How is Falcons’ stadium with no taxpayer liability a problem?
Arthur Blank wanted to keep Rich McKay around to be his front man for a new stadium deal. (Curtis Compton/AJC.)
A six-pack of observations about the Falcons’ push for a new stadium, which I have absolutely no problem with (I guess that counts as one):
♦ 1. Let’s reaffirm the obvious here: Yes, owner Arthur Blank wants a new stadium so that he can make more money. With too many club seats (thousands of which go unsold at games), too few luxury suites and limited ways for Blank to generate revenue at the Georgia Dome through signage, martini bars, etc., he is at a competitive disadvantage compared to other owners, many of whom run teams that represent the Falcons’ primary competition in the NFC: Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Arizona. (Minnesota also has been pushing for a new stadium. New Orleans has been receiving concessions and is in a special situation, given the city’s economy post-Katrina).
♦ 2. We obviously have more important needs in Atlanta than a new football stadium. The Georgia Dome is not falling apart. But if Blank wants to fund this project by himself, nobody should have a problem with that. If taxpayers are willing to pass an initiative for a special hotel-motel tax to help partially fund the project, nobody should have a problem with that, either. Yes, it would be wonderful if voters could be moved to vote for a hotel tax to help raise money for education and prevent 1,500 teachers from losing jobs. But realistically, that’s not going to happen.
♦ 3. I don’t like domed stadiums. I’ve been in just about every one, and the Georgia Dome actually is one of the better ones. But I’m old school in this way: football and baseball are outdoor sports. Rain, wind, ice, snow – don’t care. I would still rather see a football game outside. The elements should be part of a football game. The thermostat should not be.
♦ 4. Can domed stadiums make more money than outdoor stadiums? No question. Officials can host basketball tournaments, split the stadium in half for simultaneous conventions and stage rock concerts in a ridiculously over-sized venue without concern of bad weather keeping fans away. But I’m going old school again. Hate basketball and concerts in 70,000-seat venues. Is this supposed to be about attendance records or fan experience? And I’m certainly not worried that the SEC championship is going to wither if the game is moved to an outdoor venue.
♦ 5. The Falcons are right to push for a downtown stadium. Suburban venues stink. They don’t have a vibe. Ted Turner’s decision to build Philips Arena downtown helped revive downtown. The fact is, Turner could have made more money by putting the arena in the northern suburbs. (His advisers were pushing for it.) But he was committed to improving downtown. I’m not at all suggesting Blank is pushing for a downtown stadium for the same reason. But in town venues definitely are cooler.
♦ 6. If you want to know why Blank retained Rich McKay even after Thomas Dimitroff was hired to replace him as general manager two years ago, this is it. McKay has tremendous knowledge about the league. But his primary function is to get a new stadium deal. McKay’s presence and his being out front in this deal create a bit of a buffer for Blank on a hot button issue.
So, do you agree and disagree with my points? And if the Falcons could get a new stadium new without any taxpayer liability, how would you feel about it?
♦
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249 comments Add your comment
chzbykr
May 24th, 2010
8:04 am
yeah, easy for you Shultz sitting in a press booth during the rain and cold. I remember too many empty, altho paid for, seats in the old stadium. Not so many diehard fans here as many other cities. Too many events lost here without som kind of dome.
leland
May 24th, 2010
8:07 am
Me, I was against it before I read #1 and #2, but then I clum up on a fence. As they say on the lottery report on Channel 2, those two numbers were followed by the next one. It was there that I got myself wholly convinced on the necessity for the project. I had no idea, Mr. Shultz, that you didn’t like indoor football. How can any fairminded reader resist that compelling revelation? You sure do know how to develop an argument.
Jan Spiro
May 24th, 2010
8:07 am
Downtown is great. That’s why Cox and the AJC moved to Dunwoody.
mid georgia
May 24th, 2010
8:10 am
Iffen Blank wants it let him pay for it. Best thing is to refurbish the Ga dome to a retractable roof kind of thing. Only way.
Shug
May 24th, 2010
8:10 am
Regular (i.e., outdoor) stadiums beat shopping mall domed ones under any conditions. And I also couldn’t care less whether the SEC championship game, NCAA final fours or the ex-Peach Bowl prefer domes or not. True fans want the feel of autumn (and winter) football.
F-105 Thunderchief
May 24th, 2010
8:11 am
They could build it where the AJC used to be. If Blank wants to build it, fine. Let him. But, to ask taxpayers to even help fund it during the Great Recession is just wrong.
