Nathan Deal: Dollars for new stadium ‘belong to Atlanta’
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
James
January 15th, 2013
4:53 pm
This is one Fulton resident that is NOT interested in a new stadium.
Bob Loblaw
January 15th, 2013
5:04 pm
@James:
Not interested? Easy. Don’t rent a hotel room in your own county. Let the guests that are coming anyway buy the State a new stadium.
yuzeyurbrane
January 15th, 2013
5:19 pm
Shaffer should abstain from voting; he is on the Board of the Georgia World Congress Center. Voters, make a list and check it twice come next election. Remember who sold themselves for a few pieces of silver (or season’s tickets, etc.)?
nathan's political arsonist
January 15th, 2013
5:35 pm
let them do it. November 4, 2014
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 15th, 2013
5:37 pm
It’s going to be a moot point come Sunday after the 49′ers blow the place up.
Dave
January 15th, 2013
5:49 pm
Bob Loblaw, sarcasm aside, I’d rather let our guests buy us some repairs on roads, a few hundred million or so worth. If the Falcons want to move to the Burbs or out of state its okay with me. Our guests as you call them, with or without the Falcons in town, might quit coming if a few fall into the Gulch when one of the ancient bridges collapses. Sorry, sarcasm there.
Arthur and Nathan and the rest of the boys will get their new stadium regardless of what people think. That doesn’t make it right or a good idea.
Quira
January 15th, 2013
5:50 pm
This is TSPLOST all over again.
Kris
January 15th, 2013
5:54 pm
I sure wish that somebody would explain these “significant repairs and upgrades that will be needed to maintain the current Dome” to the public. Sounds like a bunch of bull to me. It’s not as if the Georgia Dome is rusting from the inside out.
dc
January 15th, 2013
6:14 pm
So is “investing” (taking tax money from one bucket, and spending it somewhere else) a valid govt function? Of course it is, happens all the time (schools, roads, police, etc). So, the real question is, is it valid to take from one bucket, and spend on a private enterprise (the falcons)?
Not easy, I don’t envy the folks who vote on this, and then have to face the voters. They need to very clearly and carefully communicate their rational for this, if approved.
The Olympics were a great model…..maybe they can make the case for this one as well??
kirbang
January 15th, 2013
6:15 pm
Aesop’s Fables and other Lib Economic Theories: I agree with you. Reality has a liberal bias.
But back on topic. Really 1 billion dollars. Chop the top off. Hire Lexus to put a convertible hard top on it and plant some grass. Hire every craftsman in the Atlanta region. Re weld, paint upholster install levitating box seats and give the box holders free Varsity for life. It couldn’t possibly approach 100 million dollars.
Cutty
January 15th, 2013
6:17 pm
It’s the City’s money, why would local control conservatives be against this? Other than because it’s Atlanta.
The City will get the money back via a Super Bowl, BCS Championship game, couple Final Fours, etc. Kasim does need to come up with a sound plan to address this ratchet infrastructure around town.
Shine
January 15th, 2013
6:28 pm
Crazy me, I thought the money in my pocket before I signed for a motel room was mine. Piss on Blank, the Falcons, and the Governor.
soxman
January 15th, 2013
6:30 pm
Doesn’t he mean “dollars for new stadium belong to Arthur Blank?”
Kris (original)
January 15th, 2013
6:42 pm
nathan’s political arsonist “”let them do it. November 4, 2014 “”
Shady deal meet your replacement in 2014
{{ The disgraced former South Carolina governor, who drew national headlines in 2009 after disappearing for several days and later tearfully admitting to an extra-marital affair, will run for Congress }} Well he has demonstrated he has no ETHICS.
Are you proud crooked deal, take money from sick people and the poor and help GA rise from 48th in education to 50th. All for a place for a loosing football team to play in.
Bye Nate 2014
bigbill
January 15th, 2013
6:53 pm
Here is what I absolutely do nor understand: how can these conservative Republicans (and many Democrats) decry and oppose any and all government attempts to assist the poorest of the poor in our state, criticize the food stamp program, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, raising the minimum wage, claiming all these are manifestations of socialism, while at the same time support the transfer of $300 Million in taxpayers’ funds to one of the wealthiest businessmen in our state, billionaire Arthur Blank, the owner of an incredibly profitable and valuable private entertainment-sports company, the Atlanta Falcons? And that too is not a manifestation of socialism? Socialism for the rich? That’s OK? Really?
Kris (original)
January 15th, 2013
7:01 pm
bigbill “” transfer of $300 Million in taxpayers’ funds to one of the wealthiest businessmen in our state”"
I agree well said, however IO also read 300 Million to 500 Million Which is true?
