NEW ORLEANS -- Let's start with the most important thing, even if it's also the most obvious thing: The Falcons aren't moving to Los Angeles. Whether that was a news outlet's mutant creation the other night or an Atlanta mayor trying to move along a stadium process with a verbal grenade, Arthur Blank laughed off the rumor Friday.

"It was humorous. My reaction was: Where did this come from? It certainly didn’t come from us," the Falcons' owner said Friday.

Blank arrived in New Orleans Thursday night for a series of Super Bowl-related functions. In an interview with Journal-Constitution Friday, he said he was "confident and comfortable" with where the team is in the process to build a new stadium downtown, while neither confirming nor denying that a new funding deal could be reached as early as next week.

My full question-and-answer with Blank is below, but here are a few sound bites:

-- On reports that an announcement of a deal could come as early as next week: "We’re continuing to make progress. ... The timetable I think is coming closer. Whether it’s next week or not, I’m not sure."

-- On reports that he would be willing to raise his up-front share by $100 million to $800 million to help close the deal: "You want to do the right things in a public-private partnerships and be sensitive to all of the folks involved in the process. ... If it goes to $800 million, it’s $800 million. The deal will be a balanced deal."

-- On the public backlash over public money being used: ": Sadly, the public, in a general sense, is not as educated on the structure and nature of a deal. This is a billion dollar asset that will be owned by the state – completely in 30 years, and actually owned by the state from the get-go. The public money, whether it’s 20 percent or 30 percent, 86 percent of that is funded from people who don’t live in the state of Georgia. .... So from the taxpayer perspective, if I was a taxpayer, I would say this is a great investment."

Here's the entire Q&A:

Question: You know I’m from Los Angeles originally so if you need any advice on where to live when you move the team there let me know.

Answer: (Laughter.) I actually lived in Fullerton from 1974 to '76 when I worked at Handy Dan with Bernie [Marcus]. So I know L.A. [But] I can officially say we have no interest in Los Angeles and we have not been contacted by anybody. Our interest is in the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta region and we continue to work closely with the mayor’s office, the governor’s office and the World Congress Center for a solution for downtown Atlanta. That’s what our three-year goal has been.

Q: What was you reaction when the story came up?

A: It was humorous. My reaction was: Where did this come from? It certainly didn’t come from us. I’m not sure where it did come from. But in any event, what’s most important to our fans in the city, the region and the state is we’re committed to Atlanta and to getting this stadium deal done and we’re making progress and working to make this a win-win situation for everybody.

Q: Has the protracted process tried your patience?

A: To be honest with you I appreciate the job our team president, Rich McKay, has done because it’s probably tried his patience more than mine. But on the other end it’s a very complex deal. We want a solution that works for everybody we’re talking about a project of this scale, a billion dollars, that will impact not only us but all of the hosting we’ll be doing for legacy events, potentially for Super Bowls, the BCS championship, the World Cup, it’s a tremendous responsibility so it takes time to work out. But I think it’s a normal process.

Q: What’s your confidence level right now of a downtown stadium being built.

A: I feel fairly good at this point. I feel fairly good about where we are, where all the stakeholders are, creating the best winning situation for everybody, and that’s the best deal you can have. That’s the most sustainable deal you can have. If not, at one point or another, somebody gets upset and things turn around. Ultimately you want to create a formula and a product that everybody can be proud of and feel good about.

Q: Is there any doubt in your mind that a deal will get done?

A: There’s always doubt until it happens. But I feel confident and comfortable about where we are in the process.

Q: Some people have told us that a new agreement on funding could come next week.

A: We’re continuing to make progress. The governor has asked for a 15-day silent period. I’m not sure everybody is being silent. (Laughter.) But I think we all feel good about the progress we’re making with everybody at the table. The timetable I think is coming closer. Whether it’s next week or not, I’m not sure.

Q: When did this 15-day silent period start?

A: I’m not sure. It’s whenever the governor said it started. I wasn’t a part of that conversation. But I understand the point is that we should be working quietly and focus our attention at getting this deal done.

Q: There’s a report that you might be willing to put in another $100 million up front, bringing your share to $800 million, in order to get the deal done. How accurate is that?

A: We have to make sure the deal is a balanced deal for all the stakeholders. You want to do the right things in a public-private partnerships and be sensitive to all of the folks involved in the process. We’re major investors now, publicized as $700 million. If it goes to $800 million, it’s $800 million. The deal will be a balanced deal. We’ll feel good about, the state and the city will feel good about it.

Q: Could you foresee putting in another $100 million and still making it a workable deal for the Falcons?

A: It depends on how all the deal is structured, and I think everybody is trying to figure out a way where it’s fair to everybody.

Q: Do you understand the resistance from the public on public money being used?

A: Sadly, the public, in a general sense, is not as educated on the structure and nature of a deal. This is a billion-dollar asset that will be owned by the state – completely in 30 years, and actually owned by the state from the get-go. The public money, whether it’s 20 percent or 30 percent, 86 percent of that is funded from people who don’t live in the state of Georgia. It’s a bed tax. The money is required to be recycled back into the community in terms of tourism and building business. When you’re looking at creating a win-win situation for everybody, a long-term solution for the Falcons and maintaining these legacy events that the Georgia Dome currently holds, and be in position where you can compete [for other major events], all of those things are not even available without a world class facility. So from the taxpayer perspective, if I was a taxpayer, I would say this is a great investment. We’re taking all of the capital risks, all of the risks for overruns, all of the operational risks --- all of that is on us, the Atlanta Falcons.

Q: If something falls apart, do you look to the suburbs next?

A: I’m not thinking about that. I’m optimistic we’ll get this deal to work. That’s where our focus is right now.

Q: Finally, shifting to football: I know it was difficult for Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff to come to New Orleans this week. How hard is it for you?

A: I’m leaving [Saturday] morning. Does that answer your question? I’m here because we had an owner’s reception [Thursday] night. We have a commissioner’s event tonight. I’ll watch the game. We’re having a family party at our house. We’re disappointed we’re not here but we’re certainly not discouraged. Both of these teams were in the position we’re in last year. What probably was most discouraging to me was that I was having dinner last night with the Hunt family. Clark Hunt said he still remembers they [Kansas City] lost the 1993 AFC championship game and he still hasn’t forgotten it. That’s almost 20 years ago. I told the story to Smitty and he assured me that will not be the case in Atlanta. I love our coaches, I love our players, we have a great leadership team. So I think we’re in a wonderful position. We’ll work on getting better this time of year, taking that next step.