KaiserSouze
May 24th, 2010
8:13 am
When I want something and I have the money I buy it. If Blank wants a new open air stadium let him buy it, enough said. Where should he put it? Where the sun don’t shine in an open air stadium. Give me a break about the weather in Nov, Dec and Jan., it sucks. Just ask Nascar and the numbers they get in Hampton during the fall. When man makes plans the gods say “yeah right”. One final note, the reason the elements play no role in attendance in the NEast, they have no life but their teams, we locally have many choices and one of them is called the SEC. I was born a Yankee but I am now southern by choice for over 30 years. And the NFL can kiss my grits. Selah!
Angus
May 24th, 2010
8:17 am
The hotel-motel tax won’t support both the Dome and pay for new construction – something’ll have to give.
Angus
May 24th, 2010
8:18 am
Build the new stadium on the olf Fulton Co Stadium site – it would then make sense to bring in rail to support both venues.
KaiserSouze
May 24th, 2010
8:21 am
By the way Jeff how revealing, “If I was a fan I would rather sit outside”. Your not a fan so you play no role in this new stadium discussion other than far from innocent bystander. Keep your two cents to yourself or lend it to Arthur. BTW, do we really want to give money to someone named Artie? Selah!
gasgop
May 24th, 2010
8:21 am
Guys,
Part of the reason you have an outdoor stadium is because people will then have to pay for the suites to protect themselves from the environment. Currently with the Georgia dome you have a temperature controlled seat in all seats. So there is no incentive to pay extra dollars for club seats or suites. This is what drives up revenue. Retractable roof does not accomplish this. A two stadium solution with keeping the current dome(for keeping the SEC, ACC, peach etc.) and building a new open air stadium would be the solution.
Genius
May 24th, 2010
8:24 am
If they had not been short-sighted (cheap) during the Olympic buildup in the early 90s, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. And it would have been a lot cheaper than it will be today. Put a retractable roof on it and be done with it. Arthur, I hope you are too smart to make the same mistake twice.
gasgop
May 24th, 2010
8:28 am
Angus, The dome will be paid off by the time the new dome is ready. that is why they had to vote for the new hotel/motel tax, the current one expires when the current dome is paid off.
Kenneth
May 24th, 2010
8:31 am
As someone who has been to the new Dallas stadium, Atlanta would be well advised to stadium like this. Of course, Atlanta doesn’t need all the seats to be leather or exteremely comfortable like Dallas, we dont need two open air sides, we dont need half of the luxury Dallas has, or the scoreboard as big as the field. Cut away all the unnecessaries and Atlanta could have a nice stadium for half the cost of Dallas. Atlanta fans are just too fickle when it comes to pro sports. With college sports we’ll go through hell to watch them outside. Pro? Too many other things to do.
Angus
May 24th, 2010
8:34 am
I contend that without the revenue stream to maintain and improve the Dome, it will die a slow death once an event or two relocate. And, AMB won’t be there to pony-up the cash for needed improvements the next go-around.
Sid
May 24th, 2010
8:36 am
My god, we can’t continue to hold events in that dilapidated old run down Georgia Dome. Heck, the thing is in danger of collapse. Tear it down.
1. Maybe those club seats are a wee overpriced.
2. You can’t speak for everybody.
3. Retractable roof is the only answer. You need to be able to draw special events that require a roof and you will NOT get another Super Bowl with an open air stadium in Atlanta.
4. Oh ye of little imagination, we’re not talking just basketball and concerts. If the taxpayers are involved they must have more revenue earning options other than football.
5. I agree, downtown…….where we already have a fine football stadium…!! People keep talking about Doraville and the old GM plant. Doraville City Council voted against even considering it. Anyway, you would have to name it Halcón Estadio de Fútbol.
6. Well then, Rich McKay isn’t doing a very good job is he.
Synopsis: We (John Q. Public Taxpayer) are going to build Arthur Blank a new stadium so he can make “more” money? Heck, while you are at it build me one too.
FunkyBobbyJ
May 24th, 2010
8:36 am
Blank needs to fund the stadium and help push to get the World Cup here. An International city should have a place to host international matches and have an MLS team. I know that no one cares about soccer, but it could really bring in some revenue (the World Cup, maybe not so much MLS).
sunny purdue
May 24th, 2010
8:54 am
It seems the REAL ISSUE is the unsold club seats. Luxury boxes will not increase the fan base or attendance but they will insure a guaranteed income for the owner. So, if the beneficiary of the income is the owner – he should build his own stadium. If the Falcons want to sell more club seats either put a better product on the field or put the field somewhere that will draw more fans – not downtown.
