Falcons Bring In $2.5M In PSL Payments; Arthur Blank Hones In On Fan Experience

Four weeks into a "controversial two-year effort" to sell PSLs for their new stadium, the Falcons as of Thursday had "collected and deposited" $2.48M in down payments, according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The Falcons "wouldn’t say how many seats or how much potential PSL revenue those down payments represent, contending it’s premature to do so." Many buyers said that their down payments were 10%, although one said that he "put down" 33%. Legends VP/Global Sales Michael Drake, whose firm is handling the team's PSL sales, said that about 1,000 season-ticket holders "have met with sales representatives at the stadium preview center on Northside Parkway." The Falcons "will attempt to schedule appointments with all season-ticket holders" by November, after which sales "will turn to new customers" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/7).

BLANK'S SPACE: In N.Y., Ken Belson notes Falcons Owner Arthur Blank is "wrestling with how to compete with television while convincing fans that attending games is affordable and unique." In designing the team's new 71,000-seat stadium, Blank wants to ensure that "even the fans in the cheapest seats have an enticing enough experience so that they will leave their living rooms and come to the game." The stadium "will include a 360-degree five-story high-definition video board that will be visible to every fan; a 61,000-square-foot plaza for entertainment before and after the game; a 100-yard bar on the upper concourse with various food and beverage options; and a lounge with game-day content to appeal to fantasy football fans." It also will include "about 7,500 club seats and two 'ultraexclusive VIP clubs,' some with sideline access, parking and private entrances." While the number of premium seats "is up" from the Georgia Dome, the "total number of seats is down from 74,000." Blank said, "These stadiums are obviously getting more and more costly to build, but in my opinion you want to ensure that you have the same demographics within the stadium that you have in the greater community" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/10).