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
Tucker
December 11th, 2012
6:45 am
If only state and local leaders would act as boldly and decisively in assembling resources to improve education at all levels! They will not allow anything to get in the way of hosting one Super Bowl, but the thought of investing $1 billion in education is beyond their capacity to think. Every officeholder who votes in any way to support this project should be held accountable for doing the same for education.
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[...] Journal Constitution’s Mark Bradley observes: Because in sports as in life, new and shiny trumps tried and true. The Dome opened in [...]
just wondering
December 11th, 2012
7:07 am
I wonder how these PSLs will work for events that control their own tickets. For example, the SEC distributes all of the tickets for its championship game. They have a long list of people who renew tickets to the event every year. How is that going to work if these PSLs give a Falcons season ticket holder “right of first refusal” to tickets for all events?
Kane337
December 11th, 2012
7:12 am
“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.”
Sounds like a good deal to me. Not sure what some of you are complaining about. It’s not your money unless you plan to sleep in a hotel downtown. I just hope the season ticket holders don’t get hit to hard with PSL’s.
Atticus
December 11th, 2012
7:23 am
They say its 70-30 Falcons and public money…..HA
Let’s make this perfectly clear, it’s ALL coming from the public and fans. Without them there is no team. How foolish this setup is right in the middle of a horrible economy and with a team that has very little history of winning.
ptjackets
December 11th, 2012
7:24 am
1. Does anyone remember the Falcons for the 1st 30 years or so. Could not even sell the place out. I used to see bumper stickers that said Go Braves and take the Falcons with you.
2. It everything in Atlanta was nice/new and we did not need anything like Money for Education, Police, Fire fighters. roads, sewer, then I would say why not however that $300 million could be used in better places. I’m sorry the Falcons play 8 regular season games in the dome and 2 preseason games they will pay 2.5 million per year in rent that will not cover the 300 million over the 30 years how is this a good deal for Us?
3. Even if the falcons leave the dome is paid for, other events will use it so I see that as a win for Atlanta. Even if no one uses it and it sat empty it would take a long time to use up the 300 million in savings. More than 30 years.
4. Ticket prices will go up and with the Personal Seat thing most fans won’t be able to afford tickets so only the rich will be able to view a game in person.
5. If our elected officials vote for this I will do everything in my power to make sure they don’t get elected again.
just wondering
December 11th, 2012
7:30 am
I just read that PSLs don’t give the owner “right of first refusal” for all events in the stadium. Whew! I was worried about my SEC tickets! I’m not about to buy a PSL for the one event per year that I really care about going to.
sam
December 11th, 2012
7:36 am
As a Falcon season ticket holder, I received an email from Mr. Blank yesterday explaining all the “benefits” of the new stadium. I wrote back, saying essentially, name one. The location will still be hard to get to, parking will still be bad, so what if we get a Super Bowl none of us will get tickets, and all this will cost loyal season ticket holders PSL fees and increased ticket prices. I received a response to go on a web site and submit my comments. I did, and recieved a response saying due to the volume of messages (you think?) a response was not possible.
So the bottom line is we’re getting a new stadium whether we want it or not and the Falcons could care less about the opinions of their loyal fans.
wayne
December 11th, 2012
7:45 am
If they put as much effort and money into the team we might have a Championship in this city by now. Win one or two Superbowl’s then work on the new stadium deal. That’s what the fans want.
Peachtree John
December 11th, 2012
7:46 am
So why not continue playing where we are and spend a portion of the proposed cost (which will escalate) on better personnell?
Larry
December 11th, 2012
7:49 am
The Falcons commit to thirty years at which time they will have paid rent in an amount equal to $90,000,000. leaving a mere $120,000,000 taxpayer investment unpaid. You want us to believe that all the benefit doesn’t flow to the Falcons and away from the City of Atlanta’s taxpayer?
This is same rationale that is bankrupting this country. It will be interesting to see which collapses first, the City of Atlanta or the United States of America.
But that’s okay, the NFL gets their way – again.
Increase Ticket Prices and Charge High PSL's
December 11th, 2012
7:52 am
I hope Blank both significantly increases ticket prices and charges high PSL’s – it’s an interesting kind of economic darwinism to see zombie fanatics make lifestyle sacrifices (like the Dallas Cowboy fans – look it up) to see their beloved Falcons play in person, even if from seats requiring binoculers.