Most sportswriters cry they are old school while they sit in the press-box shielded from the weather eating food from the buffet tables and don’t pay for tickets. So Jeff, your opinion is jaded – those who sit in the blazing heat or sub freezing temps are the ones to consider. This article is a nice one if you need to suck up to the Falcons.
Simply put, an outdoor stadium downtown will draw fewer fans but guarantee an increased income for the owners. My vote – not one dime for such a foolish venture, not even an anti tourism tax . Downtown venues do not work in Atlanta. Perhaps you could write a nice piece about reviving Underground Atlanta.
TommyJack
May 24th, 2010
8:54 am
Waste is still waste. Despite (no) tax payer liability, it still seems unneccessary.
Jeff Schultz
May 24th, 2010
8:55 am
KaiserSouze — Keep my opinion to myself. OK. Have you got another job for me?
rekingball
May 24th, 2010
8:55 am
A ball game in which you can’t touch the ball with your hands?
Give me a break, boring.
willdave
May 24th, 2010
8:56 am
OK. The Falcons moved into their new domed stadium in 1992. Less than 18 short years later, they are already seriously seeking a new home. Thus, in building a new facility for a pro team, it is always better to do it right rather than settle for quick fixes.
Yes, Jeff. I agree wholeheartedly that any new facility for the Birds should be an outdoor stadium with natural grass. Hey, this is Georgia, the Deep South. We are much more likely to have warm, sunny days than cold, rainy ones during the football season. We really do not need a domed stadium down here. Moreover, look at all the injuries and shortened careers that have resulted from playing on artificial turf, although I understand that the Dome field features some improvements.
I understand that a domed facility provides opportunities to host a wider variety of major events. So, my solution? Go ahead and spend the extra money to build a state-of-the-art outdoor facility with a retractable dome. Let’s do it right this time. The Falcons and we taxpayers know we would get that money back many times over. Just go ahead and spend it.
Sure, it would be nice to keep the Falcons downtown. However, keep in mind that this NFL team has a regional following. It is not restricted to the city of Atlanta. Thus, the necessity of building the right type of facility takes precedence over the desire to keep the Birds nesting in a downtown location.
The old GM plant in Doraville would be a perfect suburban alternative for a new Falcon facility. Plenty of land. Right next to a MARTA rail line and I-285. The suburbs offer several other choice alternatives.
Let’s not be afraid to think outside the box on a project of this magnitiude. Once the new stadium is built, the topic of providing a new home for the Falcons should not come up again in our lifetime.
rekingball
May 24th, 2010
8:57 am
Jeff, you never replied to the question about sitting in the stands or sitting in the press box.
Change to Old Uniforms
May 24th, 2010
8:59 am
why can’t both stadiums exist together?
Dome (Ga State football, Chic Fil-A bowl & kick-off classic, SEC championship, High School football, NCAA basketball, supercross, megafest, etc.)
Doraville (Falcons, ACC championship)
Mash
May 24th, 2010
9:00 am
Jeff, I completely agree with your points on the open-air stadium. This needs to happen. I applaud the Falcons for doing what’s best for them and City of Atlanta in pushing for an open-air stadium.
I’m not completely sold that it needs to be downtown. Wherever this stadium is built in Atlanta, it needs to have a parking lot able to acomodate tailgating. There certainly isn’t any suitable place for tailgating at the current Dome location. If they find a site downtown that can pull off tailgating, I’m all for it. If not, I wouldn’t mind building it somewhere on the north side.
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 24th, 2010
9:00 am
I don’t care what he does, as long as he does it with his own money. Not one dime of taxpayer money for a billionaire owner.
g garcia
May 24th, 2010
9:01 am
♦ 2. We obviously have more important needs in Atlanta than a new football stadium. The Georgia Dome is not falling apart. But if Blank wants to fund this project by himself, nobody should have a problem with that. If taxpayers are willing to pass an initiative for a special hotel-motel tax to help partially fund the project, nobody should have a problem with that, either. Yes, it would be wonderful if voters could be moved to vote for a hotel tax to help raise money for education and prevent 1,500 teachers from losing jobs. But realistically, that’s not going to happen.
The problem is that Blank does not want to fund this project by himself. He wants the city to help him pay for the stadium. A bed tax makes our hotels and motels slightly less competitive for conventions. So, if we tax beds, we had better do so carefully. The tax had better go towards the needs of the city.
You say that a bed tax will not be approved to help the school system. Why? Why can’t fine journalists, like yourself get on their stumps and make convincing arguments that a room tax should be used towards the city’s educational programs? Why do AJC writers act as promoters for Arthur Blank’s desires? Perhaps I have missed a dissenting article.
