Does Atlanta need a new stadium? No, but it’s getting one
Frank Poe and Rich McKay, laughing all the way to the construction site. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
On Monday, the man charged with making the Atlanta Falcons’ pitch for a new stadium actually made a case for the current one. “We don’t need a building to play in next Sunday,” team president Rich McKay said. “The Georgia Dome is a good building. We love playing in it. (Falcons coach) Mike Smith has an incredible record in it.”
So why, if the Dome is dandy, was McKay sitting at a dais with Frank Poe, executive director of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, briefing the assembled media an hour after the GWCCA board unanimously approved terms that will surely lead to the building of a new stadium?
Because in sports as in life, new and shiny trumps tried and true. The Dome opened in 1992, and it’s a nice place two decades on, but by 2017 it’ll be gone, having been rendered superfluous by its billion dollar baby brother.
Said McKay: “We need a new stadium for the long term, and the natural time to do that is at the end of a lease.”
The Falcons’ lease with the Dome is due to expire around 2017, and that was their pressure point. They didn’t threaten to leave town – “There was not a 1995-type lever,” McKay said, speaking of the days when teams told cities to build a new stadium or else – but they did make it known they had no interest in re-upping this lease. That left the GWCCA, which runs the Dome, with a choice it didn’t know it would have to make: Do we ditch a perfectly sound building to placate our biggest tenant?
To their credit, Poe and associates forged a not-terrible solution. The Falcons stand to foot 70 percent of the $1 billion it will take to erect a new stadium, with public money – roughly $300 million from a hotel-motel tax that affects mostly non-Georgians – making up the difference. There are those who wonder if that $300 million wouldn’t be better used to upgrade infrastructure or further education, but this leads us to the unanswerable question: Why should ballplayers earn millions while schoolteachers make do with thousands?
In pro sports, a new stadium is almost always a shared venture, and far less public money will be earmarked toward the Falcons’ new home than was the case, say, in Indianapolis with the Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium. That’s as it should be: The Falcons are the ones who wanted this, and they should pay the most.
When this new-stadium balloon was first floated, the thought was that the GWCCA might be so cowed by Arthur Blank that it handed the famous owner everything he wanted. Instead the Falcons will settle for one stadium — they first wanted the Dome to remain in place just down the street, a notion laughable on its face – with a retractable roof (as opposed to an open-air facility). And the site itself, which hasn’t officially been determined, figures to be south of the Dome, not north.
The GWCCA didn’t stop the Blank Express, but it slowed the momentum to the point that a compromise could be reached. The Falcons get what they wanted most, which is the right to control nearly everything about their new stadium and bank the money that comes with concession and parking – “We want to touch the customer in every way possible,” McKay said, surely not least in the wallet — but the edifice will remain the property of the state of Georgia.
In these uncertain times, handing $300 million in tax money to fund a stadium that will be run by a team owned by a billionaire isn’t an easy sell, especially when the building that team occupies is presentable enough that it will, come April, stage the big-ticket Final Four. But the Falcons had leverage – they could move to Doraville and leave the Dome vacant on NFL Sundays – and they applied it. The GWCAA fought its corner and will get what amounts to a newer Dome. Maybe everybody won’t win in this, but there shouldn’t be many losers.
And if not … well, nothing is forever. The Falcons will be obliged to stay in their new home for 30 years. Sometime around Year 20, they’ll start angling for something bigger and brighter. That’s the way of our world. Everybody wants the latest iPhone, even if the old one works fine. Every professional team wants a new stadium, even if the existing place still looks pretty darn good.
By Mark Bradley
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357 comments Add your comment
Jennie Mae
December 10th, 2012
6:04 pm
If they are going to build a new stadium, which is not needed, then the law needs to be changed to say that Georgia citizens don’t have to pay hotel tax. How many people come to Atlanta and spend the night because a game ends to late for them to drive home? No Georgia citizen should have to pay for this wasteful project.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 10th, 2012
6:05 pm
What will it be worth once we’re through with it? The Pontiac Silver Dome sold for 300,000.
