Interesting note from the article on Blank in today's AJC. • On possibly adding another sports team to his holdings, which include the Falcons and Arena Football League's Georgia Force: Blank said he is "actively looking at" bringing a Major League Soccer expansion team to Atlanta. He described it as "in the exploratory stage" and said the team would need a soccer-specific stadium. "We're out looking at stadium sites right now ... in a variety of places," he said. Doesn't sound as if it is particularly soon but my guess would be in around 5 years.
Here's another try at the link, I had a little trouble with it but no big deal. http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2008/02/01/blank_0203.html?cxntlid=h Blank appears to be your I/O, if he can only find some land, that'll reduce your time table on getting a team greatly. I always thought Silverbacks Park could be expanded to accomodate an MLS team but I suppose that didn't pan out. Hey at least theres still hope for you guys on getting a team. On an NSR note, I can't believe the Georgia Dome is already on borrowed time. I remember when it opened and how excited ex Falcons coach Jerry Glanville was on having his new House of Pain, how time flies.
Very positive news. I wish Mr. Blank all of the luck in the world on this. The Falcons recent problems may, not a definte, hurt some of his political and business capital in the very short run, but so it goes. Don't see it as a major issue in the long run as long as the Falcons do not continue to plunge to greater depths of despair. One thing to brace your self for: I can see the advodcacy for the new Falcons stadium being tied to the MLS franchise. I know he said SSS, but that view point can change if he needs additional selling points/political capital for new Falcons stadium which will be priority number one. Not compaining, however. A franchise is a franchise.
It´s rather promising really...The way established franchise owners look at MLS means that it got sex appeal right now. As for Blank caring more about Falcons I guess we can´t condemn a man for looking after his bigger investments. I guess Paul Allen is more concerned about Seahawks, Kraft about Patriots, MLSE about Maple Leafs etc etc.
This is pretty substantial news. I do have reservations but its great to see him say what we all are hoping.
May not be workable, but Blank might want to consider looking at land in Roswell. The city still wants to redevelop the area where Charlie Brown wanted to build 24 story sky scrapers. It's right off 400, MARTA has already stated they are looking at building a stop in the area, and Blank could help fund major traffic improvements to the area which would win the city council's support. The main problem is the neighborhoods around. Not sure if they'd support a stadium. I'd support it because I love soccer and, selfishly, could walk to the stadium. If Blank looks at that land though he'd have to get a yes or no quickly from the city and residents and move on if no, otherwise we'd lose steam.
They might support just a stadium, but not a stadium and a smaller stadium and a bunch of fields. That's what killed the Atlanta Soccer Village. The Mansell Road area was the original target for the ASV, but it was turned down, as it was everywhere they tried. I would think that 400, if doable, would be a little more palatable than the Mall of Georgia area, distance-wise.
I think the best area for the stadium would be just South of the North Springs MARTA station around where 400 meets 285.
Blank is extremely well respected in Atlanta's political and business circle and I dont see how anyone would hold the Vick/Petrino fiascos against him. He's done a lot for the city and MLS is probably salivating at the idea of having him on board. Well connected billionaire owners are great for a league like MLS which is still in a growth phase and trying to court new sponsors.
There is a long road to travel from " I'm looking into it" to actually being able to buy the season tickets. We shall see.
Dude, here's this... "Falcons owner Arthur Blank promised an active off-season aimed at bolstering the Falcons' roster, predicted the team will get a new stadium and reiterated his goal of 'competing for a number of Super Bowls during my lifetime as principal owner." If this jackass wants a football stadium integreted with a soccer stadium, I hope he dies a painful death after letting Vick play all these years. That Vick dude is one sick mother f*cker.
It's not like Arthur Blank had anything to do with Vick's dogfighting or knew anything about it. Blank wants a new stadium for the Falcons around 2020. Blank does a ton of charitable/philanthropic stuff and see's building stadiums and starting franchises as a way of giving back to the community. Given that MLS stadiums are much smaller in size they are ideal for concerts and other events and I'm sure the city would love to have both.
With our economic climate we have in Georgia, I just don't see that happening for a very long time. Unless Blank pulls out a check for a SSS, then don't get your hopes up. It's just all talk, nothing more, nothing less. Wait until you have 'concrete evidence' (figuretively, not literal concrete of course) and then celebrate.
Are you kidding me? Gwinnett County is funding the AAA Braves new stadium with $12 million in taxes earmarked for "recreation" and will finance an additional $33 million with bonds that are repaid by tax revenue the new stadium will create. Just because the housing market is in the tank doesn't equate to a poor economic climate that would prevent a county from a stadium project that will create jobs and additional tax revenue for years to come. I imagine Blank would like three things with only the first being critical but atleast two being desired. 1) Land (location, location, location) 2) Gov't Bonds - Tax revenue created by stadium goes directly towards paying off bonds. 3) Gov't financed infrastructure improvements Probably our biggest advantage is Mr. Blanks MLS Staffer. The Atlanta Falcons VP of Marketing is Jim Smith. If you don't know that name think back to the days when the Columbus Crew was a force with Brian McBride leading the way. Jim Smith was the President/GM back in those days and was awarded MLS Executive of the year. We have an insider helping the cause. Maybe we should start a Jim Smith Thread???
Fields might help with convincing Roswell. Two stadiums may be overboard, and I'm not even sure the site could fit two stadiums, the necessary parking, and infrastructure improvements. I'd have to see a good map or overhead view of the area to know for sure, though. Kind of tough to judge by just driving around the road. If you don't know the area I mean, it is just east of 400 and Old Alabama is to the east of the site with Holcomb Bridge to the north of the site. I drove by there today and the area has a big hill and I could just picture a SSS at the top of the hill, it looked nice in my minds eye. If the south side of the stadium was open you could see the river and on a clear day downtown. I agree with 400 being a better location than Duluth/Mall of Georgia. My top three locations ideally would be: 1. Somewhere downtown, ideally near the GD, Centennial Park, GA, GWCC, ect. Centrally located and close to MARTA. 2. The 400 Corridor. The cities on the corridor want to bring people to their cities. A major league stadium could help. Ideally in between Buckhead and Alpharetta. Forsyth County may work, but could be pushing it distance wise. 3. Somewhere around 285. Access from anywhere in the city, but out of the way for some. I hear South Fulton has lots of open lands, but I'm not sure. Of course, anywhere Blank can build a stadium is better than no team at all.
Wow, I didn't know that. Very interesting. Maybe he is one of the reasons why Author is looking around at locations in Atlanta?
If you can find land in that area that isn't currently being used, and won't cost a fortune, let us know.
I think the biggest drawback with a stadium+fields is the traffic. People won't mind 15-20 Saturday evenings with extra traffic, but practically year-round, week in and week out, with practices, all-day games, and tournaments, that might end up being the deal-breaker. South Fulton would have the same problem that DMS/Hallford had; too far away from the bulk of the fanbase.
I am glad to hear that the Falcon executive management's mistakes (gross character misjudgement even as behavior evidencing poor character grows; behavior undermining organizational chain of command, etc) have not dented/impacted Blank's reputation within the political and business circles in Atlanta. Every business management team that has every existed makes mistakes large and small all the time. It's not the mistakes that are a problem, it is the management team's capability to refine and change their approach as they go that seperates excellent leadership/management from the run of the mill pack. I am very happy that Atlanta's business and political leadership is aware of this and has not engaged in the now days standard, politicized response of a zero-sum blame game. All of the above bodes well in terms of Mr. Blank's ability to successfully land an MLS team with an appropriate stadium in hotatlanta. Dixie Blue