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
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545 comments Add your comment
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:17 pm
This one’s for Neil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwTAGgsRoQ
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
10:22 pm
This is Randy Bachman, no slouch as a musician himself
Out of curiosity, HD, would a Canadian be held in higher or lower esteem than a Yankee in the eyes of a Southerner?? After all, Canada is even farther North than us, and they’re not even Americans…..
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
10:23 pm
I’m still liking JJ Cale’s version of “The Breeze”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlppIdtLw5A
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:24 pm
Bruno
I can only speak for me but I’ve always liked Canada. A tad cold but nice folks.
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:24 pm
Well, they’re nice until somebody drops a puck, anyway.
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:29 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__iBZ8FTc6Q
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
10:29 pm
One more Minnie Riperton that I like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVniMFJYY1o
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:33 pm
It ain’t politically correct but “gonna git Hank Aaron’s baseball bat and tenderize her head” is one of the great lines, in music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BePz4N156-Q
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:40 pm
In keeping with one of the themes tonight, the fiddler has a Ph.D. in theoretical plasma physics from M. I. T. (Listen to the story after the music).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGZv9Ovo2Ug
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
10:41 pm
Back at ya, HD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21ph2y3EYNI
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:45 pm
This guy was a Canadian and the song actually originated in Australia. Somebody got a hold of it and adapted it to the North America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47c6w46Cgc
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
10:48 pm
Just found this, the Aussie version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeadSspZDzM
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
11:01 pm
Just found this, the Aussie version.
This song sounds susp-iciously like the Aussie version as well, you think??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-9fk12ZWiU
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
11:04 pm
I can hear that same beat in this song as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVmB3lRjCmc
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
11:10 pm
Kind of a real slowed down version of that beat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR-A4QFHZBA
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2013
11:10 pm
Bruno
It’s more obvious in the first one. The verses are pretty much identical. The REM one is either coincidence or they hid it well, in my opinion.
Gotta run.
Bruno
February 16th, 2013
11:25 pm
For the night owls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLKiMbC6s2k
James
February 16th, 2013
11:53 pm
We need a new stadium so that the drunks can watch the thugs. ( and make the NFL and Owners richer ) Stupid people make rich people richer.
Techfan
February 17th, 2013
5:11 am
“Atlanta Stadium and Turner Field have been in pretty much the same location, since 1966 and that neighborhood doesn’t seem to have been helped one bit by it. ” I don’t know about this one. It’s been years since I’ve been to a game, but I remember you had to pay to park, then pay some guy to watch your car, then pay somebody to watch the guy watching your car,………
Michael H. Smith
February 17th, 2013
7:47 am
First I’ve been down on professional sports from since the football strike of the ’70s. Having said that the second objection leads to the fiscal side of these pro team and stadium ventures which seem to never prove profitable where taxpayers and our monies are involved. Third objection is the more obvious one n most minds around the state, which is, don’t we have better things to do with our tax revenues at the moment than build a new stadium when as a goodly number of our citizenry say the present stadium will serve the needs.
Now for something off topic and hot button:
obama’s idea on time (or part punish) required for transitioning illegal residents to legal residency status to begin the naturalization process also known as the path to citizenship is in my opinion simply too long. OMG! Did I say that? Yep!
The time required in my opinion to gain “legal status” better known as the pathway to legalization(or “permanent legal residency” not citizenship) should only take 2 years not 7 years with all other obligation being met like admitting to the crime of illegal entry, having no felonies or pending felony cases, paying all unpaid taxes own, learning U.S. English.
From The NY Times
The White House Continues Working on Immigration Legislation of Its Own
….On Saturday, USA Today reported that it had obtained portions of the president’s draft legislation. The newspaper said the bill would allow illegal immigrants to become permanent residents within eight years and in the meantime apply for a “Lawful Prospective Immigrant” visa. Mr. Stevens and other White House officials declined to comment on specific details of the report….
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/us/politics/white-house-moves-ahead-on-its-own-immigration-bill.html
PS. A great number of other items will certainly needs be addressed, though, the “earned clemency” to obtain a “green card” should not impose a unreasonable length of penalty time to gain legal status.
indigo
February 17th, 2013
8:37 am
James – 11:53 “stupid people make rich people richer”
The tools who are rushing out and buying more guns because they’re afraid of a Govt. takeover are at the head of that list.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
8:45 am
Stupid people make rich people richer.
———————–
No, people purchase products and services they need. “Rich” people provide these things at a price that people are willing to pay. No one’s putting a gun to your head forcing you to go to a Falcons game.
Stupid people oppose free market capitalism.
James
February 17th, 2013
8:55 am
Lil Barry, Free Market Capitalism is not TAXING citizens so that a select few prosper.
Let the owners foot the money .
bob
February 17th, 2013
8:55 am
Of course we do not need a new stadium but the economy is still slow. The stadium is a shovel ready project, maybe we could get some Obama slush fund money to build it.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
9:02 am
James: Let the owners foot the money.
——————–
No argument there. Cronyism is not capitalism.
Michael H. Smith
February 17th, 2013
9:15 am
Afraid of a government takeover or the authoritarian takeover of the Republican form of governance?
The latter individuals refuse to suffer the fools who rush to willingly give up essential liberties of all in exchange for a lasting security of none.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 17th, 2013
9:16 am
Good morning all….Your pool is inside the compound of the Floridian, the gated golf community where POTUS is playing and staying this weekend.
