Goal Line D Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 http://beta.local.yahoo.com/news-annals-progress-economics-still-open-air-falcons-stadium-downtown-gainsJosh Lindenbaum "Curbed Atlanta"[is it time to put the Georgia Dome out to the pasture of conventions, high school football and Monster Truck events?]If you're just waking up to the discussion, here are the basics: the Atlanta Falcons currently play in the Georgia Dome, which was completed in 1992 at a cost of $214 million (and recently renovated at a cost of $30 million). And though it seems there are plenty of people that find it a perfectly nice place to watch a football game, Falcons owner Arthur Blank would disagree (as would the NFL). As word comes this week that Governor Deal and the State of Georgia seem inclined to help Blank in his quest for a new, open-air stadium on a parcel of land semi-adjacent to the Dome, more than a few folks are concerned about just how it will be paid for. And rightly so- the City and the State are kind of broke, right?The critics' arguments are bolstered by studies like these, which present a pretty compelling case that sports stadiums don't spark the local economic growth often cited in justification of bond or taxpayer financing for their construction. Plain old logic and practicality have some relevance here, too. Given Atlanta's many pressing infrastructure and education needs (to name just two), does it make sense to spend $694 million on a structure that the Falcons will use between 8-10 times per year? Hat Tip to AJC Buzz for making us aware of the U Illinois study. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E. T. Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Another reason why AB wants to put a winner on the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmite Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Retractable roof or don't build one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince78 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I wish they would move it farther north, taking it out of the city of Atlanta totally. Doraville would be an excellent place and rid the team of having to deal with the idiots that control the city government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSSSHHHRRR87 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'd love to see the Falcons in an open-air stadium and I believe the ncaa wants to build a HOF in combination with it. The Chick-fil-A bowl would be played there too, but that is a substantial amount of money for a stadium, especially since the GA Dome isn't that old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb4242 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Retractable roof or don't build one.exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Retractable roof or don't build one.This.And it needs to look incredible, not just like any other stadium. If I'm going to see a picture of it and don't recognize immediately that its the FALCON's stadium, because it looks just like anyone elses, don't build it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birds_till_death Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 It's simple. Goodell has said Atlanta won't get a super bowl here unless we have a new open air stadium or a new dome. That is a major part of Blank's push to build a new stadium. Also, the contract with GWCC is AWFUL for Blank and the Falcons in terms of revenue. That's also why the GWCC has fought so hard to make sure the new proposed stadium stays on their campusPlus, rumor is Blank wants an open air stadium in an attempt to bring a MLS franchise here to Atlanta as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I wish they would move it farther north, taking it out of the city of Atlanta totally. Doraville would be an excellent place and rid the team of having to deal with the idiots that control the city government.I don't see it moving as long as Blank owns the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goal Line D Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 I personally like the GA Dome but can understand Blank's position as a businessman. And yes the new stadium, if built, should/must be an architectual wonder to behold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
INDFalcon Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Blank can put his money and build one. Don't depend on Tax payers money. I don't think I will support a move where tax payers money is involved in building stadium especially in this down economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birds_till_death Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I wish they would move it farther north, taking it out of the city of Atlanta totally. Doraville would be an excellent place and rid the team of having to deal with the idiots that control the city government.They tried, the city of Doraville put the kybosh on re-zoning the abandoned GM plant. They thought an old abandoned factory doing absolutley nothing is better for them than a brand new state of the art stadium that would result in the building of hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc... They would have SEC championship, chick-fil-a bowl, part of the NCAA tournament (assuming it is a retractable roof or dome, potential MLS franchise, could compete with Turner field for a concert venue, etc... The benefits for that city would have been enormous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaptorClaw Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'd love to see the Falcons in an open-air stadium and I believe the ncaa wants to build a HOF in combination with it. The Chick-fil-A bowl would be played there too, but that is a substantial amount of money for a stadium, especially since the GA Dome isn't that old.There were several Peach Bowls played in bad weather years ago. I am not sure the Chick Fil A would want to chance on going back to those times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu 7 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 The title is kind of misleading because it seems like there is still concern how building a new stadium will be financed.This is actually a serious matter. Would you believe that New Jersey taxpayers are STILL paying for Old Giants Stadium?As one article says as stadiums vanish their debt lives on...http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/taxpayers-owe-110-million-for-old-giants-stadium/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/sports/08stadium.html?pagewanted=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSSSHHHRRR87 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I wish they would move it farther north, taking it out of the city of Atlanta totally. Doraville would be an excellent place and rid the team of having to deal with the idiots that control the city government.I wisht the team would move out of the city too, just because parking and getting in and out of Atlanta on game day suuuccckkksss...Retractable roof or don't build one.I agree with the retractable roof the NFL likes their SB in domes or warm-weather cities and if we are to attract a SB to Atlanta, it needs to be a retractable roof, but it's Hotlanta too, so being in a dome full time doesn't make since either.Look at this pic of Reliant Stadium... all that parking and the retractable roof... PERFECT!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxygencube Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Retractable dome for the win! MLS team would be great too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I still say rip the tent off the Dome and replace it with a retractable roof, then replace the club level with revenue generating executive suites. Seems like that could be done at or below the cost of a brand new facility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cali_fan420 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Please move the team to Los Angeles. Fans in Atlanta suck, and this message board (plus the empty seats at the dome) are proof of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerosmith67 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I wish they would move it farther north, taking it out of the city of Atlanta totally. Doraville would be an excellent place and rid the team of having to deal with the idiots that control the city government.Only to deal with the idiots in charge of Doraville? Not a chance. The Doraville factory site is on the radar of VW for a new car manufacturing facility anyway, that makes more sense for the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerosmith67 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 They tried, the city of Doraville put the kybosh on re-zoning the abandoned GM plant. They thought an old abandoned factory doing absolutley nothing is better for them than a brand new state of the art stadium that would result in the building of hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc...They would have SEC championship, chick-fil-a bowl, part of the NCAA tournament (assuming it is a retractable roof or dome, potential MLS franchise, could compete with Turner field for a concert venue, etc... The benefits for that city would have been enormous.Stadiums tend to denigrate the areas they are built in, there's a good chance that Doraville wanted nothing to do with the problems that come along with a stadium project. There's very few pro sports stadiums that have decent livable areas around them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theDIRTYcode Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Alpharetta Falcons sounds better...and closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbendon Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 They tried, the city of Doraville put the kybosh on re-zoning the abandoned GM plant. They thought an old abandoned factory doing absolutley nothing is better for them than a brand new state of the art stadium that would result in the building of hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc...They would have SEC championship, chick-fil-a bowl, part of the NCAA tournament (assuming it is a retractable roof or dome, potential MLS franchise, could compete with Turner field for a concert venue, etc... The benefits for that city would have been enormous.I got it from a pretty good source that air traffic control issues were the downfall for that location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerosmith67 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I still say rip the tent off the Dome and replace it with a retractable roof, then replace the club level with revenue generating executive suites. Seems like that could be done at or below the cost of a brand new facility.The GA Dome can't have the Dome removed without damaging the existing structure (walls) from everything I've read. Just as it can't have a retractable roof put on without major renovations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerosmith67 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Alpharetta Falcons sounds better...and closer. Which neighborhood are you willing to sacrifice for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulitik Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I still say rip the tent off the Dome and replace it with a retractable roof, then replace the club level with revenue generating executive suites. Seems like that could be done at or below the cost of a brand new facility.They assessed it and it wasn't cost efficient. Apparently it was logistically a nightmare. My buddy does rigging in the GA Dome, and he said that it was looked into and wasn't worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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