Looks like the unmarked envelops arrived Early at the Gold Dome of Crooks…
Political Mongrel
January 15th, 2013
7:02 pm
I’m curious about the assertion that funding will come from the hotel & motel tax. Really? NO other sources? Somehow I’m not particularly trusting on that.
Dave
January 15th, 2013
7:09 pm
Political Mongrel, as I understand it the stadium, without infrastructure, will cost a billion bucks, 30% tourist tax and 70% Blank/NFL. But, Mayor Reed has said the infrastructure will cost another $200 million, which means it will cost more than that. I don’t know where that is coming from. The collective “us” I guess.
An observer
January 15th, 2013
7:16 pm
The point is that the hotel/motel tax revenues will not be sufficient to pay off the bonds, and then what happens?
Dave
January 15th, 2013
7:21 pm
I think the $300 million is enough, assuming the estimate of cost is accurate. If it isn’t, it’s “our” stadium, I assume we, not Arthur Blank, pay the overrun. Do a Google search on the new Miami stadium – bunch of bucks spent and being spent by taxpayers, not the team owner.
Rafe Hollister
January 15th, 2013
7:32 pm
Weaseling words from Nathan. What he was saying with all that verbiage was, we are going to build it, to heck with what the people want, and we are going to find a way not to be held accountable for our actions, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.
hiram
January 15th, 2013
7:42 pm
No one has explained how Natha Deal, who narrowly escaped personal financial ruin by making amateur business decisions – and only escaped because of his position, and still hasn’t admitted to knowing what the guy he loaned $600,000 did for a living – which makes either his competency in business, or his honesty, even more questionable – is qualified to provide intelligent input in a business decision that is a thousand times more complex. Who is dumb enough to pay attention to anything he says on the subject?
Church of the painful Truth
January 15th, 2013
7:56 pm
Everyone enjoy the game Sunday,because the new stadium is a done DEAL.All this talk about bonds,hotel-motel tax,state funded or city of Atlanta funded is a moot point. It all took place two years ago in a closed door meeting.Enjoy the New Stadium that will named after someone connected in politics.
td
January 15th, 2013
7:58 pm
Talk about the uninformed voter. Here are some truths.
1: This new stadium will guarantee a Super Bowl in Atlanta and will guarantee the continued SEC Championship game. It will also bring in more NCAA basketball tournaments. This will bring $100’s of millions if not billions of dollars into the city.
2: This is not taxpayer money. It is bond funds that will be paid back by increasing the hotel/motel tax in Atlanta, so it will be paid off by out of town guest and not Georgia taxpayers.
3: These types of bonds can not be put forth to pay for normal state functions like welfare spending…
So if the city does not build it then it is lost money coming into the city.
Please continue with your discussion with a few facts.
td
January 15th, 2013
8:01 pm
An observer
January 15th, 2013
7:16 pm
The point is that the hotel/motel tax revenues will not be sufficient to pay off the bonds, and then what happens?
Do you have any facts to back up that statement?
Need a new broom for a clean sweep
January 15th, 2013
8:03 pm
When people move in their dealings faster than is normal it tells you that they are up to no good and they hope you will not catch onto them in their crooked deeds.
Vote them out!
Dave
January 15th, 2013
8:08 pm
td – you wanted facts, some facts from bloomberg.com, trusted by capitalists everywhere. Check out how similar Jerry Jones’ finances for the new Texas stadium are to Mr. Blank’s plan for our new edifice.
Dave
January 15th, 2013
8:08 pm
Sorry, here’s the link:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-05/in-stadium-building-spree-u-s-taxpayers-lose-4-billion.html
Lee
January 15th, 2013
8:23 pm
Let’s see, the GWCC, the STATE authority charged with overseeing this complex is a STATE agency. While the current financing structure depends heavily on the hotel tax, what happens if the Falcons go bankrupt, or $300 million becomes $600 million?
That’s right, Atlanta will want the STATE to come riding in on a white horse and save their butt.
Tell Blank to shove it. If he wants to take the team elsewhere, go ahead.
BTW, the city of Atlanta probably should worry more about filling some of those potholes and getting a couple of traffic lights to syncronize.
Ralph Christian
January 15th, 2013
8:37 pm
“Significant repairs” for a building that is only 20 years old??? More BS spewing from the mouth of (not my governor) NoDeal!!!
R U Kidding Me?
January 15th, 2013
8:56 pm
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
How about the I-75/I575 managed lane project Gov. deal? That was a $1B project that had 70% private money, with 100% of the financial risk being on the private sector and not on the taxpayers. But you killed that deal.
