LA wants Falcons

[Jesus]

What would the team change their name too?
Los Angeles Falcons doesnt sound right.

The question is....would you still be a fan?

[juraitwaluzka]

(01-29-2013 11:28 PM)Jesus Wrote:  What would the team change their name too?
Los Angeles Falcons doesnt sound right.

The question is....would you still be a fan?

I always thought it would have been funny to have the Tennessee Oilers or the Baltimore Browns. In the NBA you have the Utah Jazz, because as you know Utah is a Mecca for the jazz greats. LA Lakers I'd kind of stupid too, made much more sense in Minnesota..

I would be devastated if the Falcons left. I was born then at six months of age my Dad had me at Fulton County for the first ever home game. I don't know how I could be more connected unless I actually worked for the team. I honestly don't know what I would do. I wouldn't feel like they were "my team" anymore. It just might lead to a sports death for me.

Good thing that's not gonna happen!

[nativefalcon]

(01-29-2013 09:17 AM)RFlagg Wrote:  Sounds to me like Blank is trying to get leverage over the city, which isn't a bad move really. I think it would take an incredible breakdown of negotiations for this move to even be remotely possible.

Its the same bullshit, Rankin Smith did to the city of Atlanta, which, to tell you the truth I'm on Arthurs side, I don't think he will move the falcons he has the best training camp of all 32 teams. If you don't think he can find a county like Gwinnett or somebody that has that kind of land, where he will dump 700 million and build the arena he wants to build, without the retractable roof and all. The city of Atlanta wanted the retractable roof and added the 300 million to it. Arthur will be like Jerry Jones and move it on the outskirts of Atlanta, he is number 32 of how much he makes, Jerry, the eagles and the redskins, their all in the top 3, because they own the arena. The bad guys, are the world congress center and I agree, with Arthur, fuck them, they can keep their GA dome and have their games there. But the Atlanta falcons will have their own arena for them and the GA world congress center and take a flying leap. They are trying so badly to keep the money in their hands and if I was Arthur too, I would say fuck you, How many jobs, this means, one GA county is going to be in heaven, when suddenly your going to get a 700 million dollar development that's going to add a 1000 jobs. Read Mark Bradleys article. The falcons aren't going anywhere, except outside the perimeter. Dallas in in Arlington, you have to drive a hour to get the Patriots arena. The city of Atlanta is fucked. they should have sold him the land. beureaucratic assholes.

http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/mark-bradley/...g-atlanta/

Why the Atlanta Falcons won't be leaving Atlanta
Georgia Dome

Jason Getz

The Dome might not be around much longer, but the Falcons will be.

By Mark Bradley

Is there a chance the Falcons would leave Atlanta if they don’t get their new stadium? Sure. Only a fool would say otherwise. But the same fool who believed the Falcons would beat the 49ers by 10 points feels compelled to levy odds on the likelihood of the Falcons’ departure.

The line on leaving: 1,000-to-1.

The belief here is that the Falcons will have their stadium, even if there seems – in my mind and apparently in the minds of others – no pressing need. They want it, and eventually they’ll get it. They might not get exactly what they want when/where they want it, but in the end they’ll be placated.

Some elected officials, including Gov. Nathan Deal and assorted state legislators, aren’t keen on supporting the granting of public funds beyond the existing ceiling ($200 million) of the hotel/motel tax to a private business. This makes political sense in most any economic climate, and it makes particular sense in this one. What representative from Brunswick or Blue Ridge wants to face constituents wearing a campaign sign that says, “I backed the billionaire?”

At the same time, it would look awful for this city to lose yet another professional franchise, especially one that doesn’t play a sport of greatest interest to Canadians. Mayor Kasim Reed is on record as saying he doesn’t want to be remembered as the man who lost the Falcons, and Fox5 Atlanta reported Tuesday that Reed has told city council members that Los Angeles, without an NFL franchise for nearly two decades, would have interest in the Falcons.

On Wednesday, Reed went on 790 The Zone and confirmed the briefing. He also said the Dome will soon need as much as $350 million in upgrades and that the building, while “visually appealing,” isn’t “in the shape people believe it is.” The mayor also acknowledged that the city of Atlanta “may need to use its credit facilities to help facilitate the building of a stadium.”

For those not keeping score at home, here’s the rundown: The Falcons want a new stadium and have said they will not renew their Dome lease when it expires near the end of decade; the state is willing to help but only up to a point, and the mayor is determined to keep the Falcons downtown. Remember that last bit above all.