Iluvnutella
December 11th, 2012
8:02 am
Move to the burbs like the Pats did….no badness or dealing with “the element” that has ruined downttown for peace-loving tax paying citizens.
GT
December 11th, 2012
8:02 am
Just win baby!
gosh
December 11th, 2012
8:12 am
the falcons aren’t footing it. the fans are.
gosh
December 11th, 2012
8:15 am
Why should ballplayers earn millions while schoolteachers make do with thousands?
really? you wrote this moronic statement? cause people pay to see entertainment. duh.
Anne
December 11th, 2012
8:17 am
I agree with Levi. The stadium is a joke. The Georgia Dome is just fine. Why not upgrade what we have already? Concrete doesn’t go bad. Industries are not moving to Atlanta. Why do we think unemployment here is so bad. Fulton County government is a joke and the taxes are high.If Arthur Blank wants it so bad, he should pay for it. God knows he’s got the dough.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 11th, 2012
8:21 am
@Vel Crow
“Turner Field will be 20 years old in 2016, what happens if Liberty Media makes a case that they need a new venue MB?
Then the Braves will get a stadium north of the city – that’s where their fan base lives.
gt4ever
December 11th, 2012
8:24 am
Complete WASTE of MONEY!
gosh
December 11th, 2012
8:26 am
Tucker the usa spends billions on education. We have spent far more than any other country. Spending isn’t the problem. It’s lousy parents, a 55% divorce rate, ethics and moral decay and half the population illiterate.
ugat
December 11th, 2012
8:27 am
I’m glad they are tearing down that hideous dome!! Way back in the late 80’s when they said they were going to build a domed stadium in Atlanta, I said “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”!!!! What does a sunbelt city need with a stupid domed stadium for??? I hate playing football indoors!! I had season tickets for years in Athens for my Dawgs!! I can count the times on one hand that it rained. We are blessed with beautiful weather normally here in the Fall! Hell, Green Bay and da Bears don’t play in freakin domed stadiums, and the weather up there can be pretty bad in the later part of the season. Football was meant to be played outdoors!!
Wutehvah
December 11th, 2012
8:29 am
How did this poorly managed city land the Olympics back in 1996?? Turner Field was the main stadium for opening/closing ceremonies + track/field, yet there is no MARTA station. 15 years later – still no MARTA station. GA Dome – no MARTA station after 20 years and little parking.
Say Nope to the Dopes running ATL
Call It Like It Is
December 11th, 2012
8:32 am
So we need a new stadium for the long term? Interesting. Funny how the packers have played on the same field since 1957 and they have 4 rings. The 49’s have played on the same field since 1971 and they have 5 rings. Tell you what Falcons how about you win one stinking superbowl, then we talk. Am I the only one who misses Fulton County Stadium? Football in the outdoors, you could bring in food and drinks. Now its pretty much how much money can we get out of you.
Ackshun
December 11th, 2012
8:34 am
I have always loved the Dome. I went to see the first major event held there (U2 concert in 1992). There literally isn’t a bad seat in the house from the field to the ‘bleeds and when it open it was the largest dome stadium in the world. It seems like a gracious waste of resources to scrap her when she hits here 30’s but the NFL is holding host cities hostage to grant the profitable Super Bowl game, it the system was fair the game would rotate between all cities with an NFL franchise. They had said they would come back to Georgia because it is too cold in the winter, then they game the Big Game to New York and Indy whose Feb temp averages are about 20 degrees colder than ours. They said the Georgia Dome was too old but sent two Super Bowls in the last 10 years to play in Miamis dilapidated stadium. And this year they will play in a renovated (not too Super) New Orleans Superdome. Fact is there has been an anti-georgia bias ever since Ray “the blade” Lewis cut up a bit over Super Bowl weekend in Buckhead. Don’t know why, but spending a billion to make a few hundred million (maybe) doesn’t make sense to me.
Wutehvah
December 11th, 2012
8:46 am
Let the top seed host the Super Bowl, or alternate between leagues each year. Reward the team/cities reaching the Championship game like ALL other pro sports
Section 236
December 11th, 2012
9:00 am
I don’t think a lot of you have any understanding on just what the hotel-motel tax is for.
