((HT: 11Alive.com))
Who knew that you could coordinate the arrival of the NFL owners, the commissioner, and a bunch of politicos to wear shiny helmets and dig into a make-shift dirt box to have a ceremonial dirt-moving...???
Who knew, right...???
That stuff NEVER happens...
An amazing batch of coordination came together for an official ground-breaking for ground that had already been broken.
Here's Kevin Rowson at the soon-to-be old home of the Falcons where the owner and the important people had their moment...
The HQ admits it will be interesting to see if the new Falcons barn gets any consideration for the Roman Numeral Classic- considering the stigma the city and stadium still have from the last visit.
Why does this feel like an IOC pitch meeting from this moment forward...???
Showing posts with label Kasim Reed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kasim Reed. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2014
Friday, December 20, 2013
Atlanta Deputy COO Suspended For Anti-Braves E-Mail
((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))
This is not how to endear yourself to a professional sports franchise...
It was announced recently that the Atlanta Braves were moving to the suburbs- a sore spot for the government of the City of Atlanta, for sure, but Atlanta Deputy COO Hans Utz floated an e-mail slapping the franchise...
It read in part:
"They are not going to be calling themselves the Cobb Crackers or Smyrna (expletive deleted). They will be the Atlanta Braves and that's an indication of the value of the city..."
Yeah...
That went over well...
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5
Utz was suspended for 3 days without pay this week...
Mayor Kasim Reed responded publicly to 11Alive-WXIA reporter Paul Crawley
This is not how to endear yourself to a professional sports franchise...
It was announced recently that the Atlanta Braves were moving to the suburbs- a sore spot for the government of the City of Atlanta, for sure, but Atlanta Deputy COO Hans Utz floated an e-mail slapping the franchise...
It read in part:
"They are not going to be calling themselves the Cobb Crackers or Smyrna (expletive deleted). They will be the Atlanta Braves and that's an indication of the value of the city..."
Yeah...
That went over well...
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5
Utz was suspended for 3 days without pay this week...
Mayor Kasim Reed responded publicly to 11Alive-WXIA reporter Paul Crawley
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Surprising No One: Braves New Suitors Approve Deal
((HT: 11Alive))
The Braves are moving to the suburbs and this was the next phase in the shoe-horning of the process...
Not really surprising anyone, though...
The Cobb County (GA) Commission approved the deal that has too many holes and too many elements in flux...
But, what the heck...
After it was done, the standard statement was released by the Fulton County Commission Chairman along with Atlanta City Council members, Atlanta Central Progress, and the Atlanta Fulton County Recreational Authority- all aggrieved by the move and disappointed by the proceedings: Ever since our county received the disappointing news that the Atlanta Braves plan to move out of Fulton County at the conclusion of the 2016 season, Fulton County Commissioners and Atlanta City Council members have expressed a desire to keep the team here in Atlanta. Tonight's vote by commissioners in Cobb County agreeing to move ahead with efforts to bring the team there are certainly a disappointment , but political and economic leaders in Fulton County still believe the Braves could and should have a viable future in Atlanta. We understand the team's concerns about economic development in the area surrounding Turner Field. We believe there are still solutions civic and business leaders could pursue in conjunction with the ball club to keep the team as a thriving part of our community. We hope to have a dialogue with the team to make that case. The Atlanta Braves are a proud symbol of a great city and we still hope to keep them in Atlanta.
The traffic issues are still bad BEFORE construction and a move was considered...
So, what now...???
The Braves are moving to the suburbs and this was the next phase in the shoe-horning of the process...
Not really surprising anyone, though...
The Cobb County (GA) Commission approved the deal that has too many holes and too many elements in flux...
But, what the heck...