Kris
January 15th, 2013
8:57 pm
Crooked “taxation without representation” Deal and the gop slime in the Georgia Legislature, how quickly they forget what happened in November 2012
.
Lets call the new dirty done deal the “”“taxation without representation”” blank stadium.
Just a reminder the GOP slime got their slime balls kicked. Looking forward to 2014.
Lets start a recall right now.
Timeout
January 15th, 2013
9:07 pm
Shafer equals Oxendine; Be careful!!!!
4DaBirds
January 15th, 2013
9:08 pm
I love the Falcons and I hope a good resolution is coming. Meanwhile, I think it is very low class to try and rain on the Falcons playoff run with negative press.
td
January 15th, 2013
9:12 pm
Lee
January 15th, 2013
8:23 pm
“BTW, the city of Atlanta probably should worry more about filling some of those potholes and getting a couple of traffic lights to syncronize.”
False argument since the city can not raise the money from a hotel/motel tax for road projects.
Dave
January 15th, 2013
9:15 pm
td, I won’t bet the farm but I’m pretty sure the tax can be used for road projects as they keep the tourists coming.
td
January 15th, 2013
9:16 pm
You all do understand the lost money and lost jobs in the city, surrounding areas and the state if this does not get approved?
td
January 15th, 2013
9:20 pm
“Local governments imposing a Hotel/Motel Tax are required by state law (as a condition of continuing authority to impose the tax) to file a Hotel/Motel Tax Report for each fiscal period during which the tax is imposed. The first page of the Report includes the local government’s Hotel/Motel Tax rate, the amount of revenue collected, and the amounts expended for various purposes. The second page of the report is a schedule on which specific projects that were funded for the promotion of tourism, conventions, and trade shows (or other tourism related purposes) must be listed along with the amount expended and the contracting entity for each project.”
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/research/programs/hotelmoteltax.asp
td
January 15th, 2013
9:21 pm
Dave
January 15th, 2013
9:15 pm
td, I won’t bet the farm but I’m pretty sure the tax can be used for road projects as they keep the tourists coming.
I doubt that it would fly and held as following the law by the AG’s office.
What
January 15th, 2013
9:21 pm
Deal can’t even control his appointees. How can we trust him to run a state? When they ignore his stated policies and he ignores it, is it incompetence or corruption? In either case, do you then trust him to protect the state during the building of a new Dome?
Buckhead
January 15th, 2013
9:23 pm
Arthur Blank has said repeatedly and the GWCC memorandum of understanding states that Blank and the Falcons will cover any cost overruns.
Buckhead
January 15th, 2013
9:23 pm
Arthur Blank has said repeatedly and the GWCC memorandum of understanding states that Blank and the Falcons will cover any cost overruns.
Buckhead
January 15th, 2013
9:23 pm
Arthur Blank has said repeatedly and the GWCC memorandum of understanding states that Blank and the Falcons will cover any cost overruns.
Dee
January 15th, 2013
9:24 pm
If they want a new stadium then the money that comes into the stadium should first be used to pay back on the bonds, whether it takes 4 games or 3 seasons. The bed tax is a joke because it still will be the same folks coming to the game.
Bob Dylan
January 15th, 2013
9:26 pm
Good Point. Easy enough to calculate. How much revenue did the hotel tax generate in 2010, 2011 and 2012? Compare that to 300 million. Also apparently these stadiums are only good for 20 years, so bill will have be paid in that time period. 15 million per year? Maybe the AJC could do some basic Jethro Bodine math on this.
Foncused
January 15th, 2013
9:30 pm
@td, stop trying to convince the ignorant Tea Party imbeciles. Facts get in the way of their arguments so they conveniently ignore them. You have articulately laid out the LAW and what those dollars that are paid by visitors to our city can be used for. Unfortunately you and others who base decisions on facts and not emotions, will get blasted and attacked.
The reality is, and some of you can stick your head in the sand if you want and sing la la la la la with your fingers in your ears, those dollars that are collected cannot be used to fix potholes or pay for other general government expenses. They are restricted in use and can only be used to promote tourism and tourism industries. Period end of story.
Foncused
January 15th, 2013
9:32 pm
And shame of the lawmakers and legislators who either out of ignorance or malice perpetuate the false information that the dollars are “our” tax dollars. They are only “our” tax dollars if we are staying at hotels in Atlanta and paying the hotel/motel tax.
Those tax dollars are NOT funded by property tax, sales tax, occupational taxes, or any other tax paid for by businesses or residents in the city UNLESS they are staying in a hotel in Atlanta/Fulton County.
Hopefully, one day, people will base decisions on facts and not on emotional dribble . . but alas, I am not holding my breath.