After the structure of a new stadium deal was approved by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority last month, Falcons president Rich McKay was asked what would happen if these plans fell through. Would the team consider leaving Atlanta? He said it would not. But, as we’re constantly reminded, not every part of what we consider Atlanta is technically Atlanta.

If the Falcons don’t get a new stadium downtown, Arthur Blank isn’t apt to go looking in Los Angeles County. He might, however, go hunting in Cobb or Gwinnett or Hall County. They would remain the Atlanta Falcons, but they wouldn’t be the city of Atlanta’s Falcons. If you’re the mayor of Atlanta, that’s a scary thought.

Reed on 790 The Zone: “Cities that play these games end up on the losing end of the stick more often than not. The Dallas Cowboys do not play football in Dallas. (They play in Arlington.) The same thing now with the San Francisco 49ers. (They’re moving to Santa Clara.) It would not be a healthy thing for the Falcons not to play in the city of Atlanta.”

Reed stressed that the Falcons have made no threats about leaving. There’s no need. That’s always the unspoken – OK, sometimes it’s spoken – part of stadium-building. The governing bodies might be in charge of taxes and bonds and infrastructure, but the franchise for playing NFL football belongs to an individual.

Robert Irsay didn’t get what he wanted and Mayflower’ed the Colts out of Baltimore on a snowy night. Art Modell ripped the Browns from a broken-hearted Cleveland. To say it couldn’t happen here would be naïve. At the same time, it's not apt to happen here. Too many big wheels want this new stadium to be built downtown for it not to happen.

There will be public resistance over the need to use public funds of any sort, and there will be ticketholder resistance over the personal seat licenses that are sure to come, but that’s expected. Of greater significance is that negotiations between the various parties have reached the stage where the haggling isn’t over the idea but its implementation.

Nobody really wants the Falcons to leave the area, the Falcons included. Real issues remain, but the notion of this team alighting in L.A. isn’t among them.

[Jesus]

300 million for a stadium that will lead to millions in super bowl revenue as well as more bowl games etc seems like a bargain to me.

[Drathdon]

^
This. Add that it comes from a Hotel tax many locals will never feel, and it's an insane bargain!

[Beef]

You gotta understand that Atlanta city council is one of the most corrupt pieces of shit in the nation and the only reason they are stalling the deal is because they are trying everything possible to line their pockets from this deal some how. If they stall, there's a bigger chance they will get offered more money under the table to finally put their stamp of approval on it.

Trust me, every city council member is going to make a couple million under the table on this thing. Reed and Deal have probably already been paid ass tons of cash. It's why they're already so heavily on the bandwagon. It's a win-win for them at this point. They get paid AND they look like they actually care about the city. The council, on the other hand, they're just trying to maximize their bribes. If they give in too soon, they're likely throwing money away.

Don't worry. When this is at the 11th hour, they'll approve it. They know it's ultimately a cash-cow and great for the city's economy in the long-run.

[phocis850]

(01-30-2013 01:14 AM)Beef Wrote:  You gotta understand that Atlanta city council is one of the most corrupt pieces of shit in the nation and the only reason they are stalling the deal is because they are trying everything possible to line their pockets from this deal some how. If they stall, there's a bigger chance they will get offered more money under the table to finally put their stamp of approval on it.

Trust me, every city council member is going to make a couple million under the table on this thing. Reed and Deal have probably already been paid ass tons of cash. It's why they're already so heavily on the bandwagon. It's a win-win for them at this point. They get paid AND they look like they actually care about the city. The council, on the other hand, they're just trying to maximize their bribes. If they give in too soon, they're likely throwing money away.

Don't worry. When this is at the 11th hour, they'll approve it. They know it's ultimately a cash-cow and great for the city's economy in the long-run.

Where's your proof? You sound like Guido.

Theoretical, yes, probable, yes, proof, no.

[Aftermath]

(01-30-2013 01:14 AM)Beef Wrote:  You gotta understand that Atlanta city council is one of the most corrupt pieces of shit in the nation and the only reason they are stalling the deal is because they are trying everything possible to line their pockets from this deal some how. If they stall, there's a bigger chance they will get offered more money under the table to finally put their stamp of approval on it.

Trust me, every city council member is going to make a couple million under the table on this thing. Reed and Deal have probably already been paid ass tons of cash. It's why they're already so heavily on the bandwagon. It's a win-win for them at this point. They get paid AND they look like they actually care about the city. The council, on the other hand, they're just trying to maximize their bribes. If they give in too soon, they're likely throwing money away.

Don't worry. When this is at the 11th hour, they'll approve it. They know it's ultimately a cash-cow and great for the city's economy in the long-run.

I was under the impression that Deal didn't want anything to do with a new stadium.