Question on new stadium remains: Why so soon?
If you haven’t yet read Jeff Schultz’s column today about whether it would be “the worst thing in the world if the Falcons moved to the suburbs,” I recommend it. Spoiler alert: Schultz thinks it would not be the worst thing in the world if that were to happen.
Although I think downtown is ultimately far preferable to the suburbs for the Falcons’ home games, Schultz makes a number of good arguments. But this is the part to which I want to draw your attention (with emphasis added):
The [San Francisco] 49ers couldn’t get a downtown stadium deal done, so they’re moving to Santa Clara, 30 to 45 minutes away. … By the way, Candlestick Park is 53 years old.
The [New York] Giants left the old Meadowlands stadium, which was 34 years old. The [Miami] Dolphins left the Orange Bowl, which was built in 1939. The [Dallas] Cowboys and [New England] Patriots left stadiums that were opened in 1971. The [Washington] Redskins left RFK Stadium, built in 1961.
The Georgia Dome opened in 1992.
For me, much of what’s disquieting about the drive to ditch the Dome is the timing. In 2017, by which time the Falcons insist they’ll be in a new stadium, the Dome will be a mere 25 years old.
The stadium the 49ers are leaving is twice as old (53) as the Georgia Dome will be in 2017. The same goes for the Dolphins’ old stadium (48) when their new stadium opened in 1987.
The stadium the Giants and New York Jets replaced was about as old (34) as most Georgians probably believed the Dome would be when it was replaced. Ditto for the old stadiums of the Cowboys (38), Patriots (29) and Redskins (36).
I think it’s fair to assume most Atlanta residents recognize that the Dome will have to be replaced at some point in time. I think it’s also fair to assume most of us wonder why that point in time is coming so soon after the Dome was built.
Of course, the Dome will need money for repairs if it stays open. As the AJC has reported, professional estimates of those costs run from $115 million by 2020 (when the Dome would hit 28 years of age) to $401 million by approximately 2035 (when it would be 43 years old).
So, it seems questionable to most people outside the Falcons organization that the Dome has to be replaced so soon. If we having this discussion five to 10 years from now, it would be going a lot differently.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
545 comments Add your comment
JamVet
February 15th, 2013
9:36 pm
The Georgia Dome opened in 1992.
I was at the very first game against the Jets. Atlanta 20, NY 17.
But twenty years on and it needs replacement???
The people involved back then need water boarding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCXQycyN_Vs
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
9:37 pm
When this guy would play Atlanta, the musicians from Macon, including Gregg Allman, would come up to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deeBQZ8Aklc
moonbat betty
February 15th, 2013
9:37 pm
Thank you, Bruno.
I like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaEmQJG2HHU
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
9:40 pm
My last season ticket year was the last year in Fulton County Stadium
Were you that Latino looking fellow who used to jump up and dance in front of us around the 20 yard line every game, way down at field level?? Invariably some big guy would go down there and make him sit down.
Dusty
February 15th, 2013
9:41 pm
Awwww Kyle made us play with the Pre-K crowd for days. Then we get the Sleaze on stadium Stalagtites joined by the Yahoo Yodelers Gittar Group and the Climate changer canoodling Club.
And.. maybe snow tomorrow! Hibernation is beginning to sound interesting. .I’m going to take my valentines and go eat chocolates. (Call me only for catastrophes..)
JamVet
February 15th, 2013
9:42 pm
I went to the gargantuan Amoeba Records in Hollywood once and left with an armful of records.
Including lots of Rundgren/Utopia, some Roy Buchanan (HD!) and this guy..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKaiHamPT54
josef
February 15th, 2013
9:44 pm
DUSTY!!!
Hey, Girl, I was just about to check out, sad I had not been able to say hello, and, answer to a prayer, here you are! Folks were missing you the other night at Big Daddy’s verandah in case your ears were burning.
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
9:45 pm
I knew a guy (who’s a pretty good musican; made a living at it a while) who went to a Tony Rice seminar once. When he got back, I asked him what he learned. He said, “He was so damn far over my head there was no use in me even being there”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xswwXOPhoTU
JamVet
February 15th, 2013
9:45 pm
In the “back” of the place they had a room half the size of a Kroger with nothing but blues and jazz!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKaiHamPT54
moonbat betty
February 15th, 2013
9:46 pm
Hi Dusty!
put an extra layer on!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj2700em-JQ
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
9:48 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T3to3DHLIE
JDW
February 15th, 2013
9:48 pm
@bruno…”Were you that Latino looking fellow who used to jump up and dance in front of us around the 20 yard line every game, way down at field level?? Invariably some big guy would go down there and make him sit down.”
JDW
February 15th, 2013
9:50 pm
“maybe snow tomorrow”
I am not buying the snow bit…it is still over 50 out there
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
9:54 pm
I forgot this guy, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RBm4tH9cA
josef
February 15th, 2013
9:54 pm
moonbat
Tornado…excellent and I really liked that video…
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
9:56 pm
I was at the very first game against the Jets. Atlanta 20, NY 17.
I first became aware of the Falcons in 1978, when they put the Eagles out in the wildcard playoff round, then blew a big lead in the second half against Dallas in the divisional playoffs. The 1980 team was exciting to watch, with several last minute wins, including a couple of hail marys. They again lost to Dallas after leading the game in the divisional playoffs, in a collapse of epic proportions.. Dallas then went on to lose to my Eagles, who had the best team in football in 1980 with Ron Jaworski, Harold Carmichael and Wilbur Montgomery on offense, and Bill Bergey leading up the defense. Unfortunately, Dick Vermeil over-trained them for the Super Bowl, and they were beaten by the Raiders. Probably the most exciting football year I can remember.
bluecoat
February 15th, 2013
9:58 pm
I see Aesop been drinking the poland spring water,and working Rubios cube.Next he will claim inventing the internet.
