Braves Announce Intent to Leave Turner Field After 2016

[Miamarlin21]

The Atlanta Braves are moving into a new stadium. It is set to open in 2017. It'll be in Cobb County, about 14 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

We are excited to announce plans to build a world-class stadium, which will open in 2017 at the NW intersection of I-75/I-285. #Braves

We have secured a large tract of property at this location & will work to build a world-class ballpark for our fans. #Braves

[Bobbob1313]

That seems silly.

[Fritz]

So they're leaving their stadium that's 20 years old. Why?

[Bobbob1313]

$$$$

[marlinsfan24]

Their lease with Turner Field ends in 2016 and they estimate it would cost $150M to get the stadium up-to-date.

Cobb County will also make it an easier access for fans. They'll likely see an attendance boost (I doubt by much) in the new area.

This is just off the top of my head with my knowledge of living in that area for three years.

[Beef]

Their estimate? Part of the reason for their estimate is including things that aren't completely necessary so they can show reason to not stay.

[marlinsfan24]

Their estimate? Part of the reason for their estimate is including things that aren't completely necessary so they can show reason to not stay.

The estimate does sound like a bunch of crap to me as well.

[Fritz]

Their estimate? Part of the reason for their estimate is including things that aren't completely necessary so they can show reason to not stay.

Turner Field needs a hovercraft to be competitive and up-to-date.

[Chewford]

Turner Field seems like it's already in a convenient location and it looks like they're moving out to some small town full of white folk who love America and eat baked potatoes.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

It's a major money grab. Reading the article on ESPN really shows it. Here's some highlights from the article.

The Atlanta Braves announced Monday they will leave Turner Field for a new 42,000-seat, $672 million stadium about 10 miles from downtown Atlanta in 2017. It's not clear how much the proposed ballpark will cost taxpayers.

Despite its relatively young age, Plant said Turner Field needs $150 million in routine improvements and that it would cost $200 million to truly enhance the fan experience.

The Braves were frustrated in their efforts to acquire another 5,000 parking places and also complained about the lack of direct access to the MARTA rapid-transit system. The closest station is about a mile away, and most fans who used MARTA took a connecting bus service.

The Braves brushed over the fact that MARTA doesn't even serve Cobb County, which has long rejected efforts to bring rapid transit to the suburbs and chose to develop its own limited, bus-only system.

The new stadium will be located at the interchange for two of Atlanta's busiest interstates, I-75 and I-285, and the area has been plagued by major traffic problems for years -- despite northbound I-75 being expanded as wide as seven lanes near the proposed site.

Schiller said the Braves plan a "circulator" bus system to get fans around the site of the planned stadium.

"The reason for moving is simple," the team said in a statement on the website. "The current location has certain issues that are insurmountable and will only become more problematic over the years. These fundamental issues involve how you, our fans, access Turner Field. There is a lack of consistent mass transportation, a lack of sufficient parking and a lack of direct access to interstates.

"Furthermore, the Braves do not have control over the development of our immediate surroundings."

Plant said a major impetus for a move was the desire to build restaurants, retail shops, hotels and entertainment facilities around the new ballpark, efforts that never came to fruition at Turner Field. He pointed to amenities around new ballparks in Cincinnati, San Diego and Houston, along with L.A. Live, which hosts the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.

The stadium will be part of a 60-acre development near Cobb Galleria mall.

"With our current location, we couldn't control that process," Plant said. "That's something that was important to us. This site allows us to do that."

The Braves plan to sell stadium naming rights, just as the Falcons intend to do with their new stadium.

So they don't have enough public transportation access so they move somewhere with no public transportation from the city. They have easy freeway access but they move the stadium to the intersection of two busy freeways with major traffic congestion. They just want the money for the naming rights, parking and nearby facilities.
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[Miamarlin21]

Title should read after 2016 season, not 17.

[Party]

It doesn't help that Turner Field is in a shitty neighborhood with no heavy rail access and traffic in the evenings is terrible. They only drew 31,000 a game for a division winning team in the financial center of the South.

This is why the Braves want to leave downtown:



Apparently the deal is being voted on very soon and will not be going to a referendum.

[Chewford]

I didn't realize the Bloods' territory was so widespread in Georgia.

[Party]

It's a major money grab. Reading the article on ESPN really shows it. Here's some highlights from the article.



So they don't have enough public transportation access so they move somewhere with no public transportation from the city. They have easy freeway access but they move the stadium to the intersection of two busy freeways with major traffic congestion. They just want the money for the naming rights, parking and nearby facilities.
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And money from developing the parcel they purchased to build stores, shops, condos, etc. That is where they stand to make the most money.

Would not be surprised if they have agreed to do tax increment financing for the county's portion of the funding cost.