Irishmafia116
December 10th, 2012
6:06 pm
Surely there are not that many gullible people like those posting thinking it won’t cost anything -i.e Braves stadium in Gwinnett -how’d that work out? You think the reconstruction of roads ,sidewalks etc near a possible new stadium are FREE ? Do you think the bonds left to pay on the Dome will magically disappear? Do you think the demolition of the Dome will be paid for by Blank? Do you think that whatever would go up in place of the Dome is FREE ? Oh wait I forgot this is the nation that re elected President giveaway so they could get more FREE stuff from the actual taxpayers
Nativebird
December 10th, 2012
6:13 pm
Dear Mr. Blank, Stick a sock in it hammer salesman. And you can take my season tickets and stick them in your ears.
Lobosolo
December 10th, 2012
6:13 pm
Let’s see now… 300 million that could be spent on education, instead going to the money-flushed in exchange for our right to plunk down huge sums for the right to buy a ticket, then spend a couple of bills just to go to the game… Mr. Blank should tell us he loves us when he does that to us…
Wutehvah
December 10th, 2012
6:13 pm
Why is Nawlin’s getting another Super Bowl with a 30 year old dome?? Because people wanna travel there. ATL has no tourism draw. Why not address that (i.e. build a casino in the gulch would be a start)???
Wutehvah
December 10th, 2012
6:15 pm
And agree with the many responses that this makes no sense with ALL of the other ATL issues that needed attention.
Ridiculous!!
RGB
December 10th, 2012
6:15 pm
Maybe we should tear down all residential housing that is older than 20 years. Tell everybody the aim is to boost the economy. Force everyone into 500 sf apartments. Explain that it’s all the rage in Europe. Call it “the new normal”.
(Don’t let Barry get wind of this.)
Steve
December 10th, 2012
6:16 pm
If you think that the public will only be on the hook for $300 million, then I have a bridge I’d like to sell you. The final cost to the public will be around $500 million.
once again we’re stupid enough to pay for this. And wait until you find out how much the PSL’s (Personal License Fees) are going to cost just to give you the right to purchase a ticket.
Just saying…..
Wutehvah
December 10th, 2012
6:18 pm
PSLs are going to drive away MANY long-time season ticket holders.
Paul in NH
December 10th, 2012
6:19 pm
Devil’s Advocate
December 10th, 2012
4:27 pm
Every team wants a new place to play; the NFL just has particular interest in Atlanta because it knows the conditions exist to easily get a new stadium built.
—–
You nailed it. Why is Blank asking for a new stadium (that will increase the value of his franchise) and why is the NFL supporting it (that will increase the value of all franchises)?
Because they know they can get it.
Pete
December 10th, 2012
6:19 pm
Since the money is spent, I’d love to see some thought go to extending the train to both the new stadium and Turner Field. As long as we are spending all this money, let’s get something functional out of it.
rabundawg
December 10th, 2012
6:20 pm
our economy is depressed for about 30 percent of the more debt is not what we need when we have a perfectly good stadium…..
jbill
December 10th, 2012
6:22 pm
Welcome back Mark.. You need to add a poll to see who really wants the stadium. Its BS to me..the economy right now is so bad why add to tax payer debt.
Mark
December 10th, 2012
6:25 pm
Arthur, I think it would be great if you could challenge the architects to not only deliver a good looking football stadium, not like the ugly Georgia Dome or hospital-looking Home Depot headquarters, but something that sets off the Georgia skyline and is truly world-class, and I’m talking Ghery or Hadid or Calatrava here. Something that stands the test of time. Something not hokey, like the Aquarium. And the naming rights should be sold, so it becomes Home Depot Stadium. Ask Nardelli to chip in.
Wutehvah
December 10th, 2012
6:27 pm
Does the public have any say in this matter via referendum?? The vast majority would vote NO to consider using ANY tax dollars to replace the GA Dome.