Kris
January 15th, 2013
9:43 pm
Shady Deal and the Legislature looking out for themselves…another example.
THIS MONEY BELONGS TO THE DEFRAUDED CITIZENS….
State legislators and Gov. Nathan Deal will spend $104 million of the $815 million banks are paying Georgia to settle foreclosure fraud claims, but if past indications hold true, much of that money won’t be going to distressed homeowners.
The discretionary cash will likely be spent on other areas of the state budget, as is money from Georgia’s settlement with tobacco companies and millions of dollars in directed fees that Georgians pay yearly.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/funds-for-defrauded-homeowners-diverted-by-state/nQR6p/
deal begone 2014
A.B. Normal
January 15th, 2013
9:49 pm
@Buckhead, BS.
@Buckhead, BS.
@Buckhead, BS.
A drunkards ramblings
January 15th, 2013
9:56 pm
So to recap..
All cost overruns are covered by the Falcons and NFL
The hotel/motel tax cannot be used to fix our schools/potholes/homeless/buy unicorns
This is not a new tax but a continuation of the existing tax that is currently paying the bonds on the dome.
The new stadium will not be built until the debt on the dome is paid off.
Only people that stay in hotels in Atlanta are paying for the debt coverage.
If you don’t stay in a hotel in Atlanta in the next few years then you have no skin in the game and if you’ve stayed in one the last few years then one of those line items will be the same
So, I fail to see where all the consternation comes from?
OTP
January 15th, 2013
9:57 pm
So, if a new stadium will bring in all those millions from the Super Bowl, SEC, etc., use that money to pay for it!
Hilarious
January 15th, 2013
10:00 pm
Remember folks, the SOSHALUSM!!!! that we have here in the United States is Corporate SOSHALUSM!!!!
There is way too much money involved with this stadium deal for it to not happen.
Consider it done.
The NFL, Arthur Blank, and various other companies thank you in advance for your tax dollars filling their wallets.
td
January 15th, 2013
10:09 pm
Hilarious
January 15th, 2013
10:00 pm
Building a new stadium is an investment (I know you progressives do not understand the real meaning of this word). Investment means money is placed on a project and the people invest see a return or all the original money plus other money.
Socialism is an economic theory that states:
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
policy or practice based on the political and economic theory of socialism.
(in Marxist theory) a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of Communism.
The term ‘socialism’ has been used to describe positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet state Communism, and social democracy; however, it necessarily implies an opposition to the untrammelled workings of the economic market. The socialist parties that have arisen in most European countries from the late 19th century have generally tended towards social democracy
No socialism in building a stadium.
swatguy
January 15th, 2013
10:11 pm
This for many means JOBS. With Jobs come a healthier economy. Reinvestment, housing sales, increase of property taxes and trickle down to schools, roads ect… Atlanta Is an Alpha city, a global city. Behave like it folks.
Hilarious
January 15th, 2013
10:17 pm
TD:
Are you willfully ignorant of what is going to happen, or just naive?
Here is what will happen.
The NFL, Arthur Blank, and a few corporations will feed upon tax dollars, all for their own profit.
Meanwhile, any type of INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT will be ignored because it might help out Blah people.
Get a clue. Invest in it with your own money.
double
January 15th, 2013
10:18 pm
and now you gonna have to pay for your Obama phone.
J BO
January 15th, 2013
10:18 pm
FOOTBALL IS A BUSINESS LIKE ANY OTHER, WE DO NOT BUILD A NEW BUILDING EVERY FEW YEARS FOR CVS PHARMACY EVERYTIME THEY WANT A NEW ONE. LET ARTHUR USE FALCOM PROFITS TO BUILD THEIR OWN BUILDING AND THEN WE COULD COLLECT TAX ON IT TO GO TO SCHOOLS ETC. AS FOR AS REPAIRS HE CAN PAY FOR THEM ALSO. TWENTY YEAR OLD BUILDING HA. LOOK AT GRANT FIELD AND HOW OLD IT IS. BEEN REPAIRED AND ADDED ON TO MANY TIMES AND STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. IF THE DOME NEEDS REPAIR REMOVE IT AND PLAY IN THE OUT DOORS AS THE GAME WAS MENT TO BE. WITH THEM OWNING THE PROPERTY WE COULD DEMAND AND RECEIVE PART OF THE MONIES MADE OFF CONNESSIONS AND A % OF ENDORSEMENTS ETC. THAT PLAYERS MAKE. TIME FOR THE FALCONS TO BECOME SELF SUPPORTING DON’T YOU THINK.
