Posted on 02/23/2011 5:35:53 AM PST by from occupied ga
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority agreed Tuesday to a ``memo of understanding'' with the Falcons, the next step in negotiations to build a 65,000-seat facility just north of the team's current home, the Georgia Dome.
How do you feel about having two football stadiums in downtown Atlanta?
I like it
I don't like it
Both sides said the agreement does not mean a deal has been reached, but allows them to begin discussions about the business relationship that would be involved in whatever plan is developed.
Falcons officials have made it clear they want a new open-air stadium, saying that is the only way to stay competitive financially. They have rejected plans for a renovated Georgia Dome or adding a retractable roof to it, pointing out that 22 teams have moved into new or completely rebuilt stadiums since the dome opened in 1992.
Preliminary plans for a new stadium include 7,500 club seats and 110 suites, plus the ability to add up to 10,000 temporary seats. The cost is estimated at $700 million.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, during a visit last season, made it clear a new stadium would be needed if Atlanta wants to land another Super Bowl. The Georgia Dome hosted the game in 1994 and 2000, but two bids to bring the game back to the city have been rejected.
Officials with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which runs the current stadium as well as the massive convention center and nearby Centennial Olympic Park, have said any deal must include enough funding to maintain the Georgia Dome.
The 70,000 seat Georgia Dome would remain open for events such as the Southeastern Conference football championship game and college basketball's Final Four, as well as concerts and conventions.
If a new stadium is built, the city would have four downtown stadiums seating at least 50,000 within about 2 miles of each other. The Atlanta Braves play at Turner Field, while Georgia Tech's football team uses Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Go to link to freep poll - Thanks
“open air stadium” — Thank GOD!!!!! Now, is natural grass too much to hope for? Does anybody know?
How about NO TAXPAYER FUNDED SPORTS VENUES rather than what type? This is a classic case of the taxpayers getting robbed to further enrich the already rich.
If it were private business no one would give a damn, but no tax payers money, and stop the damn tax breaks for sports.
Sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree. Here we are in wholehearted agreement.
You can rest assured the Mayor Reed, and his top cronies as well as the top bureaucrats in the WCC administration will get lifetime box seats out of this. They'll also get generous contributions to their campaigns funds (those who are running for office) from Arthur Blank (Falcons owner).
Everybody wins - except the taxpayers who get royally screwed.
Obviously. But is it grass?
If you can shower hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on billionaires, then times can’t be so tough after all.
Oh swell!! A new stadium for the worst team in the NFL.
Times are never tough if you are spending someone else's hard earned money. Need more money? Just seize some more and let the taxpayer victim cut back.
FREEP THIS POLL ***PING!*** FRmail me if you want to be added or removed from the Fearless Poll-Freeping Freepers Ping list. And be sure to ping me to any polls that need Freepin', if I miss them. (looks like a medium volume list) (gordongekko909, founder of the pinglist, stays on the list until his ghost signs up for the list)
Blank, Arthur M
Atlanta, GA 30327
Arthur Blank Family Foundation/CEO
OBAMA, BARACK (D)
President
OBAMA VICTORY FUND $28,500
primary 07/29/08
Wouldn't mater if they were the best team in the universe. They still shouldn't get taxpayer money. If professional sports (which grab every single penny from every conceivable source) can't afford their own stadium, then they should go out of business - or maybe pay the players less or maybe pay their owners less.
So what the hell is wrong with the Georgia Dome that it’s somehow unsuitable to host a Super Bowl? It’s a nineteen-year-old stadium and somehow it’s too decrepit and broken-down for Goodell and his crew to give them a SB? Did they not kiss Roger’s ring (or shoes, or something else) enough? There is no reason for Atlanta to have a *fourth* large-capacity stadium in downtown.
Tell them to go pound sand. If the Falcons want to build the stadium themselves and are willing to pay the city and state back for the cost of all street and infrastructure improvements, fine. No taxpayer money AT ALL.
}:-)4
I like it
8%
I don’t like it
92%
Not only 0, but he heavily funds local hard left candidates. His money pretty much pays the salary of one of the most dispicable state legislators - Mary Margret Oliver - via grants to Emory law school.
“Georgia World Congress Center Authority “
What the...? Has the UN taken over one of our states?
More sports welfare for millionaires.
I agree with you. I thought one of the arguments FOR the GD was so they COULD host a SB, now it’s not good enough?
If this stadium is built, I can see the headlines now in 15 years:
Falcons need new stadium with retractable roof so they can host a Super Bowl.
Just put one on the Georgia Dome now and save a bunch of money.
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