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
December 10th, 2012
6:27 pm
ATLANTA = DETROIT DOWN SOUTH(horrible infrastructure,poor planning,blighted,high crime,water crisisand a dumb no nothing no speaking mayor KASIM REED,)SEE FORD FIELD IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT GLEAMING DOME WHILE AROUND IT BLIGHT ,DESPAIR ,CRIME AND POVERTY,AND DOWNRIGHT UGLINESS…GeORGIA DOME…way better than that ugly cave in New orleans but guess who is hosting the super bowl in febuary
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader
December 10th, 2012
6:32 pm
Someone posed an excellent question.. Why does the 41 years old Louisiana Superdome continue to play hosts to Super Bowls, the Sugar Bowl, NCAA Final Fours, etc., and the nearly 20 years old Georgia Dome is considered old?
RGB
December 10th, 2012
6:34 pm
Somebody put together a protest and march. We’ll call it CATS:
C itizens
A gainst
T axpayer-funded
S tadiums
Wutehvah
December 10th, 2012
6:36 pm
@Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader
Because ATL is a dump (where we buy Super Bowls with a new stadium), and people actually wanna travel to New Orleans.
Wake up ATL!!!
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader
December 10th, 2012
6:39 pm
One, two, three …. D – C – C!!!
Go Cowboys!
We are much hotter than the other cheer squads!
Tired of high prices
December 10th, 2012
6:48 pm
I didn’t see anything wrong with the old Fulton County Stadium!
GPBurdell
December 10th, 2012
6:50 pm
This is a fine example of what is wrong with this country. A private business would never make this kind of a decision. But government….what the heck, we’ll just raise taxes and stick it to the rich and those evil corporations. No reason to spend prudently when it’s not your money.
Roger
December 10th, 2012
6:54 pm
The hotel tax is a great way to fund this without hurting the people of Atlanta. In addition, for some of the people on here saying that Atlanta isnt comparable with New Orleans as a tourist city, or that downtown has nothing much to offer. Please see Forbes list of top 10 visited cities in the USA:
Orlando, Fla.: 48 million visitors
New York City: 47 million visitors
Chicago, Ill.: 45,580,000 visitors
Anaheim/Orange County, Calif.: 42,700,000 visitors
Miami, Fla: 38,100,000 visitors
Las Vegas, Nev.: 36,351,469 visitors
Atlanta, Ga.: 35,400,000 visitors
Houston, Texas: 31,060,000 visitors
Philadelphia, Pa.: 30,320,000 visitors
San Diego, California: 29,600,000 visitors
Felix
December 10th, 2012
7:01 pm
The average Joe is hurting, our schools are in need, teachers can’t get a raise…. but no problem enacting a special tax to feed a billionaire’s hobby.
Great! Just great!
The Flunkons don't deserve one........
December 10th, 2012
7:04 pm
The I can’t win important game Falcons – just like the Atlanta Flops (Braves) – don’t need and especially don’t deserve one.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
7:09 pm
If the city will contribute 30% of the cost, it should share in 30% of the profits.
Nero
December 10th, 2012
7:10 pm
… fiddling away while Rome is burning. Welfare for the wealthy. People should hit the streets and really protest this kind of crap.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
7:11 pm
“Why does the 41 years old Louisiana Superdome continue to play hosts to Super Bowls, the Sugar Bowl, NCAA Final Fours, etc., and the nearly 20 years old Georgia Dome is considered old?”
That has nothing to do with the Superdome’s condition and everything to do with the fact that New Orleans doesn’t have ice storms in late January/early February.
Bobby Wren Blanks
December 10th, 2012
7:13 pm
I be moderated!
WhatUpY'all
December 10th, 2012
7:14 pm
Who cares where the Falcon’s do their losing in the first round of the playoffs? New dome or old dome. Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe…
Pete Van Weird
December 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
mo money…mo money,,,mo money…..mo money
Pete Van Weird
December 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
…mo money
AFDawg
December 10th, 2012
7:21 pm
The only way I’ll support a new stadium is if they move it to NE Metro Atlanta. I already got robbed at gunpoint in dowtown following a Braves game at Turner Field in the parking lot. If they build again in downtown it will be a waste of taxpayer money and I’ll never step foot in it.
