http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story...obb-County

WTF? The connector is a disaster, and the current stadium is next to some wicked unsafe neighborhoods ... but moving to the intersection of I-285 and I-75? OHHHHHH YEAAAAAAA that'll make things smooth. Not.

I was just as shocked to read this in my morning check of the local news. It came completely out of nowhere. Usually stuff like this is rumored/alluded to in the negotiating process. The Braves are near the end of their original 20 year lease of Turner Field, which is the remade Olympic Stadium that was then given to the city of Atlanta afterwards.

www.homeofthebraves.com
This appears to be real, a done deal, and not just a negotiating tactic. There is a website up detailing more extensively than I thought the decision had been made, the land purchase and the reasons. It is the reasons stated that sound a bit ridiculous. But if you are a local, you know that they are not the real reasons.

The main reason is that the vast majority of those who regularly follow and support the Braves and are also season ticket holders, live on Atlanta's north side (with the exception of those who live far south of the city in Peachtree City.) The highway traffic to get to the games from the north through the city is already abysmal, so that's kind of a wash with the move. While there is no heavy rail by the new location, there is none by the old one either. You have to take a bus to either location, which will remain the same, just through CCT instead of MARTA (which hooks up to CCT at several stations already. I've actually taken this very ride on buses coming back from airport trips to Cobb and it's not any more of an ordeal than walking to the present MARTA shuttle and taking the bus to the stadium.)

The other thing and far more important to the Braves or any business, is that the Braves will be directly involved in ownership of the property and surrounding area of their new stadium development without as many detractors (the area noted for purchase is 60 acres). The Braves can reap the economic windfalls of developing a fully integrated area instead of the chasm of vacant lots and lack of development around the Turner Field area, which they do not own, and in which redevelopment has been contentious at best due to the may competing factions, some of which are highly vocal and not interested in cooperation with the Braves and any progress the area could make toward improvement.

The Braves watched the very recent Atlanta Falcons stadium process and decided they are just not interested in dealing with the perceived boondoggle and remaining stuck out of easy access to the majority of their fan base for another 20 or 30 years down the road when they have better options. The Braves have had issues with attendance decline and hard to sell playoff tickets, not only due to their record. A north side location gives them a better opportunity to increase ticket sales and attendance, which means more revenues, which could lead to a higher team payroll to pay better players or keep ones who now leave via free agency. All positive things for the team and the region.

In fact, as the Cobb Energy Center showed with the Atlanta Opera moving there years ago, it can be successful in drawing attendance from the city. As well, the concentration of Galleria Convention Center and offices, Cobb Energy Center, Cumberland Mall, and now the Braves (The Weather Channel World Headquarters are located across I-75 already in the same area as well) might give impetus to finally extending Heavy rail into that area- in which case the Braves moving could finally help break the logjam of lack of widespread mass transit in the metro Atlanta area.

Yes, we'll miss the close up skyline views, but in the long run, if as stated, it will cost the Braves about $200 million to invest in Turner Field with no improvement in fan demographics or the surrounding area (neighborhood has improved little in more than 40 years the Braves have been there) , and they can invest $600 million instead to have their own deal right in the heart of their fanbase, well, that's kind of a no-brainer.

The downside for city of Atlanta is losing the prestige, but the upside, if they are real smart, is to actually help the city break the south-side development inertia by completely redeveloping the Turner field and surrounding area into a world-class mixed use live-work-play development center that will be located right next to downtown and offer easier commuting times for new residents. In the long run, it could turn out to be a win-win, but only if the city looks at the change progressively.

While I was shocked initially, I began to hope that the new stadium could give the team enough additional revenues to compete. A roster salary limit of $90-100 million is far below many of the annual contenders and puts them out of the running for many free agent players before bidding has begun. The new stadium may not produce a great windfall, but it may enable the team to increase payroll to higher level. God knows that current ownership screwed them so badly on their broadcast rights that the team needs anything it can get to increase revenues.

It would be funny if the AAA Braves move into Turner Field.

My drive to the ballpark just got significantly shorter and safer,
but I’m afraid this might encourage a MARTA train line into Cobb.

