and especially the super bowl. Kiss that goodbye. Super Bowl people still remember the ice storm that hit atlanta last time we had a super bowl. Remember that guys? The roads were frozen over with freezing rice, it was a wet, nasty weekend with people and cars slipping on sidewalks and the road. Imagine if the game had been played in an outdoor stadium that year. If so the super bowl would surely never come back. Other events are hosted in the georgia dome that wouldn’t otherwise be hosted in an outdoor grass stadium like motorcross, monster truck, etc. Nope. Not a fan of any of that crap but I do know someone who went to the supercross a couple of months ago when it was cold outside and he told me it was either a sellout or very close to it. We would lose several events like that.

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I can’t wait until UGA plays in the GA Dome this coming December.

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Who cares about college, Go Falcons!!!

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I cant believe how many people here are afraid of being cold or rained on. Bring a jacket, its what they are made for.

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I don’t go to Falcons or Braves games cause of where they are located.

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if the falcons want a new home then let them have it. and quit whining about low level college games. so what if the season opener gets moved or it effects the “minors” so to speak. pro ball is much better anyway. i like college ball just fine but the nfl is where its at and i support the falcons all the way. so frankly i could care less and im sure your whining wont help out at all anyway.

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If you can’t attend games outdoors maybe you need to keep your butt home and watch from your sofa.

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TB, yes and no. Other than Georgia State, and of course the Atlanta University complex, there is no college football in Atlanta. I think what you must mean is that the football fans in Atlanta favor college over the pros. I would agree with that. Transplants from all over the country live in the ATL, and they carry their loyalty with them collegiately. I would like to see the ‘Birds play outdoors. Football is meant to be played outdoors, although I do realize that the ‘big game’ officials don’t want weather to be a factor in the outcome. I’m okay with the Super Bowl, and Bowl games played indoors. Rather them outdoors, but it’s understandable. Maybe if Georgia State does well, Atlanta will truly have a college program to call their own…and of course, I’d be remiss without saying 30-24, 8 of 9.

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Turner Field is getting some age on it… Maybe they need a new stadium as well.

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About Atlanta being mostly a college town: when all the transplants from the backwater college towns are here, then yes. The city people, as opposed to the small-towners that moved here with their small-town allegiances, prefer professional sports in world class venues. Does anyone still cheer for their high school football team? Didn’t think so.

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Shut up Tony! Football was never meant to played indoors. What a goof you are. All that other stuff can continue. Atlanta has pleanty of venues, just not enough people with imagination. Were not talking about taking the dome away. Were talking about playing football outside under the lights. Have you guys ever heared of retractable roofs. Du hu.

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The Falcons need a new stadium the Dome is out dated and plus it bring in free agents. Tuner Field just need minor changes like bricks behind home plat lights in the dugout.

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That is the nuttiest argument I’ve heard in awhile. Quick, name all of the domed stadiums in the SEC and ACC, Tony.

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Falcons new stadium will not be Atlanta Fulton county the new one will be state of the art Atlanta is trying to get the world cup here your not going to it in a dome.

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……….Who wants to copy JerryJonesTown ?

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World Cup Soccer is for sissies.

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awesome, let Blank build a new stadium for the FALCONS and then the Ga Dome can continue to be used for the Bowl games, conference championships and best of all, GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL! Let’s see you dogtards biatch about that…hahahahahahaha (if Canes play at Landshark then why not)

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“outdoor games at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium were a miserable mess.”

They were. The seats closest to the sidelines were on the 30 yard line.

I like the sound of “The Flowery Branch Falcons.” That will make the Bears and Packers tremble in fear.

The real “Mister Blank” is the guy whose photo is at the top of this blog.

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“Hey leroy whtat are talking about GT football win the Kick Off game is going to be the Georgia Bulldogs in the dome so put that in your pipe and smoke it.”

What’s in *your* pipe?