Courtney
January 15th, 2013
10:28 pm
Ask the residents of Gwinnett about stadium deals. Nothing the politicians said came true and the tax-payers got stuck with a HUGE bill.
td
January 15th, 2013
10:35 pm
Hilarious
January 15th, 2013
10:17 pm
Infrastructure investments have nothing to do with building a stadium. Two totally different pots of money. The money collected from a hotel/motel tax can ONLY be used for such things as a stadium. It can NOT be used for infrastructure so the comparison is nothing more then a ruse.
Now tell us how much money will be taken out of the Hotel/food and entertainment industries if the Falcons left Atlanta? Tell us how many jobs would be lost?
Did you know that all these other related industries charge taxes that actually goes back into the local economy? How many millions will the city and state lose if the Falcons pulled out or we lost the SEC Championship game to Texas or NO’s or lost an additional Super Bowl?
Hilarious
January 15th, 2013
10:36 pm
TD:
So let Arthur Blank and the NFL hold Atlanta hostage so they can have taxpayers pay for the stadium, rather than the people who will end up making billions of dollars with the stadium.
Never mind the fact that the Georgia Dome is only 20 years old.
Hey, shill for the billionaires. They might throw you an extra crumb.
Greg Camp
January 15th, 2013
10:39 pm
I can’t believe that the Georgia Dome needs to be demolished and replaced. It already has been renovated and only 20 years old. Retrofit a retractible roof and rearrange the seating. Downtown has plenty of other uses for those funds, including Underground and Five Points.
James
January 15th, 2013
10:41 pm
We paid $300,000,000 just three years ago to upgrade the Georgia Dome! Why’d Blank get all that money for an upgrade if he was planning to turn around and have it demolished? Sorry Artie, you already blew $300 million that you never should have had your hands on. You don’t get another $300,000,000 every three years like you seem to think.
James
January 15th, 2013
10:47 pm
td, explain this:
The hotel tax can only be used by the stadium because the law says that. The law cannot easily be changed. That’s your argument, right?
The GWCC can only issue $200,000,000 in bonds but needs $300,000,000. This means the law must be changed. So if the law is being changed, it should be changed to something sane rather than the cozy backroom deal that Blank arranged for himself two years ago.
Either the law can be changed, in which case the public money isn’t super glued to the Falcons or it cannot be changed, in which case the GWCC cannot issue the full amount of the bonds. Which is it? You can’t have it both ways.
the truth
January 15th, 2013
10:52 pm
The best solution is for the funding to fail, have Blank and the NFL pick up the cost for a new stadium in the burbs some place. This will still provide the jobs for building the stadium, but will also include more jobs for needed infrastructure improvements in the area of the new stadium such as roads and utilities and hotels. Build it an area with plenty of parking so the Falcons can have the benefit of parking revenue, and fans can have the benefit of tailgating and not riding Marta.
Former Atlanta resident
January 15th, 2013
10:54 pm
Should Governor Deal, Mayor Reed and others who hold government offices really be focusing so much time, energy and, ultimately, money on a stadium that doesn’t need to be replaced when there are streets other than 75/85 and 285 that are in serious need of repair, homeless people on just about every corner and school systems that are constantly looking for ways to deal with overcrowding?
Kris
January 15th, 2013
11:06 pm
James, Former and truth,,,, Well said.
Thats why Deal has the name shady, crooked, in the midnight hour behind locked guarded doors which seems the norm for double dip deal a bill gets passed or has already been passed. all of a sudden some one (Governor loosely used term) summons someone that can write and all of a sudden something has been added to the bill.
Deal out 2014
Bigdawg88
January 15th, 2013
11:17 pm
I’m curious as to what kind of problems the current stadium has that will require all that repair? What’s wrong with it, looks okay to me? If it’s structural that would sound like grounds for a lawsuit since it’s only 20 years old. Are the bathrooms falling apart? Is the plumbing messed up? Sounds to me like a bunch of BS. And they better say how long they plan for the next stadium to last, or else we’re going to be doing this again in 20 years. Why can’t they just rotate the stupid SB amongst all the cities? Freaking greed is going to kill enthusiasm for this sport!
49er
January 15th, 2013
11:24 pm
49ers roll—win big. will the falcon fans still want pay hundreds of millions for a new stadium after that beatdown???
James
January 15th, 2013
11:59 pm
The stadium can’t move to the suburbs because there is no county that would pay for the massive infrastructure upgrades required. Gwinnett isn’t going to do it. They’ve been through a mess of corruption and the baseball stadium has been a disaster. Cobb? Ha, no way… people in Cobb don’t want to pay a bunch of extra taxes for a stadium. There’s no way a hotel tax in either of those counties could cover $300,000,000 for Arthur Blank’s payoff and several hundred million more in infrastructure. Sales or property taxes would have to go up in order to host a stadium. Blank would also demand revenue guarantees to compensate for the increased risk of locating in a non central market.
