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Nathan Deal: Dollars for new stadium ‘belong to Atlanta’

4:46 pm January 15, 2013, by jgalloway

He didn’t give it his endorsement, but Gov. Nathan Deal on Tuesday laid out some arguments likely to be used by supporters of a new, $1 billion stadium that would serve as a new home for the Atlanta Falcons.

First of all, the governor told my AJC colleague Greg Bluestein that he wants the team to stay put. “I think it’s important for us to keep the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. We are proud of them, and they’ve had a great year, and we’re hoping they’re going to go all the way to the Super Bowl.”

Critics of a new stadium point out that the Georgia Dome is only 20 years old. But the governor said that if a new stadium doesn’t replace it, expensive updates would be required. “We do know the existing stadium, even though it looks very good now, within the not too distant future there will be significant repairs and upgrades that will be needed to maintain the current Dome,” he said.

As he has before, Deal said his involvement in the matter was limited, and refused to say whether he wanted the measure to pass. But the governor again tossed out some strong hints.

“That’s not a judgment call that I make. It is a legislative matter. I certainly think that having a billion-dollar investment, the majority which is private money … is certainly something that is desirable for our state,” the governor said. “I think the city of Atlanta and the mayor in particular share the view that this is critical to the downtown area as well. There are a lot of things at play, but it does come down in very difficult economic times [to] convincing the Legislature … as to whether or not they want to do it.”

But the most important thing the governor did today was cast the decision as one that should yield to local – i.e., Atlanta – sentiment. “I think there’s another important fact that sometimes gets over looked,” he said. “The dollars that will be collected and used to pay off the bonds for a new stadium – these are really dollars that belong to the city of Atlanta and Fulton County because they come from their local hotel-motel tax. These are not dollars that flow into the state treasury.”

Additionally, the governor implied that the issue would be pressed this year, despite the fact that the issue polls dismally. “In talking with the Falcons, they believe this is a time-critical issue,” he said.

As the governor spoke, a Senate committee was engaged in a fast-moving attempt to defuse the explosive “hospital bed tax” issue to fill a Medicaid gap. One long-time lobbyist we spoke to said he never saw such a large issue taken up on only the second day of a session.

Two thoughts on that:

– The new alliance of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Senate President pro tem David Shafer will probably be never stronger than it is today. That’s one reason for moving quickly, and probably the most important.

– But also consider that, if state lawmakers are allowed to dodge the “bed tax” bullet, they’re more likely to accept the risks attached to a vote approving a rebuilt Georgia Dome.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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113 comments Add your comment

honested

January 16th, 2013
8:14 am

fenderman stated:

“let the hotel tax apply to every room in Georgia”, in order to build the unnecessary sports palace.

The hilarity in that statement is this State cannot even assess the costs for NEEDED resources (like Grady and other trauma centers) but in order to get something as necessary as bicycle seats for fish, many are ready to jump in head first.

The NFL is already exempt from the same anti-trust rules that affect every other industry in the Country (except insurance).
They already collude to exert private pressure on local governments to exact their will and extract their profit.
I would even bet there would be many among us that would support permanent indemnification of all individuals involved in NFL ownership from responsibility for the traumatic brain injury to NFL players that is becoming more supported by evidence every day.

IT IS A GAME!

THEY ALREADY HAVE A PALACE!

WE HAVE OTHER GLARING NEEDS FOR LIMITED REVENUE!

JG

January 16th, 2013
8:28 am

Children can”t read or write because their parents don’t care. , that has nothing to do with a stadium.

SBinF

January 16th, 2013
8:33 am

Republicans for a tax increase?

Someone call Grover Norquist.

curious

January 16th, 2013
9:44 am

“Critics of a new stadium point out that the Georgia Dome is only 20 years old. But the governor said that if a new stadium doesn’t replace it, expensive updates would be required. “We do know the existing stadium, even though it looks very good now, within the not too distant future there will be significant repairs and upgrades that will be needed to maintain the current Dome,” he said.”

So when will the Capitol Building be replaced and will it remain in Atlanta?

Self_Made

January 16th, 2013
9:50 am

Funny how people so committed to COMPETITION when it comes to private business or the TAX BREAKS so often OVERUSED to attract business and investment simply REFUSE to acknowledge Atlanta’s need to maintain a competitive edge when it comes to attracting special events and conventions when discussing this issue.

These suburbanites call up every “tax hating” slogan and talking point to argue against this particular use, but would gladly support a tax package to recruit a 50 job “employer”…as if it costs the taxpayer nothing.

Kathleen

January 16th, 2013
10:43 am

Atlanta will NEVER get another Super bowl but it has nothing to do with the Dome. It has everything to do with the fact that this city can’t function during an ice storm. Until the city can prove it can clear the streets, that new dome will be sitting empty for the Superbowl.

yuzeyurbrane

January 16th, 2013
10:44 am

Selfmade–I live intown and agree with suburbanites on this issue. Your ally on this issue, td, is a suburbanite. Just research the real facts and don’t rely on assertions from our busn. genius Governor.

Self_Made

January 16th, 2013
12:18 pm

I’ve GOT facts…I WORK with these facts. This opposition is purely political and NOT a matter of real policy concerns. This is about tying the hands of the City of Atlanta and usurping its powers of self governance to the Republican contolled state house.

sliderule

January 16th, 2013
1:12 pm

While in Europe, I saw several Roman built coliseums over 2000 years old still in use. To be fair they have been repaired every few hundred years.

Synonymous

January 16th, 2013
1:30 pm

Since TD apparently works for Arthur Blank, I think I’ll ignore his future comments. Thanks for playing.

Mike

January 16th, 2013
4:27 pm

Let Arthur Blank and the owners of the Falcons use there money to fund the project!

Mike

January 16th, 2013
4:27 pm

Let Arthur Blank and the owners of the Falcons use there money to fund the project!

bullrusher1

January 16th, 2013
4:49 pm

The funds also come after the stadium is complete. Licensing season tickets is going to be part of the deal. You’ll have to pay big money just to have the right to buy season tickets, and then those prices will almost certainly go up.

We’ve been season ticket holders since ‘05, we’ve seen the Vick era, post-Vick era, Run-Off Petrino era, and finally the successful Matt Ryan/Mike Smith era, all from inside the GA Dome. Unfortunately, after the new stadium goes up, we probably just won’t be able to afford season tickets anymore.

Maybe some thought should be put into fans that have been loyal to the Falcons for years, through the bad, worse, and good. They’re the reason the players have those huge paychecks, why that Dome reached 118dB last Sunday, and why we shouldn’t need to buy a license so that we can have the right to buy tickets.

Even worse, I won’t even be able to watch the game on TV if they’re blacked out. Who does that please. Screw PSLs. Go Falcons.

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