Dennis
December 10th, 2012
7:22 pm
Bobby Wren Blanks
December 10th, 2012
7:13 pm
I be moderated!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And I be waiting to be moderated.
Lmao...a new stadium that has NO championship banner
December 10th, 2012
7:24 pm
Lmao….Falcants…classic…no SB ring…no SB banner…like having a Porsche with no keys…lmao…
Lmao...a new stadium that has NO championship banner
December 10th, 2012
7:25 pm
And for the 500 fans that support the NO SB RING Falcants…lmao…
Gman 84
December 10th, 2012
7:40 pm
Let’s skip a cycle and wait another 20 years to ensure that when we build in 2032 that we incorporate all the goodies available then. We might actually need a new stadium then. Of course, the way they fleece costomers with PSLs, ect., the NFL may be a TV-only, studio sport by then anyway.
I honestly can’t see any Falcon fan forking over thousands for a PSL.
Want to guess how much a beer will cost in the new digs?
billcanoe
December 10th, 2012
7:42 pm
Mark – You are absolutely spot on.
GPBurdell
December 10th, 2012
7:43 pm
Stop kidding yourselves thinking that because we’re funding the stadium with hotel tax money, it’s somehow “free”. This is government waste, pure and simple.
Let’s do a little math to put a $1.0 billion dollar stadium into perspective. There are roughly 400,000 residents in the city of Atlanta….where the hotel/motel tax is collected.
So we are spending $2500 per city of Atlanta resident to replace a perfectly good stadium to placate a billionaire. Think about that…..I bet the average city of Atlanta resident would rather have paved streets, and good police protection. We could even help fund that Beltline boondogle. Better yet, we could give it back to the taxpayer and let private business create real permanent jobs.
Barry O
December 10th, 2012
7:44 pm
Lets fund it with a Millionaire/Billionaire tax on anybody with income of $200,000 per year!!
Ben
December 10th, 2012
7:47 pm
Ok, whoever says that this money needs to go to the school system to further education has possibly no idea that you cannot teach kids with money.
Arthur Blank
December 10th, 2012
7:49 pm
Some idiot actually asked me if I planned to share the profits from a building built with taxpayer money with the taxpayers. What a rube! Shut up and pay me losers!
Arthur Blank
December 10th, 2012
7:51 pm
Hey Artie, why don’t we sell naming rights to the Ga Dome and let you pocket that. Will that satisfy your greed for a few years?
dave
December 10th, 2012
7:51 pm
For all the fans who don’t see a need for a new stadium, let it be known that you will stay home and watch the game on tv.Lets see what happens.
Bull Butter
December 10th, 2012
7:53 pm
Lets go over the stadium cliff!
Earnest T Bass
December 10th, 2012
7:53 pm
Why don’t we put a $10 surcharge on every piece of Falcon gear to pay for this wet dream? Well, I don’t suppose $460 dollars would buy much now that I think of it.
Earnest T Bass
December 10th, 2012
7:56 pm
Arthur,
Here is an idea: You buy an offensive line that can get 1 yard when we need it and a defense that can rush the passer and we’ll talk. Until then, please don’t speak.
Thrash
December 10th, 2012
7:57 pm
Why does the stadium have to stay in the ghetto?
JASon
December 10th, 2012
8:01 pm
“Sometime around Year 20, they’ll start angling for something bigger and brighter.”
Mark, don’t be so naive to think this is all a matter of wanting something new. They want a new stadium because it will have more advertising space. Plain and simple. They’re willing to do something so totally stupid and wrong because it lines their pocketbooks. Don’t forget the Atlanta falcons are a PRIVATELY OWNED TEAM. For you to say that its right that the city pays for any part of a new stadium is completely messed up, and you ought to be ashamed.