Former Dome GM: There’s zero need for a new stadium
Khalil Johnson was the Georgia Dome’s general manager when it opened, so he’s a bit partial to the place. No longer affiliated with the Dome — he retired as the Georgia World Congress Center’s chief operating officer last summer — he remains one of the most respected men in his industry. And here’s what he thinks of the Falcons’ desire to build an open-air stadium where (or near) the Dome sits: Not much.
“I love football and I love the Falcons,” Johnson said. “If they need and desire a new stadium, let the owner build it himself. In this current situation, to use tax dollars isn’t viable.”
Also this: “They’re having discussions of whether [an open-air stadium would cost] less than half a billion or more than half a billion. At the same time we’re closing schools, we’ve got transportation issues and we need to figure out Grady [Hospital] … It’s not a sports question. It’s an economic issue. There are a lot more pressing needs.”
Arthur Blank bought the Falcons in 2002, a decade after the Dome opened, and has been persistent in his desire that the building be updated. Johnson worked to placate the owner but knew the day would come when Blank would want a new building.
Said Johnson, who now works out of Douglasville as a consultant regarding events and venues: “What’s the pressing need? More money for the ownership. I don’t know how that lines up with what the public wants … I just question whether the public needs to give more when most of the benefits will go to a private owner.”
About the Dome, Johnson said: “It may not be a great building but it’s a damn good building. And improvements can be made … The bones of Georgia Dome are good. Ask anybody in the business, and they’ll tell you that. It would make more economic sense to improve the Georgia Dome.”
The Falcons’ desire for an open-air stadium — one without a retractable roof, which team president Rich McKay told the AJC would be too expensive — would seem at odds with the Dome’s charter. The Falcons believe an open-air stadium would help Atlanta’s chances of playing host to games in soccer’s World Cup in 2018 or 2022, but the Dome has already staged two NCAA Final Fours and is ticketed for another in 2013.
And what of the ACC and SEC basketball tournaments, both of which have been played beneath the Dome’s roof? What of the SEC football championship and the Chick-fil-A Bowl, each held between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day?
“I don’t think the Falcons care much about basketball games,” Johnson said. As for college football: “The [SEC] tried [playing outdoors] in Birmingham. Didn’t work. Roy Kramer [then the SEC commissioner] came to us and said, ‘I want a stadium with a roof on it.’ And what was the name for the Peach Bowl before it moved indoors? ‘Weather-plagued.’ ”
Would it be possible to build an open-air stadium next to the Dome? Said Johnson: “It makes no sense to me. We know how tight that campus is — you’ve got the GWCC, Philips Arena, a fully functional arena and a park jammed into 220 acres.”
Johnson also questions whether the public would benefit from a new stadium. “People would have to be prepared for higher ticket prices, higher food and beverage prices, higher parking and PSLs [personal seat licenses, which confer the right to buy a ticket].”
Loading ...But wouldn’t much of the money for a new stadium come, as has been the case with the Dome, from a hotel tax? And doesn’t the hotel tax affect non-Atlantans?
“The Dome gets $20 million a year from the hotel tax,” Johnson said. “What would $20 million do for Atlanta schools or for health care? And the World Congress Center is sitting there aging with no significant resources. Wouldn’t it be sensible to put that money into the Congress Center, which has been the driver for the convention business in Atlanta?”
There’s also this: “The Dome is almost paid off, which means that [hotel tax] money could be put to other use. Why plant a tree, watch it grow and then, when it’s almost grown, cut it down because you see a tree you like better?”
Isn’t there a risk that if the Falcons don’t get what they want downtown, they’ll move? “If Doraville wants to build a stadium, let them take a shot at it,” Johnson said. “But I don’t think the dollars add up. There’s nowhere to move. People aren’t sitting around with half a billion dollars.”
Johnson’s closing argument: “If Atlanta can’t pay for a new stadium, who can? And is there really a need? Again, we’re down to the question of wants versus needs.”
