Just hours after the DeKalb County Commission yesterday voted in favor of a $30M training facility for Atlanta United FC, the expansion MLS club "released preliminary renderings of its new complex," according to Phil Hudson of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. The county "will provide, via ground lease to Decide DeKalb -- DeKalb’s economic development agency -- nearly 41 acres of county-owned land." Decide DeKalb will "be in charge of the demolition of existing buildings that are no longer useful county assets, as well as other land preparation of the property." Atlanta United will "build a 20,000-25,000 square foot" corporate HQ for the club, "three outdoor practice fields and a 3,500-seat outdoor stadium." In addition, Atlanta United will pay the county 15% of "net revenue derived from any naming rights sold for the complex and any revenue-generating branded events." The DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs Dept. also will have "6,000 square feet of office space in the stadium." DeKalb County will make payments to Atlanta United of $2.33M annually for three years, "beginning at the time when the department moves into their new offices at the stadium." For the "remainder of the lease, this payment will be $10 per year" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/4).
SILENCING THE OPPOSITION: In Atlanta, Mark Niesse notes yesterday's vote came "after the commission denied allowing comments from the public on the proposal." More than a dozen residents "stood and sometimes shouted in opposition." Commissioners opposed to the deal said that it "wasn’t a good investment of public money" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/5).
