As a local, I'm thrilled. The biggest deterrent to Turner Field has always been the area around Turner Field. Speaking frankly, a good portion of the Braves season ticket base doesn't feel comfortable walking through some of the areas required to get to Turner Field. I just hope when the new "mixed use" area is installed around the new ballpark, they don't forget the tailgate space.
I just really hope this helps attendance. Living right by Philly, the location and ease of CBP is a huge advantage to fans. I can take 2 trains for about 25 min total and be dropped off right at the sports complex. There's a huge sports bar right across from all of the stadiums there. Even driving, it's extremely accessible from pretty much all surrounding areas. Hopefully this makes it easier for our fans to get there.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I've only visited Atlanta a couple of times to go to Braves games (I'm from NYC), but it didn't seem like anyone used the MARTA line besides inner city folks who couldn't afford to own a car or didn't need one. I know I'm making a generalization and I don't mean to offend anyone, but I take the NYC subway every single day and I notice a much wider demographic of people using it than I did on MARTA. I used MARTA over 10 times when I was down there.
As I said before, the only way I can see this working is if most of that space is for parking. If not, it's going to be awful. I literally live within walking distance of their proposed site, and I'm not sure if I'd brave it (no pun intended, ha) more than a few times a year unless they have a rock solid plan on how to ease traffic there.
Maybe this is why they've been pinching pennies the past few years.... I wonder what kind of renovations JS was talking about that would be that expensive. The stadium still looks nice to me.
Awesome! Hopefully this move will increase attendance and the overall atmosphere of the team. I see this being a very good move.
Most of Cobb County is gross; it's where you live if you are scared of cities and black people, but still want to trick people and tell them you live in Atlanta. Historically, it's where the Cherokee Nation was until we Trail of Tears'd them, so it's got that going for it. But this location is right on the perimeter, so it's not really all that far "outside" the city.
Part of the T-SPLOST that got voted down, if I recall correctly, was a rail line up I-75 right to this location. Even though that didn't pass, I would imagine that idea is still kicking around. And having the stadium there might kickstart that project back to life.
Taxpayers will surely be footing a good bit, and they will also surely be told that it will pay for itself in benefits, which will surely be false. Why don't we go see how much money Gwinnett made on their stadium...
There is plenty of parking at Turner Field. It just goes on and on... however trying to drive out of the area after the game can be hellacious. And MARTA and Turner Field have had problems from the get go; the best option has often been to get off the train and walk for a mile or two.
That said, I can't imagine how the proposed location will be any better for traffic/parking. Yeah, it's near a major junction, but so is Turner. It's even farther from any extant MARTA line, and the surrounding surface streets can't really handle that load, as currently constructed.
No question. If attendance increases as I expect it will, we may see the Braves become a large market team. Unless you are intimately familiar with the situation you have no idea how much of a positive impact this will have.
Only problem I have, I live in Western NC and my son lives in Peachtree City. It will be really difficult for me to justify buying the ticket packages I am used to.
White, suburban population centers have consistently opposed MARTA expanding to them because then the scary black people would come rob them*. That's why only inner city folks use it: it doesn't go to a bunch of places where people actually live. Where it goes, people actually use it. I grew up lily-white in Decatur, worked for years as a car-owner in Midtown, and used MARTA quite often.
*that may not be the verbatim reason given
Julio3000 (11-12-2013)
Not sure what all they want done except that one thing is an additional 5000 parking spaces that they've been trying to get for a few years now.
I wonder what will happen with the Ted for the next 3 years now? No incentive at all for Atlanta to take care of it and do any upgrades or maintenance. Then after 3 years what to do with it then?
Anyone else hoping they keep the Turner Field name? I'd hate for it to have a corporate handle.
Also hope they relocate Hank Aaron Drive.
As a landlord, the City is required to keep it in decent shape, though they clearly won't be doing any upgrades.
Unless there are hopes of a future olympic bid (which has been rumored), I can't imagine any solution other than tearing it down. It's not like the Gwinnett Braves will be moving south.
Personally, I think this sucks. Traffic will still be a bitch, public transit will be worse, and I'll have to go to Cobb *shudder*. The only real benefit is that Braves' fans won't have be terrified by the poor black people near the current stadium. Turner Field is still a very nice stadium. I'd rather the team spend that $200 mil on the team.
That's just me, though. I think a majority of fans probably live north of the city, so this will probably be an improvement for most people.
That area near Turner Field is extremely dangerous and one of the roughest areas in the entire south east. It is full of crime and drugs no place paying fans want to take the family. It's not even a safe place during the broad day light let alone for night games. I applaud the move but wish it were in a better location like say Gwinnett. Unfortunately the Gwinnett Braves are in the perfect location as it is only a couple of miles from the Mall of Georgia but Gwinnett is the richest county in Georgia.