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Blank’s a billionaire, makes millions from all high priced Falcons seats, concessions, merchandise—now he wants the atlanta chumps to build him a brand new stadium, so he can make even more millions selling fancy corporate suites to business fatcats—all at taxpayer expense!!!!!! Lay it on baby—Arthur needs some more millions—pay up atlanta!!!

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cant they just rip the top of the dome? i do hate indoor football…cowards play indoors.

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Another point to consider is this: The right stadium with a retractable roof would be an attractive site for more Super Bowls and possibly the College Football National Championship.

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Maybe contact Tech and partner with them to tear down Grant Field, talk about a dump, then build a new stadium on Tech’s campus for Tech, Falcons and Pathers..

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“attractive site for …. possibly the College Football National Championship.”

That probably won’t be needed until 2050 or so. Plus, all of the current bowl sites would have to be destroyed. Maybe we could arrange for a nuclear war, and get it all done quicker.

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Georgia can keep its College Town, Mr. Blank, You can move the Falcons out west. Salt Lake City, Portland, OR., or even L.A. would take you with open arms.

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The Dome is outdated . Retractable top solves everything. Atlanta has an organization on the rise , the college football hall of fame is coming . The chick fil a opening game and bowl game sell as fast as any bowl games . Now is not the time to be cheap. Atlanta is becoming ….. no IS the hub of the south. Act like it.

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Who was it that said Atlantan’s didn’t have enough sense to shut the roof and come in out of the rain..?

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Why build a new stadium in this economy and with all the city of Atlanta debt? The GA Dome seems just fine to me.

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Georgia State will “generate substantial revenue for the Dome”?????? Funny stuff!! They may not have 500 people at their games including parents of the players. Their program will be a laughingstock.

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[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/barnhart-college-football/2010/05/20/memo-to-mr-blank-atlanta-is-a-college-foot... Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs Posted May 21st, 2010 in Atlanta Falcons Blogs. [...]

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Cry me a river ,the Dome is a dump !!!

Falcons season ticket holder

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Excuse me, building the Falcons an outdoor stadium in the Sun Belt where all football games can and should be played outside anyway forever, is going to hurt college football ?

Have you lost your mind Tony ?

I appreciate that you admit readily Tony too that you know nothing about NFL football.

You also know nothing about college football.

Or, baseball on any level.

Or, NBA basketball.

Or, college basketball.

Or, any other sport.

The Georgia Dome has always been too small for college football, especially The SEC Championship. Trying to go down there in the slums and find a place to have a tailgate, is like trying to eat in a mud hole surrounded with rats, garbage and trash.

The University of Georgia needs an indoor practice facility and a basketball gym both, but has an AD who thinks that you have to pay cash for everything including such important parts of the Athletics Department for the 2 Major Sports.

So, guess what ?

Atlanta needs an outdoor stadium and in an indoor stadium both, for football. Football Fields make horrible basketball venues. If you think the NCAA Tournament is good in the Georgia Dome, you have obviously missed it that in fact, it is not. This is not what cities ? Excuse me Tony ? This is Atlanta, Georgia one day to be the largest city in the world. We are a world class city of well over 5 million a melting pot I am proud to be a part of. I love all the diversity the world has offered up here in Atlanta and all they have done to spruce up this city with their hard work and different culture. It’s great stuff.

The Convention Business has suffered greatly with the small Georgia Dome. We need a bigger field and let’s face it many of the days The SEC Championship Game is played in early December – just barely – are days of Indian Summers here that are unlike the cities you mention up North in the Frozen Tundra. This is the Sun Belt City HQ Atlanta, Georgia. It is 80 degrees in December here sometimes.

There have been no days of snow or sleet or ice for any SEC Championship College Football Game.

College football is played outside, in case you didn’t notice. The player surface at the Georgia Dome is dangerous.

The other cities you named have to have outdoor football.

We don’t.

And, if Phillips Arena is too small, whose fault is that ?

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YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM TO BE A COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOWN!

