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Truist Park

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New Atlanta Braves stadium
Map
LocationCobb County, Georgia
Capacity41,000–42,000
Surfacegrass
Construction
Opened2017 (planned)
ArchitectHKS, Inc.
Tenants
Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball will move to a new stadium in Cobb County, Georgia, for the 2017 season. Their lease at Turner Field expires at the end of the 2016 season.

Background

Turner Field has been the home of the Atlanta Braves since 1997. It was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Summer Olympics, then reconstructed as a baseball-only stadium for the 1997 baseball season. The stadium is operated by the Braves, who lease it from the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority. According to Braves team president John Schuerholz, Turner Field requires $150 million in renovation costs merely for structural upkeep (i.e., not for fan experience improvements). He estimated that fan improvement renovations would cost an additional $200 million.[1]

Braves executives have also complained that Turner Field's downtown location restricts game attendance because of traffic into the city and a shortage of on-site parking. The stadium is three-quarters of a mile from the nearest Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) stop, and many fans were unwilling to brave Atlanta's infamous congestion to attend games.[1] In addition, team VP for business operations Mike Plant said the site "doesn't match up with where the majority of our fans come from."[2] Plant also said that while the Braves operate Turner Field, they have no control over the the commercial development around the stadium. Other stadiums built in recent years have been accompanied by shopping and entertainment facilities in the surrounding area.[3]

The Braves were in talks in 2013 with the Atlanta Fulton County Recreational Authority over extending the team's original lease, Plant said, but those talks broke down. Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed said the city could not afford to support the kind of renovations the Braves desired.[3]

New stadium plans

Instead of going through with renovations, the Braves announced on November 11, 2013, that they would vacate Turner Field for a stadium to be built in Cobb County, Georgia, in the northwest suburbs outside of Atlanta, following the expiration of their lease at Turner Field, which runs through the 2016 season.[1] The stadium will be built off of the exchange between Interstate 75 and Interstate 285.[4] The stadium will be open air. Braves officials anticipate a capacity between 41,000 and 42,000,[1] which is approximately 8,000 less than Turner Field.[5] The team said it plans to sell the naming rights to the facility.[1]

The Braves say the new stadium will be "near the geographic center of the Braves' fan base."[6]

The new stadium will be constructed in a public/private partnership.[7] The projected cost is $672 million.[1] It will occupy 15 acres (6.1 ha) of a 60-acre (24 ha) lot, with the remainder of the space devoted to parking, green space, and mixed-use development.[1] Although Cobb County is not presently served by MARTA, the Braves plan to use a "circulator" bus system to shuttle fans to and from the stadium.[3]

The team estimates construction will begin in the second half of 2014.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Braves plan to build new stadium in Cobb". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  2. ^ Galloway, Jim (November 14, 2012). "Watching the Falcons stadium debate, the Braves pursue something different". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Henry, George (November 11, 2013). "Braves Planning New Suburban Stadium in 2017". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  4. ^ "Atlanta Braves announce plans to move to new stadium". USA Today. April 15, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  5. ^ "Turner Field / Atlanta Braves". Ballpark Digest. April 18, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  6. ^ "Home of the Braves » Overview". Home of the Braves. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  7. ^ "The Braves are leaving Turner Field after the 2016 season". NBCSports.com. November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  8. ^ "Braves leaving Turner Field, building new stadium in Cobb Co". Fox 5 Atlanta. November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
Preceded by Home of the
Atlanta Braves
in 2017 		Succeeded by
Future
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