Atlanta Braves To Leave Turner Field in 2016 or 2017.

[Mitchell]

www.ajc.com.

I was shocked to read this.. and simply put.. it is a disgrace..

The country is suffering.. and the Braves are abandoning a stadium that is less than 20 years old?

The article said Turner Field needs "Hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrades". My view.. do it. How can they just up and leave a stadium that is less than 20 years old?

Fulton County Stadium was 30 years old when the Braves built Turner Field and left that. Veterans Stadium was 33 years old when the Phillies left in 2003. Economic times were also different.

This new stadium is projected to cost $672 million.

A sorry commentary on the state of sports in our country.

Thoughts on the Braves leaving a stadium after being there only 20 years?

 

[kilitiinko1]

I hadn`t heard this,Mitchell. I agree,it DOES seem a bit soon to be needing a new ball park. If it does happen,it will be interesting to see who foots the bill.

 

[milagros317]

There is likely nothing wrong with Turner Field that a modest upgrade and some new luxury suites wouldn't fix. But they want a new stadium, likely demanding it to be built by the taxpayers of Fulton County. Not fair at all to people who never attend baseball games.

 

[Mitchell]

Agreed, guys.

My late mother spent most of her life in Queens, after being born in the Bronx. When she heard that the Mets and Yankees were getting new stadiums, she thought it unreal. Granted, Yankee Stadium was 86 years old when the Yankees left, but.. as baseball fans know, the Yankees played at Shea Stadium for 2 years in 1974 and 1975 while the old Yankee Stadium underwent refurbishment.

In the case of Shea Stadium.. it was only 45 years old when it closed in 2008. What I had started to say about my mother... She remembered when Shea was built, and thought it a waste that the Mets and NYC was going to tear down Shea.. Same held true when the Phillies left Veterans Stadium in 2003 after 32 seasons. If she knew of the Braves plans for a new stadium after only 20 years, she would be outraged.

Maybe the Braves felt left out.. They were the only NL East team that didn't have a new stadium in the last decade. Now. they will.

The next oldest stadium of NL East teams is Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, entering its.. GASP., 11th season next year. Wonder how long the Phillies will wait before demanding a new stadium.

 

[General Zod]

That team makes how many millions of dollars per year? But they probably want someone else to pay for the new stadium.

 

[Mitchell]

Agreed, Zod.

I might have read somewhere that the Braves will be "Funding the new stadium themselves". Not sure. Even if they are.. I'm sure some "Corporate tax breaks" will give them an advantage in some manner, shape or form.

 

[Mitchell]

The writers in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, where I've been a poster for several years, seemed stunned about the Braves move. The "PR reason" for the move, is supposedly not only the "improvements" needed for Turner Field.. but.. also.. because the Braves want to be closer to their "Cobb County fan base".

What BS: The Yankees have played in the Bronx for 90 years... Although George Steinbrenner talked about moving the team to the West Side of Manhattan, in the end, he ended up staying in the Bronx, which was the right move. The Mets did the same thing.. remained in the same place.

As I said before, while it cost a ton of money to construct both of those stadiums, (Close to $2 billion in cost for both in 2009 dollars) I could perhaps better understand it, because Shea Stadium and the original Yankee Stadium were much older and in worse shape than Turner Field.

In my mind, this is a complete waste of money, and disgrace. My bet on what will happen is exactly what the guy from WSB Atlanta said: They construct the new stadium, and implode a 20 year old ballpark. It will be a sorry day when that happens, no matter how "Beautiful" whatever the Braves new stadium is called is..

 

[Mitchell]

Another thing I don't understand.. although I know this is true in all the new stadiums now..

What exactly is the attraction of the new breed 40,000 odd seat stadium for MLB nowadays? Yankee Stadium is the largest of the newer ballparks, with just over 50,000. At one point, before the 70s renovation, Yankee seated 80,000, and even after, it was close to 60, 000. The Vet in Philly seated 62 or 63,000, and Citizens is just over 40,000. Same with the Mets.. Shea Stadium held about 57,000, and Citi Field only seats 43,000.

Turner Field currently seats over 50,000. The proposed new ballpark wont hold more than 41 or 42,000.

I seriously don't understand the whole thing,.. and apparently.. neither do the writers of the ajc.

 

[tklbd]

Don't know if this idea can be "shared" by other teams..when they decide it's time for "upgrades" or a new stadium, but............
Without getting into details or quoting financial reasons or funding issues...look at what has transpired with Angel's Stadium in Anaheim. It was originally built in the early 60's and sort of a smaller version of Dodger Stadium (just 20 min. away) Then when The L.A. Rams decided to flee the ancient L.A. Coliseum (in the 80's)..Anaheim Stadium was restructured and completely enclosed..to allow for the larger NFL crowds. Then "The Wicked Witch" decided to move them to St. Louis (in the 90's)!!! Finally a few years later, it was totally "opened" up again and reconfigured into a more "cozy" and "fan friendly" environment for baseball only!!! And all this on the same property..No move and no new stadium, elsewhere!!!
Unfortunately Mitch, maybe that's why the Braves are considering a new stadium, even though tearing down such a "new" facility would be idiotic!! (and I agree with you on that)...because possibly, the cost is nearly the same as if they reconfigured it?? And/or they are feeling "left out" because of all these new "little" ballparks??
I don't know, because I don't live there or follow them like you do. But I did live through the 1st "remodeling" of Anaheim Stadium and followed the 2nd. I used to live about 20 minutes from there..and attended many games, growing up. Even attended some huge, multi-act rock concerts there!!! (a couple during the 1st remodeling)
Just my thoughts. It may be sad..if they go through with it!!

 

[rdhd]

Well, the Falcons are getting a new stadium, so.... And from what I'm hearing on the news, the taxpayers in Cobb County will be footing most of the cost. Now who saw that coming? Also, they say that Phipps
Arena, where the Hawks play, is also coming up on 20 yrs old......

 

[ChristianeBothe]

at this point that teams earn so much so they are all able in putting money to raise their stadium on their own is quite right and i am full support