This is insanity. I like Mr Blank and I believe that he has helped the city of Atlanta, but this city does not owe him anything. This city must attract more residents. To do that, improvements must be made to the quality of life within the city limits. Its educational system must be brought up to national standards. Its mass transportation system must be developed. There must be compelling reasons to live in the city.
Yet, here we are, reading another AJC article advocating for Blank’s project. Come on Mr Schultz, would you rather spend room tax revenues on a new stadium? Really? Have you given up? Won’t you stand up and fight for a better Atlanta?
BugKiller
May 24th, 2010
9:02 am
Come on, Jeff, you know better than what you’re saying. Don’t be naive.
The city can’t support both an outdoor stadium and the dome, especially on the GWCC Campus.
The SEC moved the Championship Game to Atlanta BECAUSE it was a domed stadium, as the two games played in the elements in Birmingham were largely unexceptional.
Final Fours are only played in domed football stadiums now. And now that they’ve found a way to put the court in the middle of the floor on a raised platform, there is no way the NCAA is passing up 60,000 to 70,000 tickets for 19,000 in Phillips Arena.
The same goes for the SEC Tourney.
The Peach-Fil-A Bowl would go from being one of the best bowls to one of the worst in an outdoor stadium, just as it was in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
That’s why, if a stadium is to be built, it needs to be built and maintained BY Arthur Blank… NOT the city. The city simply can’t afford the upkeep on TWO stadiums.
And it needs to be built AWAY from the Dome. Either stick it in Gwinnett County, or like I said, build it next to Turner Field.
REB
May 24th, 2010
9:02 am
Have you been to Athens in August or early September? It is the most miserable, hottest, stadium ever. I love my Dawgs but god is it hot then. I have been there and froze to death as well. Give me the Dome any day. I have had Dawg and Falcons season tickets (sometimes both at the same time) and the Dome is one reason why we ultimately chose the birds.
homanro
May 24th, 2010
9:04 am
As a charter season ticket holder who spent many cold and/or wet miserable afternoons in Atlanta Stadium, the Dome has been far more FAN FRIENDLY! As to financing with a hotel/motel tax, that isn’t necessarily pain free for locals, if it depresses convention/tourist business. Did not Jerry Jones finance his new stadium without any help? If so, Arthur Blank can too!!
Angus
May 24th, 2010
9:06 am
Out of curiosity, for those of you calling for a northern-burb location, what’s the excuse for the Gwinnett Braves poor attendance?
Bugkiller is right
May 24th, 2010
9:08 am
Jeff, you ask why we assume everything would leave, why do you think anything would stay? The SEC championship is gone, they want to be inside. The Big 12 tried outside and it did not work, now they are back inside and how has thay ACC championship outside worked out. As for the Peach bowl, it went from a toilet bowl with bad weather to very good bowl when it went inside. That would go in the toilet. The dome serves a much bigger purpose than holding Falcons games. If they want open air then build it themselves or find another city to build it for them
Tim Tebow's Tears
May 24th, 2010
9:11 am
100 percent agree. Let’s get this done. The Dome stinks!!!
Silverfox
May 24th, 2010
9:12 am
The key to the dome is the fact that the Falcons represent less than 20% of the revenue and usage. While it is not ideal for football, the outside venue is horrible for conventions, concerts, etc that produce most of the revenue for the Dome. So what we are looking at is taking a single multiuse venue and splitting it into 2 special use facilities.
Todd
May 24th, 2010
9:14 am
Just play the games at the gwinnett arena. lol
sick of funding this
May 24th, 2010
9:15 am
This will be one more thing for season ticket holders to bear. Now, we’ll have PSL’s like Carolina, and we can barely afford our lower level seats as it is. Guess we could move in the nosebleed, but before I’ll pay PSL’s as a 22 year season ticket holder, I’ll keep my happy fanny at home. Sorry. Nothing wrong with the Dome. The NFL and Arthur Blank are pricing the average fan out of the game. And, put a product on the field worth paying for. Now, I got all my rants in on one item. Cool!
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & TIred
May 24th, 2010
9:16 am
I too remember all the no-shows at Fulton County Stadium when the weather was crap. And…the rationale about cities like Green Bay and its fans sitting outside in the elements…there isn’t a whole lot other than the Packers to in Green Bay during the winter months. Like many others have stated, there are lots of options on Sunday in the Atlanta metro area plus the area has a lot of transient folks who continue to support the teams they support prior to moving to the Atlanta area.