North Fulton? Well, that’s Fulton, which is already where the discussion is going on. And if there is any place more anti-tax than Cobb, it’s north Fulton. Creating Milton County wouldn’t help any because it would still be the same anti-tax crowd.
Clayton? HAHAHAHA!
So that leaves DeKalb. It might be able to come up with the money through property tax increases but that county is so dysfunctional that the money would get lost on the way to the bank.
If Blank can’t get money out of any of the other counties, he’d have to pay for the entire thing himself. In that case, he might as well stay in the Georgia Dome which he doesn’t have to spend hundreds of millions out of his pocket to keep.
It’s either the City of Atlanta or move the Falcons to another city. The NFL isn’t going to be keen on losing a ten top media market so the only city the Falcons could possibly move to is Los Angeles. It’s a huge market but also one that already lost two teams due to lack of interest and hasn’t put together a deal over the past two decades that shows the city is any more interested in football today than it was when the Rams and the Raiders left.
Old Violin
January 16th, 2013
12:00 am
I would like to start a Mumbly Peg franchise in Atlanta. I will be responsible for drawing up the rules and drafting the players. Since I will need Ice Picks instead of footballs, and of course sharp knives to sharpen the pegs, shovels to dig the holes and irrigation to fill the holes with water, I should be able to get the first team up and pegging for 2 million dollars, I think it’s reasonable to ask the state of georgia to start charging extra tax for towels and bathroom tissue in our hotels to pay for this. Since I came up with this great idea, I will collect 98 percent of the profits and the other 2 percent can be used to pay the state back. No Super Dome, No stadium, and no thousand dollar tickets…..Ticket prices will start at fifty cents, and can’t exceed a buck-fifty…..so that common folks can watch the games. P.S. All TV rights belong to Georgia Public Television…..are I smart or what ?
Brandon
January 16th, 2013
12:08 am
So the STILL VERY NICE Dome is not Super Bowl worthy, but the 38-year old Louisiana / Mercedes-Benz Superdome IS??? Mind you this up-coming Super Bowl with be the Superdome’s 7th Super Bowl in it’s 38 years of existence. The exterior is all one color… bronze, the shape is WAY out-dated, it’s a FIXED ROOF, it’s been hit by a hurricane, it’s home to one of the worst teams in the NFL. The GA Dome does NOT need to be replaced. there are more important things / places in Atlanta that need repair. The Dome is NOT one of them!
Brandon
January 16th, 2013
12:11 am
And I forgot, a new, more expensive arena would mean Falcons tickets, food and parking would go up in price. With this economy the way it is and other prices (gas, groceries, etc…) going up and paychecks going down, nobody would be able to afford to go to a game anymore
Gritsfed
January 16th, 2013
12:25 am
Build the stadium, folks!!!
The repairs the dome needs will cost as much as the money they need now from the Hotel-motel tax!
A new venue will generate a Super Bowl, renewal of the SEC Championship game AND a better venue helping ATL to get the new locations for the BCS playoff Final championship games in the future! It helps West Atl.and ALL of Ga.
Yes, build the NEW STADIUM!!!
graphman3d
January 16th, 2013
12:33 am
For me, it’s not the potential reallocation of tax dollars from the hotel/motel tax for local infrastructure projects (which Atlanta badly needs addressing), it’s any public support for a billionaire’s palace. Especially with the dome fully functional. This will cost Atlanta/Fulton County over $500M (stadium, infrastructure upgrades, etc) before it’s over. For what? The chance to get the Super Bowl? I’d love to see the ROI for other cities that host the Super Bowl.
yuzeyurbrane
January 16th, 2013
12:45 am
td, I notice how you condemn others for not giving citations to their facts but where are your citations? I have read many articles, including some by writers who you usually support, saying that your facts are wrong. Or they are just plain illogical, like the hotel tax can’t be used for another purpose claim because of the law on which it is based. Well, as one other poster noted, that law can be easily changed to redirect the money for anything else, including education, infrastructure, etc. Another logical point, when the Dome bonds are paid off and if this flim-flam deal of a new stadium is rejected, the tax will just lapse. This would help the hotels stay full by allowing them to reduce their charges and benefit the convention industry which does not give a hoot about an elusive 2nd Superbowl or equally elusive Final Four venue. In particular, kindly explain your basis for claiming Georgia stands to lose “billions” if a new stadium is not built? You won’t because you can’t without admitting your facts are coming from your derriere.
A person SMART enough to know.....
