What was the stupidest thing the three Johns did?

[Julio3000]

The city of Atlanta should have built a MARTA fork out to Turner Field back when they were designing the Olympic stadium. It was poor urban planning and there's no excuse for it.

Come to think of it, as much as I love Atlanta, it is a pretty stark example of how sprawl can negatively impact/dislocate economic and cultural centers.

I think, ultimately, the Braves would have been better served to have really pushed for a MARTA line to Turner Field and then taken the Gold Lot/Hyundai parking lots and turned that space into the 'ballpark village' that they apparently view as this integral component to their middle-class revenue generating scheme out in Cobb.

I just don't like the move, almost purely from a community building perspective.

Yeah, all of this.

Poor leadership from the city, continued dumbassery for the folks who don't want a real mass-transit system, and lack of vision and leadership from the Braves organization . . . none of which is too surprising.

 

[zitothebrave]

Yeah, all of this.

Poor leadership from the city, continued dumbassery for the folks who don't want a real mass-transit system, and lack of vision and leadership from the Braves organization . . . none of which is too surprising.

BRaves dont' care about Atlanta. THey care about putting asses in seats and TV contracts. If moving puts asses in seats, they'll move. I do agree you'd like for them to be part of the community like sports teams used to be, but they're not. They're corporations who care about the bottom line.

 

[DirkPiggler]

I just don't get how it's the Braves responsibility to build up the community, especially when that community (city government) doesn't do jack to help them. From an outsider's perspective it seems like the city does more to help the Falcons and Hawks than it does for the Braves.

 

[smootness]

I just don't get how it's the Braves responsibility to build up the community, especially when that community (city government) doesn't do jack to help them. From an outsider's perspective it seems like the city does more to help the Falcons and Hawks than it does for the Braves.

Not only that, but how are they supposed to go about doing it?

Fans would crap themselves if Liberty took some of the budget and 'invested' into the community.

If you moved a baseball team to Atlanta, you wouldn't put it where Turner Field currently is. They took the location because they got the stadium for free. This is their chance to go where they want to go, so they're taking it.

If you're upset with someone for them leaving the city, it should overwhelmingly be the city itself, not the team.

 

[DirkPiggler]

Not only that, but how are they supposed to go about doing it?

Fans would crap themselves if Liberty took some of the budget and 'invested' into the community.

Again, I have no dog in the hunt as I don't live in the Atlanta area, but I want the Braves to play wherever it is most beneficial to the player payroll. If that is downtown Atlanta, Cobb County, Dahlonega, Birmingham, Tampa, wherever.

 

[yeezus]

Well, it definitely was not trading Heyward for Miller.

 

[Tapate50]

Well, it definitely was not trading Heyward for Miller.

Not many people have brought that up in this thread. I was surprised.

 

[thethe]

Not many people have brought that up in this thread. I was surprised.

If you were around in the offseason (which of course you were) you would have thought the greatest player of all time was traded for a bum.

 

[gilesfan]

I thought Gattis was the greatest player of all time.

 

[thethe]

I thought Gattis was the greatest player of all time.

No, but he was clealry a major leaguer when you laughed at some of us who suggested he was.

 

[Tapate50]

No, but he was clealry a major leaguer when you laughed at some of us who suggested he was.

TRUF

 

[gilesfan]

No, but he was clealry a major leaguer when you laughed at some of us who suggested he was.

I laughed that you suggested he was a full time starting catcher.

 

[thethe]

I laughed that you suggested he was a full time starting catcher.

First off, you laughed at more than just that but we know you like to change history when you are proven wrong.

Secondly, if Gattis were on another NL team that was ready to compete in the current year he would not have been traded and would be their catcher.

 

[BRule]

First off, you laughed at more than just that but we know you like to change history when you are proven wrong.

Secondly, if Gattis were on another NL team that was ready to compete in the current year he would not have been traded and would be their catcher.

Gattis isn't a catcher, stop.