After it was done, the standard statement was released by the Fulton County Commission Chairman along with Atlanta City Council members, Atlanta Central Progress, and the Atlanta Fulton County Recreational Authority- all aggrieved by the move and disappointed by the proceedings: Ever since our county received the disappointing news that the Atlanta Braves plan to move out of Fulton County at the conclusion of the 2016 season, Fulton County Commissioners and Atlanta City Council members have expressed a desire to keep the team here in Atlanta. Tonight's vote by commissioners in Cobb County agreeing to move ahead with efforts to bring the team there are certainly a disappointment , but political and economic leaders in Fulton County still believe the Braves could and should have a viable future in Atlanta. We understand the team's concerns about economic development in the area surrounding Turner Field. We believe there are still solutions civic and business leaders could pursue in conjunction with the ball club to keep the team as a thriving part of our community. We hope to have a dialogue with the team to make that case. The Atlanta Braves are a proud symbol of a great city and we still hope to keep them in Atlanta.
The traffic issues are still bad BEFORE construction and a move was considered...
So, what now...???
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Braves To The Burbs: Now, We Think We Know The Numbers...Until They Change...
The new Braves project is supposed to cost $672-million, the Braves would foot $372-million of that...
So, it's a 55-45 split...
The lease is set for 30 years with an option for 5 more- that would take things through the 2051 season
From Cobb County's perspective, $14 million would be for transit improvements, $10 million would come from the Cumberland Community Improvement District and $276 million from the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibition Hall Authority.
It's the Braves barn to use as they see fit, and they can let folks use it if they give permission...
Here's the breakdown of the agreement between Cobb County and the Braves...
There will be taxes that will be added or restructured to make this go down right (if you're Cobb) in hotels, rental cars (which is interesting since there is no transportation hub to do it, unless you call a "mall" a transportation hub), and business property rates.
But this also may introduce some kind of rail system to alleviate traffic that is already there and will only increase once the project undergoes construction...something the county has steadfastly voted against in the past...
Reps from the Braves met with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed on the move...
Deal is just calling himself an "interested observer..." and will not earmark or allocate any kind of dollars toward the new stadium...
Here's his recap of the meeting...
((HT: WSB-TV))
So, it's a 55-45 split...
The lease is set for 30 years with an option for 5 more- that would take things through the 2051 season
From Cobb County's perspective, $14 million would be for transit improvements, $10 million would come from the Cumberland Community Improvement District and $276 million from the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibition Hall Authority.
It's the Braves barn to use as they see fit, and they can let folks use it if they give permission...
Here's the breakdown of the agreement between Cobb County and the Braves...
There will be taxes that will be added or restructured to make this go down right (if you're Cobb) in hotels, rental cars (which is interesting since there is no transportation hub to do it, unless you call a "mall" a transportation hub), and business property rates.
But this also may introduce some kind of rail system to alleviate traffic that is already there and will only increase once the project undergoes construction...something the county has steadfastly voted against in the past...
Reps from the Braves met with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed on the move...
Deal is just calling himself an "interested observer..." and will not earmark or allocate any kind of dollars toward the new stadium...
Here's his recap of the meeting...
((HT: WSB-TV))
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
CONTINUING: Braves To The Burbs... Atlanta Plans To Blow Up Turner Field
((HT: WSB-TV))
So, that's the plan...
Which, really, isn't much of a plan...
After the AJC's Doug Roberson floated the idea that Georgia State University could have signed on to be the new Turner Field tenant, the city of Atlanta has decided (for now) to raze Turner Field after the Braves decide to move to the suburbs come 2017...
And turn them into middle class homes...
Mayor Kasim Reed, at his inquisition this morning, decided to say that he wasn't going to stick the city of Atlanta taxpayer with the price tag for a new Braves barn (but he'll be more than happy to do that with his new Falcons stadium...)
Here's Reed's Q-And-A on the Day After...
So, that's the plan...
Which, really, isn't much of a plan...
After the AJC's Doug Roberson floated the idea that Georgia State University could have signed on to be the new Turner Field tenant, the city of Atlanta has decided (for now) to raze Turner Field after the Braves decide to move to the suburbs come 2017...
And turn them into middle class homes...