If a new stadium is approved, it should have a retractable roof so that the metro area will not lose the revenues generated from the other events currently hosted at the GA Dome. Or keep the Dome and build an outdoor stadium somewhere in the downtown area. There are still large parcels of land (especially old industrial sites) inside the perimeter that could be utilized.
As for the lack of areas for tailgating at Falcons’ games, I’ve never had a problem unless you feel like you need to tailgate on grass. Tailgating has problems besides the complaints of winos and beggers in downtown…just ask the folks at UGA when they have to clean up the thousands of pounds of trash left behind in Athens after UGA football games.
sick of funding this
May 24th, 2010
9:19 am
Enter your comments here
Charlie Bama
May 24th, 2010
9:25 am
A city with two perfectly nice, sparkling downtown stadiums, one domed, one not, is either brilliant or crazy. Thing is, it’s gonna be other cities who get to judge and label us in the first decade. Presently, ATL is not making the ‘brilliant’ list with this idea. Just sayin’. . . .
KaiserSouze
May 24th, 2010
9:26 am
No go on that job Jeff. Artie’s people just called and they want 60% of my earnings on my concession stand. And the NFL called and they want 40% on licensing. So it goes and I thought you would be a good fit for our team. Low miles on being a writer and all. My envies are few but writer is one. Something about sitting in front of a keyboard until you sweat blood. Is that how it works some days? Selah!
Sunny Purdue
May 24th, 2010
9:26 am
Typical sportswriter’s Sunday at the Dome:
1. Park in AJC deck.
2. Limo to the stadium (only when it’s rainy, cold or hot).
3. Flash press pass in private entrance.Take private elevator to press level.
4. Get in buffet line – to the front of the line for those who are nice to the Falcons.
5. Find comfy chair in air-conditioned/heated press-box.
6. Spill food on keyboard.
7. Write article about the joys of an outdoor stadium.
EW
May 24th, 2010
9:29 am
Jeff, I am all for it if we can improve the tailgating and parking situation. Oh and if there is a mass transit option to get to the stadium that doesn’t include shuttles..you know for those who don’t want to drive or tailgate. Everyone knows the nasty months in GA are in January and February…September- December, while cold, are usually beautiful in Atlanta…
Idea man
May 24th, 2010
9:29 am
Build it next to Turner field where Fulton County Stadium used to be and get a MARTA stop and underground parking down there as well.
BuckCommander
May 24th, 2010
9:31 am
First!!
EW
May 24th, 2010
9:32 am
I love how everyone is hating on Jeff’s job when they know they would give their left nut to be a Sportswriter and do the same thing..you think Jeff got to where he is by not being a fan first? You guys make it seem like he watches the game like royalty. I have sat behind Shultz at a Hawks game..and there was no booth…no courtside seats, no waiters bringing food, NOTHING SPECIAL…just a table on the mezzanine level with laptops surrounded by other writers watching the game with the same view/experience I was having..sheesh…
beauvighn
May 24th, 2010
9:37 am
I would rather have the SEC championship game or any college game for that matter than the Falcons..It has turned into a hip hop fest on Sundays at the dome. Build your open air stadium and watch the attendance drop like a lead weight lat in the season.
BuckCommander
May 24th, 2010
9:38 am
I think that Arthur Blank needs to spennd some of his money on a facelift and nosejob unless he can figure out a way to get the taxpayers to fund it.
freehawk
May 24th, 2010
9:40 am
I have never understood the “weather is a part of the game” cliche. Bad weather stinks. I hate going to games in bad weather. I hate waking up and thinking “oh man, it looks like it is going to rain.” Think of how many Peach Bowls (when it was called that) were played in absolutely terrible weather.
Can you put a retractable or partly retractable roof on what we have now?
I guard my wallet when somebody says “this won’t cost the taxpayers anything.”
Shultz has a press buffet at games. I don’t feel sory for him.
DP
May 24th, 2010
9:44 am
If Arthur Blank wants to build a new stadium for the Falcons with his own money on a site other than that of the Georgia Dome I have no problem with it. Under no circumstances should the Georgia Dome be torn down nor should one penny of taxpayer support go to a new stadium.
People keep comparing the football experience here to Green Bay, New England, etc., i.e. if the fans there come out in the cold and rain (no mention of them coming out in 95 degree heat in September because they don’t have it) they should come out here. Fine, build a stadium based on how you think fans should behave instead of how they actually behave. Contempt for your customers is always smart business.
hols
May 24th, 2010
9:46 am
Its a perfectly good venue however it would bring a lot of jobs to the city for construction. As long as it remains the ATLANTA falcons and not the Gwinnett falcons or Marietta falcons.