Focused like a laser on jobs, I can see.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 17th, 2013
9:24 am
Unfortunately, Americans are so consumed by resentment they haven’t noticed the president’s spread-the-wealth ploy isn’t working for them. Not one dollar of the $68 billion tax hike wrested from the wealthy in January ended up in middle class pockets.
Instead, their paychecks got smaller.
You have to give obozo credit, he knows his slack jawed minions will swallow every lie that emerges from his filthy mouth.
Larry
February 17th, 2013
9:48 am
Bring on the new stadium. We want Major League Soccer and we want it now.
md
February 17th, 2013
10:42 am
“The tools who are rushing out and buying more guns because they’re afraid of a Govt. takeover are at the head of that list.”
And the irony lies in the fact that the rush is in part fueled by the very people that don’t like guns……
md
February 17th, 2013
10:45 am
“Lil Barry, Free Market Capitalism is not TAXING citizens so that a select few prosper.”
Any idea what the overall economic impact is to the city with and without a team?
It’s not just rich people making money, there are a myriad of jobs associated with the team all the way down to the guy selling peanuts, water, and T-shirts on the sidewalk…….
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
February 17th, 2013
11:24 am
indigo
Guns hold their value, stadiums depreciate. With the current state of the Obamadollar, anything that keeps or increases your net work is a good investment.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
11:26 am
Hating those who make lots of money is for the low-information folks who think the size of the economy is fixed. Ironically, with their Idiot Messiah in office, it is!
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
February 17th, 2013
11:30 am
md
I don’t know what the value to the city/state of the team is, but whatever they say it is, is more than likely exaggerated greatly. They never take into account that disposable income is going to be spent, and what it is spent on is a personal decision, but people tend to spend their disposable income whether there is an NFL team in town or not. If no team they would attend more movies, more college sports, more concerts, eat out more, etc.
As a matter of principal, government should stay out of free enterprise capitalism.
indigo
February 17th, 2013
11:38 am
Michael H. Smith – 9:15
If you think your guns could protect you from F-18 Super Hornets, tanks, artillery, flame throwers, JDAM’s and other military hardware, then the NRA and gun manufacturers truly love you.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
11:44 am
If you think Americans are going to attack their fellow citizens with F-18 Super Hornets, tanks, artillery, flame throwers, JDAM’s and other military hardware, then you probably voted for Obozo and think he should be considering it.
md
February 17th, 2013
11:54 am
Rafe, fair point, but when it comes to major sports teams there is also an out of town factor involved, even within the State.
MrLiberty
February 17th, 2013
12:01 pm
No, the only question that should be asked about the stadium is “why taxpayer dollars?”
Crony capitalism has already destroyed this country at the Federal level. Why does it need to reach into state and local politics?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
12:01 pm
md, if we lose our NFL team though, the fans here in Georgia won’t be taking their tourism dollars to other cities.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
12:07 pm
Two words for any U.S. city fearing they have no choice but to cave to their local NFL owner…
Jacksonville Jaguars.
md
February 17th, 2013
12:20 pm
“md, if we lose our NFL team though, the fans here in Georgia won’t be taking their tourism dollars to other cities.”
Now that depends on whether one is going to the the game to see the home team or the visiting team…..the Atl isn’t exactly a homer town, as evidenced by the numerous out of town jerseys at all home games. Especially the Braves when the likes of the Cubs and Yankees come to town……
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 17th, 2013
12:25 pm
Measured by “accumulated cyclone energy,” hurricane and other tropical cyclone activity is at a three-decade low, and the journal Nature reports that globally “there has been little change in drought over the past 60 years.”
So what are the libs babbling about?
indigo
February 17th, 2013
12:38 pm
Barry – 11:44
No Barry, I DON’T think that.
But, a great many the gun nuts do.
Hillbilly D
February 17th, 2013
12:40 pm
The Thrashers left, and I hated to see that, but has it made any real difference in the grand scheme of things? Not really.
indigo
February 17th, 2013
12:44 pm
Aesop – 12:25
1. Global warming is a reality.
2. It’s probably caused by man-made emissions.
3. We don’t know how long it will last.
4. If it does last for at least 100 years, we don’t know how bad it will get.
After considering all the anti-warming posts here and elsewhere it seems we are talking about two separate things.
I and others say it is happening.
You and others say it probably won’t be so bad.
None of us know how bad it might eventally get, or when it might get to be really bad. But, who wants to wait until it’s so bad that nothing can be done?
Honest discussion and foresight are needed.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
12:46 pm
a great many the gun nuts do
——————–
And a great many of the gun control freaks think Our Second Amendment is about hunting.
Equally demented.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 17th, 2013
12:48 pm
But, who wants to wait until it’s so bad that nothing can be done?
—————
Senate Democrats, apparently, who refused to pass even the wimpy Obozo cap-and-trade scheme.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 17th, 2013
12:53 pm
4. If it does last for at least 100 years, we don’t know how bad it will get.
Actually, global warming has been happening since………………the Ice Age.
Come out from under the bed, indie, it’ll be OK.
MarkV
February 17th, 2013
1:23 pm
indigo @ 12:44 pm
Give up, indigo. You are trying to argue about “global warming” with someone who does not understand the word “global.”
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 17th, 2013
1:33 pm
MIT’s Dr. Lindzen: “Future generations will wonder in bemused amazement that the early 21st century’s developed world went into hysterical panic over a globally averaged temperature increase of a few tenths of a degree, and, on the basis of gross exaggerations of highly uncertain computer projections combined into implausible chains of inference, proceeded to contemplate a roll-back of the industrial age.’