Mayor Kasim Reed, at his inquisition this morning, decided to say that he wasn't going to stick the city of Atlanta taxpayer with the price tag for a new Braves barn (but he'll be more than happy to do that with his new Falcons stadium...)
Here's Reed's Q-And-A on the Day After...
Monday, November 11, 2013
CONTINUING: Braves To The Burbs, Where's The Money Coming From...??? Misplaced Priorities...???
((HT: WSB-TV))
A few points of thought...
The HQ would like to know where the money is EXACTLY coming from for the new Suburban Palace...
Since...
A) Cobb County, Brother Phil's abode of choice, has been laying off essential personnel like teachers and hasn't given them raises in the last decade. Schools have had to lay off teachers in situations of tenure (or a lack thereof)...
One high school in particular as an example- Allatoona High School (a new school in the county)- had to lay off coaches in their football program in 2010- and had to wait months for a budget reorganization to reinstate the coaches that were lacking in tenure after the fiscal year started.
So, the longer version of that same story...
New school has no teachers with tenure...
Therefore, they're the first ones laid off by the letter of the law...
New school is, then, rendered temporarily useless by the expansion of the county and the budget shortfalls created by the government that created the school in the first place...
This is the county government in charge of the new Braves facility...
And, B) The idea that the county contribution to the new Braves facility is a tax, but isn't really a tax in name only...
But won't be voted on before any kind of open forum will be vetted...
Make sense...???
Here's continuing coverage of the fallout even as the Mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed has both thrown in the towel and not given up...
The larger question is... since Reed threw all his chips in over the Falcons deal, how does he plan on keeping both...???
A few points of thought...
The HQ would like to know where the money is EXACTLY coming from for the new Suburban Palace...
Since...
A) Cobb County, Brother Phil's abode of choice, has been laying off essential personnel like teachers and hasn't given them raises in the last decade. Schools have had to lay off teachers in situations of tenure (or a lack thereof)...
One high school in particular as an example- Allatoona High School (a new school in the county)- had to lay off coaches in their football program in 2010- and had to wait months for a budget reorganization to reinstate the coaches that were lacking in tenure after the fiscal year started.
So, the longer version of that same story...
New school has no teachers with tenure...
Therefore, they're the first ones laid off by the letter of the law...
New school is, then, rendered temporarily useless by the expansion of the county and the budget shortfalls created by the government that created the school in the first place...
This is the county government in charge of the new Braves facility...
And, B) The idea that the county contribution to the new Braves facility is a tax, but isn't really a tax in name only...
But won't be voted on before any kind of open forum will be vetted...
Make sense...???
Here's continuing coverage of the fallout even as the Mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed has both thrown in the towel and not given up...
The larger question is... since Reed threw all his chips in over the Falcons deal, how does he plan on keeping both...???
Bomb Dropped: Braves Leaving Atlanta After 2016
For the suburbs...
The Braves' lease at Turner Field expires after the 2016 season, so the Braves are leaving for the northwest part of the city limits and will anchor a 60-acre mixed-use development...
As John Schuerholz reminded anyone willing to listen, there are reasons- all financial…
((HT: WSB-TV))
The team is set to meet with Governor Nathan Deal to discuss their plans... and there is no set time to talk to Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed about their plans...
Especially, since he seems to be talking to the Falcons and only the Falcons about their plans these days...
In Schuerholz's statement regarding access to the ballpark will be greatly improved with the new location of the ballpark. A majority of Braves fans who buy tickets to a game reside in the northern suburbs.
The team now has a website: homeofthebraves.com which explains "Some" of the details...
"And, Good Morning to you, too..."
More when we know more…
We know more--
The new stadium, projected to cost $670-plus million with $200 million coming from the Braves, the rest it appears will come from the citizens of Cobb County.
The location of the stadium, a somewhat hilly swath of land bordering an office park and an interstate highway. But the location also offers the team the ability to build a mixed used development next door, which many believe to be the true motivation for all of this.