Hubs and I were pretty shocked about this too. I have mixed emotions. I have never once felt unsafe going to a game downtown. I've parked my car in the yards of the locals down there and never ran into an incident. I really love Turner Field and I love the views as someone else mentioned.

That being said it will make it easier to get to games from my office and from my home but I am concerned what it's going to do to my commute on gamedays. No really great alternatives to Acworth from Sandy Springs other than 400 to Holcombe Bridge but damn I hate driving through Woodstock.

(11-12-2013 08:13 AM)AngryAphid Wrote:  It would be funny if the AAA Braves move into Turner Field.

I understand that the plan is to tear Turner Field down.

I haven't checked, but do you know how far Gwinnett is from the proposed location?

(11-13-2013 06:17 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 08:13 AM)AngryAphid Wrote:  It would be funny if the AAA Braves move into Turner Field.

I understand that the plan is to tear Turner Field down.

I haven't checked, but do you know how far Gwinnett is from the proposed location?

I heard they were tearing it down as well.

Yep, they are going to in 2017.

Lawrenceville, home if the Gwinnett Braves, about a 31-mile drive from the new Atlanta Braves Stadium site.

Approved. Good.

City of Atlanta official to Braves official during negotiations: "It's not like you can go anywhere else."

Good for the Braves for getting out of that terrible area. Would have liked to have seen stadium at site of sson to be "old' georgia dome, once demolished, but Braves absolutely made the right move here, and Cobb County, just a few miles to the northwest, is going to make out great economically on their relatively minor investment. Cobb now home to Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Braves. City of Atlanta government officials need to wake up and stop taking things for granted like they are entitled to them. Oh, wait, run by Democrats, no wonder.

Go Braves!

(11-29-2013 05:32 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Approved. Good.

City of Atlanta official to Braves official during negotiations: "It's not like you can go anywhere else."

Good for the Braves for getting out of that terrible area. Would have liked to have seen stadium at site of sson to be "old' georgia dome, once demolished, but Braves absolutely made the right move here, and Cobb County, just a few miles to the northwest, is going to make out great economically on their relatively minor investment. Cobb now home to Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Braves. City of Atlanta government officials need to wake up and stop taking things for granted like they are entitled to them. Oh, wait, run by Democrats, no wonder.

Go Braves!

The question I'd like to know, is why Kasim Reed picked the Falcons over the Braves? I get that Atlanta couldn't afford both, but 8 games of 70K versus 81 games of 30K would seem to be a no-brainer type decision. Especially since the city had real leverage with the Falcons as Domed stadiums tend to cost double of ballparks. Combined with the fact that the Ga Dome would have kept the SEC Championship Game, Peach Bowl and various Final Fours, its hard to understand why Reed didn't tell Arthur Blank to go build his outdoor playpen in the 'burbs.

There's no way 30k people go to Braves games. That might be the paid attendance, but I've seen enough Braves games to know that 30k only happens on weekends and when the Philth come into town....and even that might change now that the Philthies look to be doomed for a good 3-5 years of mediocrity. Their fans love to tout how diehard they are all while always forgetting that they ranked near the bottom in attendance only a decade ago.

(12-10-2013 04:56 PM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  There's no way 30k people go to Braves games. That might be the paid attendance, but I've seen enough Braves games to know that 30k only happens on weekends and when the Philth come into town....and even that might change now that the Philthies look to be doomed for a good 3-5 years of mediocrity. Their fans love to tout how diehard they are all while always forgetting that they ranked near the bottom in attendance only a decade ago.

Quit talking out of your ass.

2004 was their lowest attendance in the decade and they were 16th in the league. They've been near the half-way mark since the "new" of Turner Field wore off, but definitely not "near the bottom".

30k in a 50k stadium looks like less. Either way, the only FACTS we have are the attendance numbers, not your worthless anecdotes. The highest attended games are when bigger names come to town, just like with any other sport or city, but it's actually the Cubs, Mets, Nationals, and Dodgers. Not the Phillies.

http://saportareport.com/blog/2013/08/im...r-economy/

Quote:“The Braves more than double the economic impact of Georgia’s other major sports franchises combined.”