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
259 comments Add your comment
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 21st, 2010
1:00 pm
Casey what NFL team did you play for or own? I loved the outdoor game as a player. I like the game outside when I pay a few buck to watch High School games. I can survive a few bad weather games when Tech plays. I will not pay major money to go to a Bowl Game, Playoff Game, The Battle of the Bands Game, Super Bowl, and like events to sit outside in the cold and rain. Sports make the most money on TV anyway. I would go to Green Bay in Dec. and see a game just to say I did it. You know the Bucket List Thing.
leland
May 21st, 2010
1:02 pm
Falcon Sorry–nice to see you back. Even though I promised MB I wouldn’t say it anymore, I can’t resist: vengence will be serve.
jim
May 21st, 2010
1:04 pm
You must be kidding me. We are closing schools and people are losing jobs and Blank wants public money to fund his stadium? Unbelievable.
Rajin Mojo
May 21st, 2010
1:04 pm
Blank wants all the extra millions he’ll get from a new stadium with tons of new corporate suites to rent to fatcats. If he doesn’t get it, he’ll be looking at LA–they’ll pay him whatever he wants.
Casey
May 21st, 2010
1:05 pm
@Mark Bradley
What is this guy your buddy or something? Is that why you keep removing my posts? There is nothing in them vulgar or which violates the rules of this blog. Therefore, it’s censorship. Being a member of the press, that makes you the ultimate hypocrite.
Mark Bradley
May 21st, 2010
1:09 pm
Sorry, Casey. You posted the same thing about four times and I try not to let such duplication stand. And I must have gotten trigger-happy and deleted all four, as opposed to deleting only three.
Go ahead and post it again: It’ll stand this time. (The one about Khalil Johnson being a left-leaning politician, I mean.)
Ted Striker
May 21st, 2010
1:09 pm
I’m more than satisfied with the dome. I like the dome. And those who feel differently can step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is.
GEORGIA97
May 21st, 2010
1:10 pm
Take the roof off the Dome? Morons. The guts of the place were not built to be exposed to the elements so the joint would fall apart. I grew up in the ATL watching the Falcons, Peach Bowl, etc. in the elements and sorely miss those days. Football inside a dome is a joke. If they can play it outside in Green Bay, Buffalo, etc. we darn should be able to here as well. The old GM plant is a perfect site with access to 285, 85, 400 & PIB nearby.
Ted Striker
May 21st, 2010
1:11 pm
And to think, I woke up this morning hoping to read the same thing over and over again from Casey. (Not).
Craig - The real Criag
May 21st, 2010
1:13 pm
My first reaction to hearing this was SWEET, for Atlanta not to have an open air stadium is ridiculous, we have a great climate. I personally love the dome but prefer football outside. Then I saw how he wanted to fund it with tax money, and I have two thoughts. First is it would be a good thing, create new jobs, build out chances for another World Staged Sporting event and eventually the city would make money off of it. But as brought up by earlier poster, we are laying off teachers, public servants and honestly my property tax is already too high. Great idea, poor timing.
So I say privately fund the stadium, hell I would throw a couple grand in if it meant I got it back with interest. Atlanta needs a to play football in an Open Air Stadium, then we could have more events like the Chick Fillet Bowl or Exhibition soccer matches.
Ramblin Wrecker
May 21st, 2010
1:15 pm
If the Falcons or Atlanta have any desire to host another Super Bowl, they will have to keep the Dome or build a new dome. A purely open air stadium will never host a Super Bowl.
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 21st, 2010
1:15 pm
I love my Dad so much. I was into Motocross as a kid in the 70’s. For those that can remember; every year when the Super Bowl of Motocross came to Atlanta in October it was raining and cold. My Step-Dad still got the Tickets so I could see Hurrican Bob Hannah race. He sat there in the rain and cold listening to the “Swarm Of Bee” jump around in the mud. I like that those type of events are indoors now. PBR rodeo, Monster trucks, and motorcycle are great outside, but work well inside too no matter the weather.
JSS
May 21st, 2010
1:16 pm
@ Georgia97…
For 9 millionth time, THE DORAVILLE GM Site NOT an option, it was taken out of play by the City of Doraville!