It has never been used for education nor was it ever intended to be used for it. The revenue from the tax has always been used, as stated explicitly multiple times, to promote Atlanta for tourism. A new stadium, which will attract Super Bowls, Final Fours, SEC Championships and BCS championships, will do just that: bring in tourism!
Is the Georgia Dome still perfectly fine? Yes, but not for the upper echelon events. You have to spend money to make money, folks. It will attract events and bring this city money. Money that can actually be used for education, infrastructure, etc.
Lexi Rednik
December 11th, 2012
9:03 am
Let’s keep the Ga Dome and offer it for the SEC Championship game, Peach Bowl, Ga State football, Atlanta University football, HS Championships, tractor pulls, concerts, and everything but Falcons football. Arthur can bid for these events if he chooses but otherwise they go to the Dome and keep it busy and producing revenue. It sure seems silly to tear down the Dome when so many could and would make use of it. Heck, Tech might prefer it to Grant Field and they could build a big laboratory or classroom or detention center where it stands today. Simple solutions from a simple, down to earth girl who can gut a deer.
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December 11th, 2012
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Bucksot Falcon
December 11th, 2012
9:13 am
The Falcons dont have a rabid fan base that will pay for the seat licenses. Good Luck getting anybody to pay for those in Atlanta.
I wore a Falcons shirt this Saturday and went to the mall. Got exactly ZERO fist pumps, nods or acknowledgments about the FALCONS and this is when they are 11-1. Comon really!!!
gt4ever
December 11th, 2012
9:18 am
@Section 236
Atlanta Tourism is struggling because of increased taxation, something that you are condoning… I understand what the tax is for… You over simplify the reasons for a new dome, which is to bring in Tourism… HorseCRAP… This city needs work on streets, pipes, mass transit, and CRIME… It does not need a billion dollar dome, that would only benefit one person, Arthur Blank and the Falcons. I for one will let the suckers pay more for their tickets.. Good riddance to the Falcons!
Charles
December 11th, 2012
9:37 am
Absolute waste of money for a city that isn’t even a pro football town. Anyone that actually believes the Falcons are going to be able to sell seats after these seat license prices is living in a dream world. Atlanta is among the most poorly run cities in the country and this isn’t going to help anything. But it’s great for Arthur Blank.
Notre Dame Irish
December 11th, 2012
9:42 am
In this day and age, stadiums are treasured either for their historical significance (Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, Anfield) or for technical innovation (Wembley, Allianz Arena). Georgia Dome is not known for either.
The team’s owner is correct in his thinking “If you build it, they will come”. There are plenty of suckers who will pay anything just to keep their season seats.
J.J.
December 11th, 2012
9:43 am
I certainly agree that NO New Stadium is needed….Let Blank pay for it…NOT TAX PAYERS OR ANYONE ELSE…NFL AND BLANK MAKE THE MONEY, SO THEY SHOULD PAY.
Section 236
December 11th, 2012
9:48 am
@gt4ever
“Atlanta Tourism is struggling because of increased taxation, something that you are condoning”
Atlanta’s rates are in line, and in most cases lower, than the top 12 U.S. tourist cities. It’s the economy, not outrageous taxes.
“This city needs work on streets, pipes, mass transit, and CRIME”
Again, the hotel-motel tax does not fund those projects. Refer to O.C.G.A. 48-13-51(a)(5). Read all about it there.
“It does not need a billion dollar dome, that would only benefit one person, Arthur Blank and the Falcons.”
Yep, local businesses, the city of Atlanta, the community, none of those people will benefit from events like the Super Bowl. That $500 million dollar revenue event should go elsewhere.
“I for one will let the suckers pay more for their tickets.”
Thanks, I’ll gladly buy. You see, a PSL gives the owner first dibs to his/her seats for events at the stadium. It’s actually funny because a PSL, if managed correctly, actually makes the seat owner money in the long run if they choose to first buy tickets to the event and then resell them for a profit.
the Dome just turned 20
December 11th, 2012
9:48 am
So what events are we missing out getting b/c the Georgia Dome is “old”? And what events are we going to miss out on in the next 10-15 years?
This is ridiculous. The Falcons aren’t going to leave the Dome anytime soon. Call their bluff and sign them to another lease that begins in 2017 and runs another 10 years. Give them more benefits than they get in their current lease. Then have this discussion in another 10 years. Stretch the life of the Dome out a little bit more. It just turned 20 years old!
gt4ever
December 11th, 2012
9:52 am
You keep drinking the grape juice Section 236… Have fun making loads of money with that priority seating arrangement you will be paying for..
