A weekly update on the business of the Braves:
Tracking attendance: The Braves saw an uptick in Turner Field crowds during last week's homestand but still rank 24th among the 30 Major League Baseball teams in attendance per game.
Through 22 home games, the Braves have averaged 23,166 per game, down 4,105 per game from the same point last season. That decline is MLB’s fourth largest so far this season, according to baseball-reference.com.
On their current road trip, the Braves have visited two teams that rank among MLB’s top three in attendance: the Dodgers (averaging 46,614) and the Giants (averaging 41,549).
SunTrust Park tickets: The Braves this week announced the start of 2017 season-ticket sales for SunTrust Park. The team didn't release prices for specific seats, and some season-ticket holders with lower-bowl seats between the dugouts at Turner Field have said they are bracing for sticker shock.
Comparable seat locations will become “premium” seats in the new stadium, meaning they will come with added amenities, including access to a lounge, as well as sharply higher prices.
Comparing stadium costs: The Braves this week revealed the "guaranteed maximum price" the team negotiated with general contractor American Builders to construct SunTrust Park — $462.2 million. That is the cost of labor and materials that go into construction of the ballpark and doesn't include additional costs such as land, architectural fees, parking and relocation of a pipeline on the site. Those and other items will raise the total stadium budget to $672 million, according to Braves owner Liberty Media.
So how do the SunTrust Park costs compare with the new Falcons stadium, also under construction and also slated to open in 2017?
The Falcons stadium has a “guaranteed maximum price” for construction of $1.078 billion and a total budget of $1.4 billion (not including financing costs). Among the cost-driving differences between the two stadiums: The Falcons’ will be about 73 percent larger than the Braves’, seating 71,000 vs. 41,000, and will have a pricey retractable roof.
About the Author