(12-10-2013 10:34 PM)RaiderATO Wrote:  

(12-10-2013 04:56 PM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  There's no way 30k people go to Braves games. That might be the paid attendance, but I've seen enough Braves games to know that 30k only happens on weekends and when the Philth come into town....and even that might change now that the Philthies look to be doomed for a good 3-5 years of mediocrity. Their fans love to tout how diehard they are all while always forgetting that they ranked near the bottom in attendance only a decade ago.

Quit talking out of your ass.

2004 was their lowest attendance in the decade and they were 16th in the league. They've been near the half-way mark since the "new" of Turner Field wore off, but definitely not "near the bottom".

30k in a 50k stadium looks like less. Either way, the only FACTS we have are the attendance numbers, not your worthless anecdotes. The highest attended games are when bigger names come to town, just like with any other sport or city, but it's actually the Cubs, Mets, Nationals, and Dodgers. Not the Phillies.

http://saportareport.com/blog/2013/08/im...r-economy/

Quote:“The Braves more than double the economic impact of Georgia’s other major sports franchises combined.”

I was referencing the Phillies when talking about attendance at the end. Braves have been solid 30ish k listed for awhile now...still gotta work on selling out all their playoff games though.

(12-10-2013 10:34 PM)RaiderATO Wrote:  

(12-10-2013 04:56 PM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  There's no way 30k people go to Braves games. That might be the paid attendance, but I've seen enough Braves games to know that 30k only happens on weekends and when the Philth come into town....and even that might change now that the Philthies look to be doomed for a good 3-5 years of mediocrity. Their fans love to tout how diehard they are all while always forgetting that they ranked near the bottom in attendance only a decade ago.

Quit talking out of your ass.

2004 was their lowest attendance in the decade and they were 16th in the league. They've been near the half-way mark since the "new" of Turner Field wore off, but definitely not "near the bottom".

]30k in a 50k stadium looks like less. Either way, the only FACTS we have are the attendance numbers, not your worthless anecdotes. The highest attended games are when bigger names come to town, just like with any other sport or city, but it's actually the Cubs, Mets, Nationals, and Dodgers. Not the Phillies.

http://saportareport.com/blog/2013/08/im...r-economy/

Quote:“The Braves more than double the economic impact of Georgia’s other major sports franchises combined.”

I think the bolded is an important point. I think the Braves are going to try and build a PNC Park/AT&T Field type facility that seats 37-40k during the regular season. I hope that they don't try and build another 'retro-looking' stadium though, that era have past.

And your referenced study only re-enforces my position that working to keep the Braves was a better long term investment.

(12-11-2013 10:18 AM)vandiver49 Wrote:  I think the Braves are going to try and build a PNC Park/AT&T Field type facility that seats 37-40k during the regular season.

They've said 41k (Wrigley, Nationals Park).

Quote:And your referenced study only re-enforces my position that working to keep the Braves was a better long term investment.

I can see why they worked out a deal with the Falcons and GWCC. There are more state and city fingers in the GA Dome pot than in Turner Field. And that's setting aside the political timing of it all.

I'm going to be in the ATL this weekend. Any reccomendations on some good eats? I hear Birkhead is the place to be and I saw that place Vortex on Man vs. Food. Thoughts?

(12-12-2013 09:52 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  I'm going to be in the ATL this weekend. Any reccomendations on some good eats? I hear Birkhead is the place to be and I saw that place Vortex on Man vs. Food. Thoughts?

What kind of food do you like?
How much are you looking to spend?
What part of town will you be in?

Dunwoody or Buckhead locations of Eclipse Di Luna are awesome. But it really does depend on where you're staying.

(12-12-2013 08:46 PM)RaiderATO Wrote:  

(12-12-2013 09:52 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  I'm going to be in the ATL this weekend. Any reccomendations on some good eats? I hear Birkhead is the place to be and I saw that place Vortex on Man vs. Food. Thoughts?

What kind of food do you like?
How much are you looking to spend?
What part of town will you be in?

We ended up staying downtown, but frequented Buckhead twice. Hit up the Saloon and a place I forgot the name of close by that had a live band (I guess that part of town will do that to you on a Saturday night).

ATL was cool but we were a little surprised that nothing was open downtown for brunch/drinks before the Falcons/Skins game. Seemed like it could be a huge money/revenue generator.