The Falcons "plan to reduce the prices on several thousand" PSLs in the upper level of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Team officials said that PSLs in the four upper corners of the new stadium, which previously were priced at $1,250 and 1,500, "will be re-priced between $500 and $750." AMB Sports & Entertainment Senior VP & CRO Michael Drake said that the pricing change "resulted from fan demand for a new option after the upper-level end-zone seats, which carried the stadium’s cheapest PSL fee of $500, sold out." The Falcons "wouldn’t say exactly how many seats are in those sections and wouldn’t be more specific about the new prices than saying they will be in the $500-$750 range." Drake said that few seats "have been sold in the affected sections to this point and that those buyers will receive a credit for the difference." He added that the price reduction "doesn’t portend cuts to come for more expensive seats elsewhere in the stadium." Tucker notes the season-ticket prices "won’t change for the upper-level corner seats that are getting the new PSL prices." Season tickets for those seats "cost $70 or $80 per game, depending on the row" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/17).
WHAT'S AN EXTRA $100M? WXIA-NBC's Doug Richards reported there "are strong indications that the cost of the new Falcons stadium is going up again." A spokesperson for Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said that the cost of the project remains $1.5B. However, Arthur Blank Family Foundation President Penny McPhee "spilled a number a hundred million dollars higher during an event this week -- as did mayor Kasim Reed, when he also said it was" a $1.6B project. Kennesaw State Univ. professor J.C. Bradbury said that it is "commonplace for stadium costs to soar as construction drags on." Richards noted the stadium "has already delayed its opening date by some three months" (11ALIVE.com, 6/16).