Casey
May 21st, 2010
1:16 pm
Who cares what Khalil Johnson thinks? He is a typical liberal bureaucrat. He doesn’t have a clue about how the real world works. The Dome is a huge money maker for the city and the state. That money is used to pay for schools, roads, hospitals, Khalil Johnson’s salary, etc. A new stadium would bring in even more money to the city and the state. This kind of thinking is ridiculous. Without the sports stadiums downtown, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to go down there, except the aquarium. That is not enough to sustain all of the restaurants and hotels downtown. Most of them would be put out of business without the stadiums.
Craig - The real Criag
May 21st, 2010
1:17 pm
GEORGIA97 –
Nail on the head buddy, the car plant was the best spot for it, but the smarter Doraville City Consul thought it would be better used as a community lifestyle property where we can have more town homes and apt with shops and restaurants. Great idea in theory but are we saturated with commercial residential properties in the this city… Trump Towers and Rodeo Drive of Buckhead really worked out well.
Falcon60
May 21st, 2010
1:19 pm
If the Falcons want a new “open air” stadium, fine. If they want a retractible roof, that’s fine too. But if they institute PSL’s they better hope that big business buys a lot of them. My wife & I have had tickets since ‘98 and our seats have gone from $41 per to $79. My father-in-law is now paying $6000 for seats in the lower level sideline area. There’s no way an average fan can pay $5000 (or likely a lot more) plus $500 to $1000 for seats. The “real” fans will be gone for good.
As for you that will say I’m complaining, forget it. I knew what I was getting into and I love the Falcons. But as it stands now football season is a $2000 to $3000 per year investment. As much as I love the team and NFL football I would have to say no thanks. PSL’s may be great for raising the revenue needed to fund a stadium but it’s not going to be a popular choice for the average guy. I hope it doesn’t come to this for Blank to get his way. If it does, good luck selling seats. You’ll need it.
Craig - The real Criag
May 21st, 2010
1:20 pm
Ramblin Wrecker –
Really guys, don’t think Miami has a dome. And pretty sure the meadowland where they are rumored to have the 2014 super bowl won’t be a dome.
Bob H
May 21st, 2010
1:23 pm
I Agree with many if the Falcons want a new stadium, let them pay for it. The Georgia, Dome is an awsome place, I was there for the 1st Pre-Season Game with The Eagles when it opened, and have been many times, for the Falcons, and The AMA Supercross.
Now with Bill Curry’s GSU Panthers playing there home games at the Dome, along with College football’s SEC Title Game and the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the NCAA Basketball touney, ACC and/or SEC Basketball Tourny’s, and the GA High School Playoffs, The AMA Supercross, Monster Trucks, The list goes on and on, There is good reason to keep this facility, and upgrade it where needed.
No Way can we justify Tax Dollars to Buy Auther Blank a new Stadium. Teachers, Police, and Fire Departments facing layoffs, Scools Closing Programs, and even entire Schools…NO WAY
Bobby P
May 21st, 2010
1:26 pm
It is just phoenix-envy for Blank. Jerry Jones outdid him again, and we wants revenge. His ego is too big to fit in the dome with it’s lid and all.
James
May 21st, 2010
1:28 pm
If Arthur Blank wants an open air stadium he should build it.I understand how much the Falcons mean to the local economy but I’m tired of teams sticking up tax payers every ten years for new facilities.The Braves have played at Turner field for 13 years and have not made a sound about a new stadium.Arthur should buy into the redevelopement of the General Motors site in Doraville or purchase a site downtown and build his stadium without tax payer assistance.
DK
May 21st, 2010
1:34 pm
To all of you Aholes that keep wanting to insult Mr. Blank and telling him to build it himself, he might just do that..In Los Angeles or Memphis. He building us a winner from the ashes of one of the NFL’s worst franchises so why don’t you jerks go enjoy a consensual relationship with yourself instead of running your mouths and confirming the fact that Atlanta’s fan base is the worst in the U.S..