January 16th, 2013
3:44 am
In OTHER WORDS “Let the Ni&&ers in Da ATL F..Dis ALL up…..My White AZZZZ is not going to play Dis Gamz.”
you can't fix stupid or Democrats
January 16th, 2013
5:18 am
College football teams built their own staduims. Pro soccer teams accross the world own their stadiums. Why should NFL play in stadium built by taxpayers run by taxpayers and keep most of the profits? Mr. Blank does not need the money! If he wants a new store does he not built it himself! NFL owners all the time holding the moving gun to heads of cities so they can get their way. Even if they move the world is not going to end!
Horsetoothedjackass
January 16th, 2013
5:22 am
The way some of you are going on, it’s as if they’re going to start building the new stadium tomorrow. This is a project that is still a few years away from even breaking ground and by the time the new stadium is built. The Georgia Dome, while still a decent facility, cannot effectively compete with the newer stadiums in the NFL and while they could retrofit the facility further, the costs to do so just don’t make sense. In addition, additional renovations and upgrades to the Georgia Dome would reduce seating capacity and that’s not a good thing. It’s not as simple as ripping off the roof of the Georgia Dome and installing a retractable one and who knows if that would even be feasible.
The hotel/motel tax has been used to help pay for the bonds on the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena was partially financed via a tax on rental cars in Atlanta and College Park. This is not a new concept folks and has been done for years in many cities.
The one thing about this that really chaps me is the fact that less than two years ago, both Gov. Deal and Mayor Reed would not do a thing to help keep the Thrashers in Atlanta saying that it was a “private business matter”. Meanwhile both have bent over backwards to help the Falcons get a new stadium in order to have the Falcons “stay put”. Mayor Reed even promotes Atlanta as a “sports town” yet let a team in one of the four major sports leagues get sold and relocated. Voters ought to remember that when both of them are up for re-election.
Carpetbagger
January 16th, 2013
5:42 am
Let them eat cake.
Dekeale
January 16th, 2013
5:45 am
The bottom line is the public does not want and need a new stadium.
Dekeale
January 16th, 2013
5:52 am
Thank Jim Galloway for his article, because without it the public would be in the dark. Just like what GWCC and Art Blank has done, we are still in the dark. The Falcons only play 10 games in the Dome, the GWCC makes more money with other events during and when Falcons are not playing. If Art Blank wants to more the his Falcons move them what about getting other them to replace them.
Bulldawg
January 16th, 2013
6:02 am
Sounds like a “FAIR DEAL” to me.
BitterEXdemocrackkk
January 16th, 2013
6:04 am
stadium sh’ite going on in Charlotte too, where the Panthers held a back room closed door meeting with CLT city council to BEG for $125 MILLION to renovate their ONLY 17 year old stadium. There is NO way in the world either of these two stadia need such money spent. Let the NFL pay for it since they want the results. Pro sports is a huge part of America’s problem
rawmilkdrinker
January 16th, 2013
6:13 am
So what if the current dome will need extensive repairs in a few years. The new billion dollar stadium will need repairs from time to time as well. Will the new stadium be torn down in 20 years and replaced with a 3 billion dollar stadium? How many older houses get remodeled evry 10-15 years. Why do State entitys, and a lot of individuals for that matter, seem to think that a new building will never need any maintenance or repair? I guess some people like to trade cars every three years rather than have the oil changed or new tires put on. Idiotic economics from my barnyard perspective!
Glenn
January 16th, 2013
6:23 am
People have been complaining that Atlanta keeps getting bypassed for Superbowl’s and they can’t understand why…It’s because of the GA Dome. If Atlanta wants another one, then a new stadium needs to be built. If that happens, then the NFL has said we WILL get another Superbowl, and all of the millions upon millions of dollars of income that come along with it, which will offset the cost to build it. In fact, just a couple of Superbowl’s would probably generate as much revenues as all of the taxpayer contributions. This is a no-brainer.
gregory
January 16th, 2013
6:33 am
Blank is a greedy jerk, and you will pay for this, with a hotel tax my butt, how long did they say the dome would last? TD is a smuck working for Blank, lets not forget that people will have to pay thousand for the right to buy tickets, is that not another tax TD? This is only for the rich, let the stinking rich pay for it then, more sky boxes for greedy self serving corporations and crooked politicans, screw them all, let the Flacons leave big Deal, speaking of crooks.
