In Atlanta, Tucker & Stafford reported negotiations to build a new Falcons stadium on the team's preferred site just south of the Georgia Dome "have ended -- at least for now." The Georgia World Congress Center Authority and Mount Vernon Baptist Church are more than $14M "apart on the fair price" of the site. The GWCCA's “best and final” offer of $6.2M was "not in the ballpark of Mount Vernon Baptist Church’s asking price" of $20.4M (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/4).
KICKING & SCREAMING: In L.A., Nick Green reported "stratospheric ticket prices" for Saturday's Guinness Int'l Champions Cup soccer tournament double-header at Dodger Stadium "put a damper on attendance." With many seats "costing more than $100," the prices left "entire seating sections virtually empty." A "disappointing crowd of 35,000 to 40,000 was expected at the 56,000-capacity stadium" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 8/4).
OF KINGS...: A SACRAMENTO BEE editorial stated the city's planned downtown arena "will not only be an entertainment venue and new home for the Kings," but also a "rare opportunity to fix past mistakes and reinvigorate downtown with a piece of architecture that reflects Sacramento's values." With $258M in public funds involved, the community "needs to be a full partner in vetting possible designs." Before a final arena design is approved in October, the public is expected to have "significant opportunities to have its say" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 8/4).
AND THE QUEEN CITY...: In Cincinnati, Sharon Coolidge reported half of the $5M renovation costs for Great American Ball Park "will go toward painting, waterproofing and concrete replacement" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 8/4).