Esquire
December 11th, 2012
9:57 am
“We need a new stadium for the long term”…………………..?????
Wonder what he means by “long term”…………couple of months? couple of years?
Turns out he means exactly 20 years regardless of the pristine condition of the existing structure.
Esquire
December 11th, 2012
9:58 am
DORAVILLE, TOUCH OF COUNTRY IN THE CITY……..!!!!
jdawg
December 11th, 2012
10:01 am
Why doesn’t Arthur Blank foot the bill for this? His team will be the primary tenant. He wants to buy an MLS franchise that will be the secondary tenant.
He can either pay for or lease the land from the GWCC Authority. He can make all the money on all the events. The hotel tax can be used to improve the city for tourism in other ways.
Wutehvah
December 11th, 2012
10:04 am
@Section 236… You might wanna check that. I’m not sure the PSL owner gets first refusal rights to OTHER events (i.e. SECCG) held in the dome.
Esquire
December 11th, 2012
10:10 am
To the poster who mentioned the Ray Lewis Atlanta murder case. I don’t think they were locals and this article is about robbery, not murder.
jdawg
December 11th, 2012
10:11 am
Section 236,
You’re going to be very sad when you find out that you don’t have first dibs for the SEC Championship game.
Section 236
December 11th, 2012
10:12 am
@gt4ever
“You keep drinking the grape juice Section 236… Have fun making loads of money with that priority seating arrangement you will be paying for.. ”
Two responses before the ad hominem attacks started? Classy.
@ Wutehvah
“You might wanna check that. I’m not sure the PSL owner gets first refusal rights to OTHER events (i.e. SECCG) held in the dome.”
Because the Georgia Dome doesn’t have a PSL agreement. Or are you speaking about the future stadium? Every other instance of a PSL, excluding the situation between the NYG/NYJ at New Meadowlands, has included this provision. Can’t see why it would change.
Screw the 'Burbs
December 11th, 2012
10:14 am
Pro sports belong downtown. If you like world class sports, you shouldn’t have moved to the middle of nowhere. Enjoy watching the teams at Applebee’s, or you can settle for minor league baseball, hockey, and lingerie football far, far away from my beautiful city of Atlanta.
Screw the 'Burbs
December 11th, 2012
10:22 am
@Bucksot Falcon: if you want to see Falcons fans, come downtown. The mall and the ‘burbs are where transplants dwell. All I see in the city are Falcons fans that are actual Atlantans, instead of the long-term tourists in the ‘burbs.
Screw the 'Burbs
December 11th, 2012
10:25 am
@Notre Dame Irish: the Georgia Dome is the largest suspension cable structure in the world, a technical innovation. It was also the largest domed structure on Earth when it was opened. Since you know Europe so well, you should know which structure is now the largest.
Gman 84
December 11th, 2012
1:05 pm
Build a $1 billion castle in the slums? Great idea
Didn’t Arthur recently give away (or make plans to) $1 billion of his personnal wealth? Now he wants the public to fork over $700 million so that he can generate a better revenue stream?
Re the hotel/renatl car tax: These already exist and are pretty substantial. Where is that money going now? How high will the new taxes be? Sounds like we are heading well north of 50%.
There is no such thing as a temporary tax (see GA 400). Once public officials get their hands on money, they never give it up. They only look for new ways to tax.
Long Time Resident
December 11th, 2012
1:12 pm
When the Falcons wanted a new staidum in the late 80s/early 90s they threatened to move the Falcons to Jacksonville.
Imagine for a moment that the Falcons left 22 years ago. What would we have missed?
Many, many losing Seasons
Mike Vick
Bobby Petrino
Jerry Glanville
Jeff George
Playoff embarrassments
Eugene Robinson & general Super Bowl embarrassment
MoneyT
December 11th, 2012
2:16 pm
just jack up taxes and prices to pay for this—ATL needs a big time stadium like Dallas to play in the big time—with this new billion $ stadium, atl will be on the sports map baby!!! Bring it on—pay whatever it takes—the costs will be worth it!!!
tired of getting up to go to the bathroom
December 11th, 2012
2:24 pm
If I have a Personal Seat License, does that give me the right to use the bathroom in my seat if I so choose?