GM Assembly Plant Could Be Target For Future Falcons Stadium

Proposal Would Use 90 Acres Of Former GM Assembly Plant For New Falcons Stadium

A developer negotiating to buy a former General Motors assembly plant in Doraville, Georgia, is “floating the idea of building a stadium for the Falcons" at the site, according to Duffy & Hunt of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. St. Petersburg-based The Sembler Co. has proposed using 90 acres for the stadium, with the remaining 75 acres on the site going to mixed-use development, according to city documents. The stadium could have a retractable roof and cost approximately $1B. Doraville Mayor Ray Jenkins: “It is a possibility, but we don’t know yet what it will be. It’s an excellent spot for anything.” Falcons President Rich McKay: “Sembler and a number of developers contacted us many months back when GM put the site up for sale. I guess one of the concepts being floated by Sembler was a stadium development. We have had preliminary discussions with them.” The Falcons play at the 16-year-old Georgia Dome, and team Owner Arthur Blank has said that he "wants a new stadium when the bonds sold to build the Dome are paid off," which likely will be around 2015-20. McKay said that the team’s lease of the state-owned Georgia Dome "expires in 2020 or when the bonds are paid off." No deal is expected soon. GM "wanted to sell the property by the end of the year but talks have stalled" because of the current financial crisis (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/25).