Fear of suburban move could boost Falcons stadium deal
Staff writers David Wickert and Tim Tucker contributed to this report.
The possibility that the Atlanta Falcons could punt to the suburbs if the team doesn’t get $300 million in public money to help build a downtown dream home has shadowed the issue since talk of a new stadium began.
But the chances of any metro Atlanta county ponying up big incentives to lure the franchise - or even paying for needed road and utility work to support a stadium complex - appear dim.
Instead, concern that Falcons owner Arthur Blank could fork out the cash on his own to build a less expensive open-air stadium in the suburbs is intensifying. State leaders fear a flashy new suburban facility would become a formidable competitor to the state-run Georgia Dome.
Without the Falcons - and the 70,000 or so fans they attract at their home games - the Dome wouldn’t turn a profit, leaving the public on the hook for the shortfall.
Check out the AJC’s print or tablet edition for the in-depth report on the team’s backup options if the deal for the $1 billion retractable-roof stadium falls apart.
About the Author
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