Braves executive Derek Schiller says the new facility, slated to open at the beginning of the 2017 season, would seat 41 or 42,000 fans.
In a Monday morning press conference, Schiller and team President John Schuerholz also added that in order to do what they termed "Necessary" work to Turner Field, it would cost the team nearly $150 million in infrastructure work, work on a stadium they lease, not own.
And for those who say--"But they won't be in Atlanta anymore", well, actually they are. The location sits in the 30339 area code, which technically harbors an Atlanta mailing address.
WXIA-TV gives us more TV details:
The Braves' lease at Turner Field expires after the 2016 season, so the Braves are leaving for the northwest part of the city limits and will anchor a 60-acre mixed-use development...
As John Schuerholz reminded anyone willing to listen, there are reasons- all financial…
((HT: WSB-TV))
The team is set to meet with Governor Nathan Deal to discuss their plans... and there is no set time to talk to Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed about their plans...
Especially, since he seems to be talking to the Falcons and only the Falcons about their plans these days...
In Schuerholz's statement regarding access to the ballpark will be greatly improved with the new location of the ballpark. A majority of Braves fans who buy tickets to a game reside in the northern suburbs.
The team now has a website: homeofthebraves.com which explains "Some" of the details...
 |
| Map of who buys tickets to Atlanta Braves games |
"And, Good Morning to you, too..."
More when we know more…
We know more--
The new stadium, projected to cost $670-plus million with $200 million coming from the Braves, the rest it appears will come from the citizens of Cobb County.
The location of the stadium, a somewhat hilly swath of land bordering an office park and an interstate highway. But the location also offers the team the ability to build a mixed used development next door, which many believe to be the true motivation for all of this.
Braves executive Derek Schiller says the new facility, slated to open at the beginning of the 2017 season, would seat 41 or 42,000 fans.
In a Monday morning press conference, Schiller and team President John Schuerholz also added that in order to do what they termed "Necessary" work to Turner Field, it would cost the team nearly $150 million in infrastructure work, work on a stadium they lease, not own.
And for those who say--"But they won't be in Atlanta anymore", well, actually they are. The location sits in the 30339 area code, which technically harbors an Atlanta mailing address.
WXIA-TV gives us more TV details:
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Church Takes 8 Figures To Move For New Falcons Stadium
((HT: 11Alive.com))
It took $14.5-million and a 116-16 vote by the congregation, but it appears that the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church is taking the money and allowing the Falcons to move onto their space...
Here's the explanation:
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed let this statement out and was positive towards Mt. Vernon Reverend Rodney Turner "I am pleased that the congregation of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was able to vote on this important matter. The decision tonight ensures that the Atlanta Falcons can continue pursuing their goal of building a best-in-class sports facility that will also expand economic development not only in the city, but also in the surrounding neighborhoods. This step forward also will allow this historic church to relocate and continue to serve its congregation and our community."
Mt. Vernon and Friendship Baptist are the two churches in the southern end of the territory that is requested to build the new Falcons facility. The city of Atlanta and the Falcons have been the two groups putting money in the kitty. Mayor Reed has said that no taxpayer dollars are going to help pay for the new facility.
So, then, where does the city money come from if not from taxpayers in one way or another...???
It took $14.5-million and a 116-16 vote by the congregation, but it appears that the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church is taking the money and allowing the Falcons to move onto their space...
Here's the explanation:
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed let this statement out and was positive towards Mt. Vernon Reverend Rodney Turner "I am pleased that the congregation of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church was able to vote on this important matter. The decision tonight ensures that the Atlanta Falcons can continue pursuing their goal of building a best-in-class sports facility that will also expand economic development not only in the city, but also in the surrounding neighborhoods. This step forward also will allow this historic church to relocate and continue to serve its congregation and our community."
Mt. Vernon and Friendship Baptist are the two churches in the southern end of the territory that is requested to build the new Falcons facility. The city of Atlanta and the Falcons have been the two groups putting money in the kitty. Mayor Reed has said that no taxpayer dollars are going to help pay for the new facility.