The GA Dome is the third oldest stadium in the NFL today and these discussions are very preliminary. It would be years before construction started. I personally wish they’d move the Falcons to Cobb or Gwinnett where most of the fans live and where most fans would enjoy coming rather then nastya$$’d Atlanta where the cops are jerks, the area around the dome is the like the third world, and where parking is scarce and expensive.
Gator CHOMP Champ
May 21st, 2010
1:36 pm
If an open air stadium is the only solution for clowns (who don’t remember AFC stadium and the ZERO number of SECCGs, Final Fours and Super Bowls played there that generate millions and millions for Atlanta), then the Dome must be retrofitted with a retractable roof; otherwise, Atlanta can kiss those multi-million dollar making events goodbye. An open air stadium still won’t win a SB for the Falcons: that can only be done by a group of players with a higher skill set.
And most importantly, please don’t ruin my annual event: I love watching the Gators play locally every December. =)
the TRUTH
May 21st, 2010
1:39 pm
He’s got a point. How about we clean up the city’s crime problem – the thugs doing smash and grabs et al.?
HugoStiglitz
May 21st, 2010
1:40 pm
Im torn. In a way I agree that tax payer dollars should be used for other things right now. In another way I would really prefer to watch Falcons games in an outdoor stadium. Its a tough one.
Alan
May 21st, 2010
1:50 pm
Open air stadium, I drop my season tickets. Simple as that.
JT
May 21st, 2010
1:51 pm
Build it and World Cup may (emphasis on may) come?!? Aside from the fact that nobody in Atlanta (outside of a few thousand die-hard soccer fans) gives a flip about the World Cup, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Georgia Dome. You’d think it was built in the ’60’s, or something. Win a Super Bowl, Mr. Blank, and then you can come to us hat in hand for a new stadium. Or like Khalil Johnson said, pay for it yourself.
JSS
May 21st, 2010
1:51 pm
Obviously someone has never been to “The Third World!”
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 21st, 2010
1:52 pm
If Arthur Blank wants a new stadium, it’s fine with me but he needs to come up with 100% of the funds. Even in good times, I don’t think these sports venues should be built on the public dime (for millionaire owners) but especially not now with economic times the way they are.
Khalil Johnson sounds like a man with a lot of good, common business sense.
dap01
May 21st, 2010
1:53 pm
The Taxpayers should pay for nothing. If a business wants a new building, let the building finance it. The taxpayers are not in the business of paying millionaire players and owners, except with Congress.
Stevie B
May 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
What I have never understood is why, if we want to play outside, can’t we play at Turner Field or GA Tech? That is a gorgious stadium with very very nice turf. I went down to Joe Robby and watch Baseball one night and two days later watched the Dolfins play. Don’t get me wrong, football should be played outdoors. The GA Dome is still plush by most standards (even though I have never been to a owners box). But I agree with the former GWCC COO. We don’t need a new stadium. The City of Atlanta is broke. They new new infrastructure, sewers, water mains, streets, parks, schools etc. A half a billion dollars would do wonders for this City. We need to bring back more businesses to the City and stop worrying about one NFL Team. Spend a quarter of billion upgrading what we have and give the rest back the citizens. We are taxed to death as it is. Arthur Blank is a brilliant man, I just wonder what is driving this????
JSS
May 21st, 2010
2:05 pm
And as far as the World Cup, that is a Arthur Blank/McKay smoke screen… Sapporo Dome hosted in 2002 and so did the Silver Dome host in 1994… It will just mean removable grass surface
cloudy
May 21st, 2010
2:11 pm
I agree completely. Let the Falcons build it themselves without one taxpayer dollar.
Boneyard Randy
May 21st, 2010
2:17 pm
We’re likely to be a host city if the U.S. wins the bid in either 2018 or 2022, regardless of whether we have an outdoor stadium or not. That was just something the Falcons threw out to the public to garner support. We (Atlanta) just won the rights to host all the media for the world cup should it come to the States…surely, we would win as a host city, as well. Hartsfield is the key here, not an open-air stadium.