 

[chipchildress]

The city of Atlanta should have built a MARTA fork out to Turner Field back when they were designing the Olympic stadium. It was poor urban planning and there's no excuse for it.

Come to think of it, as much as I love Atlanta, it is a pretty stark example of how sprawl can negatively impact/dislocate economic and cultural centers.

I think, ultimately, the Braves would have been better served to have really pushed for a MARTA line to Turner Field and then taken the Gold Lot/Hyundai parking lots and turned that space into the 'ballpark village' that they apparently view as this integral component to their middle-class revenue generating scheme out in Cobb.

I just don't like the move, almost purely from a community building perspective.

it's freaking criminal and yet so american at the same time.

 

[chipchildress]

I just don't get how it's the Braves responsibility to build up the community, especially when that community (city government) doesn't do jack to help them. From an outsider's perspective it seems like the city does more to help the Falcons and Hawks than it does for the Braves.

well the city did build a new football stadium downtown so they have big crowds coming in all of 10 days a year. talk about short sighted. decision making all around is beyond belief.

 

[chipchildress]

Not only that, but how are they supposed to go about doing it?

Fans would crap themselves if Liberty took some of the budget and 'invested' into the community.

If you moved a baseball team to Atlanta, you wouldn't put it where Turner Field currently is. They took the location because they got the stadium for free. This is their chance to go where they want to go, so they're taking it.

If you're upset with someone for them leaving the city, it should overwhelmingly be the city itself, not the team.

seriously? so every pro sports team has the right to hold their city hostage because their free 20 year old stadium isn't good enough? get the f out.

 

[Hawk]

Didn't it have to do with politics? I remember a certain city councilman had owned some land there by the TED but waz asking for too much from the city when they wanted to buy and build a line to Turner. Now it's just dead. Sucks too because rail access would've alleviated so much congestion for gamedays.

Savannah is facing a big traffic cluster **** In terms of traffic in the next 5 years. It already is facing major traffic issues in 6 important parts of the city and the county and city are doing nothing because of resentment to Atlanta DOT. And every t-splost has failed.

I remember that the AJC ran an interesting piece on the issue a few years ago but can't find it now. The political angle rings a bell, and makes more sense than most other scenarios. If the story you describe is true then I definitely hope that rat bastard is still hanging onto the property because it's going to be utterly worthless now.

 

[DirkPiggler]

well the city did build a new football stadium downtown so they have big crowds coming in all of 10 days a year. talk about short sighted. decision making all around is beyond belief.

It would have made sense for the city to have built the Braves a stadium downtown, somewhere accessible both by MARTA and foot traffic. An entertainment district/ ballpark village like they're building in Cobb County would have been good for the team and the city. Not sure how it would have affected attendance - building out north might still have been the better solution for ticket sales.

Granted I haven't spent significant time in the area in quite a few years, but it always seemed like the Braves were a much bigger deal to the sports fans in Atlanta metro than either the Hawks or Falcons. Maybe that was because the Braves were riding high at the time, and the Falcons and Hawks were generally bottom feeders.

 

[The Tariff King]

It would have made sense for the city to have built the Braves a stadium downtown, somewhere accessible both by MARTA and foot traffic. An entertainment district/ ballpark village like they're building in Cobb County would have been good for the team and the city. Not sure how it would have affected attendance - building out north might still have been the better solution for ticket sales.

Granted I haven't spent significant time in the area in quite a few years, but it always seemed like the Braves were a much bigger deal to the sports fans in Atlanta metro than either the Hawks or Falcons. Maybe that was because the Braves were riding high at the time, and the Falcons and Hawks were generally bottom feeders.

It would have just made sense for the city to build a rail that goes to the TED like the airport rather than build a new stadium...

Both the city and team are at fault on this IMO. Braves could've wagered a public battle with the city to get a MARTA rail built plus have htem sell the land to the team around the stadium so they could develop. That'd be a win win for everybody.