So, then, where does the city money come from if not from taxpayers in one way or another...???
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Falcons New Stadium Site Down To One Idea
((HT: WSB-TV/AJC, Tucker))
Tim Tucker has been on top of this whole "the Atlanta Falcons need a new stadium thing..." and it has reached another stage...
The idea of the Atlanta Falcons new stadium (known here at HQ as the "Blank Tank" until further notice) is down to one site- until further notice...
The team had two sights under the looking glass- one south of the current Georgia Dome site that is developments and churches currently and one north of the Georgia Dome site that is RV parking lots and razed low-income apartments that now look like overgrown grass and concrete.
Now it appears that the southern site is out of play because not enough due diligence has been done and the property needed to start clearing land for construction that hasn't been acquired.
Oops...
Now, the northern site is in the cross hairs and it's time to see whether or not the city and the Falcons will make a point to get everything picked up and sorted out- or if they'll kick the tires on this site as well...
Until the political climate changes or political pressure mixes with pressure from the Falcons to do your damage or get off the toilet...
Here's the latest...
Two historical Atlanta churches were also supposedly raising an A-plus stink over what their perceived values was for reimbursement for their move at the center of the south site. The August 1st deadline is too close for anything to happen.
Now, the parking lots and razed housing projects will be getting their soil samples and similar tire kicking until further notice...
Tim Tucker has been on top of this whole "the Atlanta Falcons need a new stadium thing..." and it has reached another stage...
The idea of the Atlanta Falcons new stadium (known here at HQ as the "Blank Tank" until further notice) is down to one site- until further notice...
The team had two sights under the looking glass- one south of the current Georgia Dome site that is developments and churches currently and one north of the Georgia Dome site that is RV parking lots and razed low-income apartments that now look like overgrown grass and concrete.
Now it appears that the southern site is out of play because not enough due diligence has been done and the property needed to start clearing land for construction that hasn't been acquired.
Oops...
Now, the northern site is in the cross hairs and it's time to see whether or not the city and the Falcons will make a point to get everything picked up and sorted out- or if they'll kick the tires on this site as well...
Until the political climate changes or political pressure mixes with pressure from the Falcons to do your damage or get off the toilet...
Here's the latest...
Two historical Atlanta churches were also supposedly raising an A-plus stink over what their perceived values was for reimbursement for their move at the center of the south site. The August 1st deadline is too close for anything to happen.
Now, the parking lots and razed housing projects will be getting their soil samples and similar tire kicking until further notice...
Monday, March 18, 2013
DEVELOPING: Atlanta City Council Approves Stadium Vote
((HT: My Fox Atlanta))
Not that this is a surprise or anything...
The Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 to approve the amended resolution authorizing the "extension and use of the hotel-motel tax to partially fund the new stadium."
Council members Kwanza Hall, Alex Wan, Howard Shook and Felicia Moore voted against. The new facility, complete with a retractable roof, is expected to cost $1 billion. Of that total price tag, $200 million will be funded by hotel-motel tax revenue.
Two churches will need to be moved to make way for the Blank Tank- and negotiations will start sometime in the near future. The HQ hears that the two "are open to listening to the Falcons."
Translation: "Pay the man..."
Here's the latest...
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5
The Tank is scheduled to be open for the 2017 Falcons season...
Not that this is a surprise or anything...
The Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 to approve the amended resolution authorizing the "extension and use of the hotel-motel tax to partially fund the new stadium."
Council members Kwanza Hall, Alex Wan, Howard Shook and Felicia Moore voted against. The new facility, complete with a retractable roof, is expected to cost $1 billion. Of that total price tag, $200 million will be funded by hotel-motel tax revenue.
Two churches will need to be moved to make way for the Blank Tank- and negotiations will start sometime in the near future. The HQ hears that the two "are open to listening to the Falcons."
Translation: "Pay the man..."
Here's the latest...
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5
The Tank is scheduled to be open for the 2017 Falcons season...
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