Atlanta United likely will pay the Georgia Tech Athletic Association more than $1 million to rent Bobby Dodd Stadium for game days from March 2017 until the soccer team moves into its home of Mercedes-Benz Stadium later next year.
The MLS expansion side will pay rent of $45,000 per match, $275,000 for locker-room accommodations and $350,000 to make changes to the field once the final soccer game is played, according to a copy of the contract obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution through an Open Records Request. The league schedule is expected to be released in January.
The two parties announced last month that Atlanta United will play a few games at Bobby Dodd Stadium .
Additionally, Tech will pay the GTAA $2 for every ticket sold (including season tickets) for each home game. The team has already sold more than 22,000 season tickets.
GTAA and Atlanta United will split 35 percent of the net revenues on food and beverage sold during games, with GTAA receiving 60 percent.
Lastly, GTAA will receive $5,000 for each home game in which Atlanta United sells merchandise.
The field changes will include re-installing artificial turf along the sidelines of the field. That turf will be replaced by natural grass for the soccer games.
The locker-room accommodations are additional rent that will be earmarked by the GTAA for improvements to the those areas. Tech coach Paul Johnson referenced wanting to make some changes to the locker rooms earlier this season.
When the announcement was made, some Atlanta United supporters expressed displeasure at paying for tickets to see games at $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium, only for those games to be shifted to Bobby Dodd Stadium. Atlanta United said it had begun discussing ways to give fans the best possible stadium experience at both venues. Some of those decisions are expected to be communicated this week. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is expected to open next summer.
Possibly March 4
March 5 (starting after 2 p.m.)
March 12 (after 4 p.m.)
March 18 (after 5 p.m.)
March 19 (after 5 p.m.)
March 25 (after 5 p.m.)
March 26 (after 4 p.m.)
April 29 and 30 (no restrictions noted on start time)
May 7 (after 5 p.m.)
May 20 (after 5 p.m.)
Possibly May 21
May 26, 27 and 28 (no restrictions noted on start time)
June 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 and 30 (no restrictions noted on start time)
July 1, 2, 4, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30
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