Blank Eyeing New Locations For Potential Falcons Stadium

Falcons Owner Seeking A Replacement For 17-Year-Old Georgia Dome

Falcons Owner Arthur Blank, who has been "talking for months about the need of a new stadium to replace the 17-year-old Georgia Dome," Thursday said that he has been "nosing around downtown Atlanta as well as other parts of the city for a new place for the team to play," according to Kristi Swartz of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. Blank said that the process of getting a new stadium built "could take years -- seven, he said -- and will be backed with private and public money." He added that the Falcons "would be the chief backer of the stadium." A new Georgia Dome "is also a possibility," as Blank said that he "continues to talk to the Georgia World Congress Center, which manages the Dome." A "new Dome is included in the Congress Center's master plan that came out last year." Blank said that the Falcons "need to play in a new stadium not only to keep their competitive edge but to help Atlanta maintain its image as a world-class city." Blank: "The Falcons are falling behind other teams in the NFL in terms of the experience for our fans." Swartz notes Blank is "concerned that the franchise's competitive edge is waning without a modern-looking home." Blank: "We want the right environment for our fans and for our sponsors" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/9).

GOING NEUTRAL? In Atlanta, Roberson & Tucker noted Atlanta Sports President Council Gary Stokan has proposed having Georgia and Georgia Tech "meet in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game to start" the '11 college football season. However, both schools said that talks "about the possibility have been strictly preliminary." Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich said the talks have been "one-hundred percent informal discussion." Meanwhile, Georgia AD Damon Evans, who has been "non-committal on the idea," said that he "wasn't sure discussions would lead anywhere" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/8). Also in Atlanta, Mark Bradley wrote the game would be "good for both schools, good for the Dome, good for Atlanta, good for the state." The "lure of the Dome in August/September is that a mere game will become an Event," as the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game has "seen only two installments, and both have been rousing successes." Bradley wrote playing the game to start the season "would be way bigger than any split national telecast on the crowded Thanksgiving calendar," when the game is typically played (AJC.com, 10/7).