I like the Dome, too. I like it’s location even more. If the Falcons leave downtown, I’m never going to a game again. I’ll be a Georgia State football fan.
Jose
May 21st, 2010
2:17 pm
I agree. There are teachers losing jobs by the hundreds and education along with many more are suffering, but you want to build a new stadium with tax dollars. I think it is a plain slap in the face to the people of Atlanta to even push for this stadium and use the tax dollars for it. Arthur Blank is obviously selfish and only cares about his own pockets. If he wants this stadium so bad then why doesn’t he pay for it. He’s the millionaire!!! Not the everyday hard working people of Atlanta. This is a shame!
Erik
May 21st, 2010
2:25 pm
Even though I want the Falcons to play in an open-air stadium, I agree 100% with this guy. Let the Falcons fund it.
the TRUTH
May 21st, 2010
2:31 pm
If in fact they decide to build a new stadium…don’t hire a Ga Treck grad. We saw what happened the last time they built a parking deck. LOL…idiot NERDS.
Arthur Blank
May 21st, 2010
2:33 pm
Should I ask Jerry Jones for a loan?
Erik
May 21st, 2010
2:36 pm
As a fan of all sports and someone who doesn’t care for taxpayer funded stadiums, I hope the end result is one retractable roof stadium (be it a redone GA Dome or a new one) paid for and owned by the Falcons. Non-Falcons events would have to rent/lease it from the Falcons.
That would allow the Kickoff Classic and Falcons games to be played outside and the SEC Champ and Chik-Fil-A Bowl to be played inside. It would also keep attracting major basketball and soccer events.
Sponsor
May 21st, 2010
2:37 pm
How about a Home Depot sponsorship? Coke? Chick-fil-a? I wouldnt mind one of these because they are Atlanta natives. Could use the word classic if Coke gets involved.
Karl
May 21st, 2010
2:38 pm
I love this guy. Is it too late to get him to run for Governor?
JEWELL
May 21st, 2010
2:38 pm
FALCONS SORRY….TELL US HOW YOU REALLY FEEL! LOL….MARK I AGREE WITH KAHLIL. DOME IS IN GREAT SHAPE, SUITES ARE UP TO PAR, CAPACITY IS FINE. AND THE LOCATION IS GREAT! LET BIG MONEY ARTHUR BUILD HIS OWN IF HE FEELS THE NEED. I LIKE HAVING ALL THE OTHER EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED AT THE DOME.
Sponsor
May 21st, 2010
2:39 pm
Also, I do not like the idea of a tax payer stadium either. The can still benefit from the stadium even if they arent involved. I like retractable roofs, but if money is an issue, then open air is perfectly fine with me. Just cut the ties with the public.
Veteran Fan
May 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
If anyone thinks that the legislature or the county or city is going to take the hotel tax and redirect it to education or healthcare, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell them cheap! Why not explore a public-private partnership to build a better facility! Leave the Dome in place and build a new facility somewhere like Doraville on the rail line. For someone never involved in politics, Mr Johnson sure plays it to the max and should stay retired and out of this discussion!
The Deegan
May 21st, 2010
2:47 pm
Nobody wants to go to the Georgia Dome, its a craphole surrounded by crack houses and thugs. Build the stadium where the real fans can attend and not be scared getting off the Marta train. The stadium should be in Alpharetta or Flowery Branch, where nice, clean people live.
Ron Roberts
May 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
Khalil Johnson put it best; a new stadium, ESPECIALLY in the current economic climate, is the wrong thing to be asking for. If they want a new stadium, I say build it yourself, Arthur.
The Georgia Dome is STILL one of the finer facilities in the NFL and major college football. The New Orleans Saints would GLADLY take what we have; so would the St. Louis Rams, frankly, and I think theirs is the newer facility.
If they want an “open-air” facility, why not just retrofit the Georgia Dome with a retractable roof? Everybody gets what they want; Falcons get the “open-air” football game they want and the city gets to host bowl games and Finals Fours, too. If it lacks luxury suites, my GOD, the place seats like 72,000 – remove some seating and replace it with suites. Sheesh.