MoFaux
January 16th, 2013
6:35 am
td: You are aware that the legislature has reconvened, no? Voters overwhelmingly do not want $300 to $500 million spent on this stadium. I’m guessing you are not a lawyer, and neither am I. However, one could reasonably interpret other infrastructure needs, such as roads and transit, as contributing towards tourism. And if not, then reread my first sentence. The law should be changed to use this money for other purposes. If you think a Super Bowl will really bring in $300 million to the city, and magically pay off the bonds, then I have some stuff in my attic that you might be interested in. These are strawman arguments used to lie to the people about how profitable these stadiums are. If you look at history, there is definitely NO convincing argument that building publicly-funded stadiums yield the huge returns on investment that is touted and parroted by pro-stadium folks.
amalo
January 16th, 2013
6:42 am
in about 10 years, arthur’s new palace will be “out of date” compared to other two billion $$ stadium built by another owner—he will come again to the city and Ga legislature with phony threats to move the team to hundreds of millions more in govt handouts—that’s why he’s a billionaire—he gets chumps to keep giving him money
FenderMan
January 16th, 2013
6:54 am
The Falcons benefit the whole state, let the hotel tax apply to every hotel in Georgia. That would raise a lot of money and not put all the financial burden on Atlanta and Fulton County.
“Reality has a liberal bias”, thanks for that. That’s my joke of the day.
Marlboro Man
January 16th, 2013
6:57 am
Saps, New Orleans get a super bowl with a refurbished, non retractable roof, you will believe anything Mr “high profit ” Blank spews.
Wally
January 16th, 2013
7:09 am
So now you want some old fashioned socialism?
domedebt
January 16th, 2013
7:09 am
At the fiscal year end for the Dome they still owed over $107,000,000.00 on the original bonds for the dome construction. This debt is not scheduled to paid off for another 8 years. I would like to know how they are going to pay off this old debt and float another $300,000,000.00 in bonds and stay within the legal borrowing limits of the Dome. If they do float a new bond the first thing they should do is pay off the remaining debt on the original dome, this would leave them short of the monies they have committed to the new dome. This whole deal doesn’t pass the smell test.
Edmund Ruffin
January 16th, 2013
7:11 am
I don’t care where the taxpayer lives, taxpayers should not have to pay for sports stadiums. If I visit another city I don’t want to have to pay for their entertainment. NO TAXES FOR SPORTS STADIUMS.
ASanePerson
January 16th, 2013
7:22 am
Am I reading this correctly. The state is so low on tax revenue they had to borrow from the transportation fund to make repairs to streets and roads. Then in the same newspaper, the Governor is endorsing a new stadium. The one question I have, is what has been the impact on current economy for everyday citizens. And the answer will be none. because every time we look up the city or the state is short of money and imposing some new few on citizens. most of whom have never attended a Falcon’s game or lack the funds to attend one. It is time the concentration for development move from Business to the welfare and growth of the citizen. Afterall, we are the ones who live here.
Road Scholar
January 16th, 2013
7:24 am
““I think it’s important for us to keep the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta.”
How else can legislators get free tickets?
“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 …”
So since the COA is responsible for the funding, which would take money away from other infrastructure repairs and construction, does the COA get the resulting sales tax due to this investment to use for said infrastructure? I bet not!
LG
January 16th, 2013
7:34 am
If a tax is levied on visitors, that money should go to repairing roads, improving schools, supporting Grady Hospital (that provides medical care to the state), books and computers for kids, etc.
jhd
January 16th, 2013
7:52 am
the falcons play 8 home games a year, how long will it take to pay the $300mil? also this does not include the infrastructure costs which will be another $300mil. this is a 50-50 proposition not a 70-30 like the conspiritors claim.
John R
January 16th, 2013
7:53 am
The city and the state will recoup the investment back ten fold. So what if Mr Blank takes the Falcons elsewhere? The Falcons will put up 800 million. We can invest 300 million. The state gives companies tax credits to come to Georgia so this is the same idea.
This Sunday do not watch the Falcons. Don’t pay any attention to them at all.
Much like the Miami Dolphins just another team in the country.
Pretend they are already gone!
Good times are just around the corner.
Ask that the Falcons pay us back the money over a ten year period at 2% interest and use that to repair the sewers.
We want them to stay forever as we want the Braves to stay.
Make the investment and bring us the Super Bowl.
How about the investment we made in the lousy job the highway resurface job on 285? They need to redo half of it.
jhd
January 16th, 2013
7:56 am
the state better start putting toll lanes on the south, east and west interstate entrances to the city and maybe put in toll lanes on airport runways to help pay for these 8 days a year entertainment.
Silver Fox
January 16th, 2013
8:11 am
It’s easy to oppose the stadium at first blues . However, after some thought you will come to acknowledge that the $1B cost ($700M in private funds) will be spent in the local community meaning jobs, services etc. this does not mention the new opportunities the stadium will provide Georgia.
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.