The Atlanta Falcons’ push to the Super Bowl might help the team’s drive for public funding for a new $1 billion stadium.
“I certainly think winning the game will be positive” as the Falcons seek legislative approval to use $300 million in hotel/motel taxes toward the construction, Gov. Nathan Deal told reporters Tuesday.
Deal has called for the team and the Georgia World Congress Center, the state agency that would own the stadium, to do a better job pitching the deal to the public amid dismal poll numbers.
But the governor said delaying a deal on the funding beyond this legislative session would be problematic for a team hoping to open the 2017 season in new digs.
“In talking with the Falcons, they believe this is a time-critical issue,” the governor said, adding: “And certainly since we only meet once a year in legislative session, if we do not address the issue this year, it does postpone the final construction date.”
State Senate leaders have signaled they won’t take up the stadium debate until more pressing challenges such as Medicaid funding are addressed. The chamber is set to vote Thursday on a new funding scheme designed to prop up Medicaid.
House Speaker David Ralston has also raised questions about the timing, saying there’s a “very low level of support” across the state for the project. A statewide Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll released Thursday showed 72 percent of respondents either opposed or strongly opposed to using public dollars to help finance construction.
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