You could even do as the Cowboys did, and remove a few of the lower field-level rows and put in some floor-level suites.
This “new stadium” talk, to me, has ALWAYS been a bit ludicrous.
Dave In Tampa
May 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
Hey Arthur Blank here is a Solution:
Wish in one hand and crap in the other. See which one fills up first.
The Solution
May 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
Completely agree that we should focus current attention and public funds on higher priorities. That said, projects like this require years of planning and political wrangling before turning a shovel. Hopefully in ten or fifteen years the economy will be better, but the Dome will be showing some age. So I understand why the Falcons want to begin the process now. Looking out to 2020 I can see a few scenarios:
1: Public-private financing of a state-of-the-art retractable roof stadium somewhere in the International/Marietta/Luckie area to replace the Dome. Could be where Falcons suggest or maybe in an assemblage of blocks just north of Centennial Park? Wherever, with leadership and innovative design, this could be a really special building that not only provides for the Falcons financially, but inspires civic pride, takes big event hosting to new levels, and elevates the Centennial Park tourist district.
2: Using only private funding and tax incentives Falcons build an open air stadium on the metro’s north side. My choice would be the old GM plant site. It’s on the north side but still inside the perimeter and has excellent interstate access and MARTA rail. Once cleared only part of this huge site would be needed. A pedestrian friendly, multi-use environment could be planned that allows for a great game day, while encouraging ancillary development AND a positive Mon-Sat work/play space for the community. I refuse to believe this can’t be done well and to everyone’s benefit if the commitment is made.
3: Build a 70,000 seat outdoor stadium privately financed and used by both GA Tech and the Falcons in the large block across North Ave. from Grant Field. Then tear down glorious, but crappy Bobby Dodd. The block in question abuts the current campus boundary on the east and north but is reasonably close to downtown. Tech may still have to deal with debt on the North stands addition and the existing mixed-income housing development and Coca-cola campus would require sensitivity, design ingenuity, political skills, and loads of cooperation. But, if it could come together this scenario limits taxpayer involvement and benefits many.
In either scenario 2 or 3 – KEEP THE DOME. Rehab it periodically for a revised mission – hosting once a year events like ACC/SEC/NCAA basketball tournaments, concerts, motocross, monster truck pulls, WWE, Circ-du-soleil, large convention meetings, college football kickoff, Chick-fil-a bowl, SEC Champ, possible UGA-FL. I can’t understand how there would not be enough events besides the Falcons to financially justify maintaining the Dome. Hell, it’s almost paid for – could it be privatized?
4. Enough dreaming – here’s what will likely happen: Everyone in leadership will deflect and wait as long as possible to begin to address the situation. Near the point of no return, the Falcons will have to make threats and everyone will panic. The result will be a serviceable but generic, run-of-the-mill stadium with massive open parking lots and hundreds of suites. It will be built either downtown using very significant city/state funding or privately on some undeveloped piece of land far from town. There will be high aspirations for compelling design, but in the end the extras will be eliminated and it will be built on the cheap. It will inspire no one and will again be obsolete 10 years after completion.
Ron Roberts
May 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
Let me point out one thing, though; I BELIEVE, if I’m not mistaken, that hotel/motel tax can NOT go to schools and infrastructure. It HAS to go towards tourism-related developments, am I right?
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 21st, 2010
2:52 pm
The Hotel/Motel tax, paid by TOURISTS, BUSINESS FOLKS, AND HOOKER-JOHNS, should be used for purposes to promote TOURISM, the very thing that fills those Hotels/Motels. Georgia businesses make mega-millions off the Falcons. Wonder how much of a boost Flowery Branch feels when mini-camps, training camp, and the season roll round? How many Hotel/Motel rooms does a Falcons game sell? How many restaurants and bars are overflowing on game-day? How much beer is purchased in pre-game preparation by home-bound rednecks? How many hot wings, dammitt!?
cloudy
May 21st, 2010
2:53 pm
I just thought Casey had a stutter! My bad.