JamVet
February 15th, 2013
9:58 pm
BIG Keaggy fan. The greatest Christian guitarist I’ve ever heard. After this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D38Vk4s3wBA
Dusty
February 15th, 2013
9:59 pm
Josef,
Don ‘t you dare leave this place without saying “Hello beautiful” or something more truthful! I always miss ya.. Honest!
Ahhh , big Daddy’s Veranda! What’d y’all say? Was the Manichewitz good! Ummmm I still llove that stuff .
Now come more often, luv… and bring moonbat betty with ya. We like you good people..
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
9:59 pm
Jam @ 9:36–Marshall Tucker, and that song in particular, are one of the few that can’t be overplayed. They sound just as great every time I listen to them.
betty–Hadn’t heard that Tornado before.
josef
February 15th, 2013
10:00 pm
JDW
Don’t bet on it. Back home, I went to work one morning, shirt sleeves and 70 degrees, Came home that afternoon and it was already in the low 20s, by evening there was nearly a foot of the white stuff on the ground.
moonbat betty
February 15th, 2013
10:02 pm
Thanks, jo. Your picks always make me smile
Bruno, send this to win back your broken hearted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEGXU773tTM
JamVet
February 15th, 2013
10:02 pm
…blew a big lead in the second half against Dallas in the divisional playoffs.
Hell. they took out a quarterback named Staubach and some rookie named White drove them for two second half touchdowns and they beat Atlanta in a heart breaker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Vf-dCA2Bk
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:03 pm
Everybody has heard of this guy’s Daddy. Some other top rate pickers on the stage, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvfjIY-THZE
josef
February 15th, 2013
10:05 pm
DUSTY
Hello, ma jolie…what were we saying? Oh, just telling one of our not so nice conservatives who was blasting the liberal arts that he ought to take a lesson or two from you in how to cut somebody to shreds using quotes from the great works of literature in FRENCH even!
And moonbat? Well,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdSViaW6lUA
sorry, m’bat, I’m back in THAT decade…
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:06 pm
Bout time for The Shanty Song from Jonathan Edwards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1TpeMt8aF4
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:08 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXQPb40gFNM
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:10 pm
Nothing goes along with “The Shanty Song” like “Lost In The Ozone Again” by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heK8QjhWGag
Kyle’s blog will never be the same.
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:11 pm
Out of curiosity, josef, could my pics stir the heart of an old queen at all??
moonbat betty
February 15th, 2013
10:11 pm
They all good , jo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-q7Mih69KE
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:13 pm
Scotty Moore gets overlooked. He was in on the ground floor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXdkVesppd8
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:15 pm
In reading up on the Falcons, they had a total of 12 wins in the 1960s, and didn’t have a winning season until 1971. When I moved here, I couldn’t understand why nobody ever trusted the Falcons. 32 years later, I can say that I understand why.
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:16 pm
More Scotty and Knopfler is no slouch, either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw6xdHB6KXU
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:17 pm
betty–Cracking up at the Joe Nichols song.
josef
February 15th, 2013
10:17 pm
speaking of Jonathan Edwards….finally found his version of this one…the best I’ve ever heard of one of my all time favorite songs….
http://www.myspace.com/jonathanedwards-45784639/music/songs/morning-train-27961557
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:19 pm
they had a total of 12 wins in the 1960s
Yeah but they only played 4 years in the 60’s, so it’s not as bad as it looks.
Dusty
February 15th, 2013
10:24 pm
Josef
I love your lines but my French est tres terrible’ or something like that .but don’t tell.
Thought about you the other day when I read about Hattisburg. Wondered if your folks were near there. I hope not.
Take care . Now back to my chocolates. I read that chocolate was good for your health. Yeah! Right!
JamVet
February 15th, 2013
10:24 pm
Benmont Tech on keyboards…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSEsmc_H5OU
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:26 pm
Yeah but they only played 4 years in the 60’s, so it’s not as bad as it looks.
I know, HD, but it sounds so much worse if you just say “the 60s”.
My friend’s brother, who I went to the games with, used to bet $1000 per week against the Falcons. Most years, he came out ahead.
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:27 pm
Always thought this guy was better at music than he got credit for. I really liked this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b04Po468OI8
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:28 pm
Bruno @ 10:26
He shoulda bet more. He’d been retired a couple decades ago.
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:30 pm
How bout some rockabilly from wild rooster??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBJD27hp-jA
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:33 pm
Bruno, send this to win back your broken hearted:
betty–At this point, I think it’s more like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmnUayaQyBk
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:37 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybk01Ib2Svo
josef
February 15th, 2013
10:38 pm
BRUNO
Maybe. But not this one…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0La15_Ziwo
moonbat betty
February 15th, 2013
10:40 pm
Clapton is the God!
I enjoyed comparing these 2 versions of the same song:
Fog hat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCkZWyohP7M
Etta :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pu_AdU_NQg
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:41 pm
This one never gets old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC4cACp-E2w
Bruno
February 15th, 2013
10:44 pm
@ moonbat betty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcY5SQECqks
josef
February 15th, 2013
10:44 pm
enjoyed to visit, y’all…g’night and G-d bless…
Hillbilly D
February 15th, 2013
10:47 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMfRG1FnsRA