Bill Darden isn’t your typical owner’s representative in sports, but he has plenty of experience running other large-scale building projects.
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DARDEN
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In his 38 years as a project manager and real estate developer, Darden, president of Darden & Co., has managed the development of office complexes, hotels, shopping centers and condominiums — even burial plots for the family of Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
Now comes Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a $1.4 billion project. It’s Darden & Co.’s first sports development among the 20 buildings that the firm has developed for Blank’s portfolio of properties.
The stadium is a highlight in an impressive career for Darden, a one-time construction scheduler for Brannen Goddard, a commercial real estate firm.
“I’ve done just about one of everything,” he said. “I haven’t done a jail or a hospital. I’ve done high-rise, mid-rise, low-rise, in major urban areas and suburbs.”
In 1999, Darden started his own firm, still unsure what he was going to do the rest of his life. He thought it might be a temporary thing, but he found a niche and it stuck. Looking back, Darden & Co. has managed over 120 projects across the country.
“I’m very blessed and fortunate,” Darden said. “I got introduced to Arthur about a year into my company. We struck up a wonderful relationship and he asked me if I would oversee the construction of his family office and manage it for him and his family.”
Darden & Co. assumed the role of full-time owner’s representative for the stadium in January 2015, early in the construction process. Icon Venue Group, with vast experience in managing sports developments, had filled the position before handing it off to Darden. Considering Darden’s close ties to Blank, it was part of a transition that all parties agreed was in the best interests of the project, Falcons officials said.
Darden was still involved with the stadium development as project executive on behalf of Blank, and was principally involved in selecting the general contractor.
Darden & Co. has 10 employees. Darden spends about 60 percent of his time at the stadium construction site, and the rest at his office, at project-related meetings with the city and state and at Blank’s office.
“I hop around,” he said. “We’ve got a great staff, they’re all young tigers. They work 12 to 14 hours a day and weekends and just smile while they do it.
“The stadium is one project that you cannot wrestle to the ground yourself. It is a team effort more than anything I’ve ever seen.”