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They need a new domed stadium, but south of Atlanta near Peachtree City—cheap land and the city will be glad to give Arthur Blank all the money he needs if he moves the team there. It will have to be a retractable roof, but that’s no problem–with a tax increase, that billion stadium cost will easily pay for itself in new economic development from the games down there. Get out of Atlanta—deadsville!

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I’m tired of this economy argument. Building a new domes would mean hundreds of new construction jobs as well as material sales.

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Tony…on this topic you are dead wrong. Football is an outdoor sport played on a FIELD! Not a floor or court. Many of us believe the Dome is nice but it certainly does not match watching football outdoors in October, November and December. This is the South…we rarely get COLD. How many days last October, November or December did not get to the mid-50’s in Atlanta??? If Atlanta is the college town you boast then they certainly will still show up!!! Doesn’t every team in the SEC and ACC play in outdoor stadiums? Why would they make a decision to show up based on a roof all of a sudden??? The roof doesn’t sell tickets the product does!

As for the NCAA Basketball tourney…if Philips is not big enough then who really cares? You say Atlanta is a College town – you are wrong or better yet simply not precise. Atlanta is a college football town, Period. And the football will be enhanced rather than detracted by being outdoors.

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“I’m just assuming that Rich McKay said a retractable roof would be too costly because he and the Falcons want the city to pick up a larger portion of the tab on the stadium.”

Seems you knew the answer the whole time but felt the need to rant anyways.

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People both Georgia and Georgia Tech play outside in open air stadiums. The SEC and Chic fil a will not pull out because the stadium is out side. The Falcons will get a new open air stadium and everyone will be happy.

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Steve Only in your dreams pal.

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I agree with the people that say the Dome isn’t what kills the atmosphere at Falcons’ games, it is the general NFL experience, particularly in the south. As a Bucs fan I have been to some games in Tampa. It is okay. I went to Charlotte last season to see Bucs-Panthers. I felt like I was at a funeral or something, granted both teams were well out of the playoff chase, but that is supposed to be a nasty NFC South rivalry.

The last two UF-Alabama SECCGs (on TV as I wasn’t there) looked like they had infinitely more energy and electricity than any NFL game I have been to. Along those lines the Chick-fil-a Kickoff games and the Chick-fil-a bowls are usually my favorite neutral site and bowl games of the year.

As for Atlanta being a college sports town vs. pro sports, it is no contest. College all the way. That town is full of Clemson, FSU, UF, Bama, Auburn, UGA, GT, etc. fans/grads and everyone knows college fans generally are way more into their teams than the average pro fan.

That said, I don’t really know why the two must be mutually exclusive. I think Tampa does a pretty good job with the Bucs (the Rays are another story for another day. If there is a team that really, really, really needs a new retractable roof facility it is them). Tampa is full of Noles, Gators, Canes and Bulls. If FSU or UF played a game in Tampa it would be huge.

As for the stadium, I find it very difficult to rationalize the construction of a new facility, particularly one that is open air. There is nothing wrong with the Ga Dome other than the team that plays in it. Would an open air or retractable roof stadium be nice? Absolutely. Would it improve the game day atmosphere? Probably, but Atlanta can probably kiss any future Super Bowls good bye (they aren’t getting any of the next 3 anyway) with a strictly open air crib. If you are gonna build something, do it right. Go all out. Some of the things they are doing with these retractable roof places are incredible. Look at the new Marlins ballpark, the proposed new Rays park, Jerry’s World, Miller Park and Lucas Oil. All of the are covered (except the Rays which has a giant retractable sail thing, it is hard to explain) but still do a great job of not feeling too “Domey” if you follow me.

I am not an architect but I’d think renovating the Ga Dome to give it a retractable roof would be almost as costly as just building a new one, plus the end product would probably be some monstrosity of a building. If it was possible, the Falcons could play at Sanford for a season or two.

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Who are the Falcons?

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[...] city officials can’t accept anything less than a multi-use facility with a retractable roof. Tony Barnhart nails it: A big part of what has made the SEC championship game one of the great success stories in sport [...]

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