The Stadium Plight

How Atlanta's attempt at a new stadium isn't a new battle

By Scott Carasik

The problems with new stadium construction in the NFL can all be summed up with the plight that Atlanta faces in their new stadium construction. They have wanted a new stadium since Blank bought the team in 2002. In 2002, the Georgia Dome was only 10 years old, so it wasn’t feasible for the Falcons to get a new Stadium. But now, the Dome is nearing its 20th year and fans are getting fed up with the indoor stadium and its lack of the elements. The team itself is getting tired of dealing with the lack of ticket revenue due to its current agreement with the Georgia World Congress center.
The Falcons themselves can pay for the stadium out of Arthur Blank’s pocket. The problem they are finding is the site. The Georgia World Congress Center is the best site for the stadium in the city of Atlanta. And with the prices of recent stadiums that had retractable roofs, Atlanta has the money to put the retractable roof stadium at the site of the GWCC. Rich McKay has gone on record saying that they want a pure Open-Air stadium and that a retractable roof is not feasible financially, but I believe that the retractable roof comment is a play for more ticket revenue so that they can pay for the stadium. It's also a smart one. Retractable roofs cost the same as regular domes, but the extra funding will help with the maintenance cost. The main option is to build it in the dome parking lot and then tear down the dome and make a huge parking structure. They would have to buy the church next to the campus but it's logical. And with the final fours in Atlanta, there is no way they wouldn't have a retractable roof. There is also rumor that Atlanta has an $800 million, and 800 Million will easily get a retractable roof with help from the City and State. Cost of retractable roof stadiums over the past 15 years:
Dallas Cowboys Stadium - $1.3 Billion in 2009
Lucas Oil Stadium - $720 million in 2008
University of Phoenix Stadium - $455 million in 2006
Reliant Stadium - $352 million in 2000
New Vikings Stadium - projects to $870 million with retractable roof
So outside of the new Vikings stadium, there is easily enough money for the Falcons to have a retractable roof. And with the right engineers and architects, it can easily be an experience for both the fans and the teams. The Falcons have enough money to put whatever kind of stadium they want in the Georgia World Congress Center’s campus; they just need to put in an actual proposal that will make the city and state happy, while also making the fans happy. This also includes the idea of not having PSL's involved.