The Falcons “moved a step closer toward a possible new home field Tuesday, after the Georgia World Congress Center Authority signaled it is ready to move into detailed talks on the matter,” according to a front-page piece by Stafford, Ledbetter & McWilliams of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. The GWCCA agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Falcons on “plans for a potential $700 million open-air stadium downtown.” The GWCCA and Falcons emphasized that the “memorandum does not constitute a done deal, but rather allows them to begin negotiations over details of the project, including financing.” Officials said that a new stadium “could open as soon as 2017,” and would be “built on a site just over a half-mile north of the Georgia Dome.” Yesterday's action was the “first time the GWCCA committed to actively plan for the Falcons’ future.” The GWCCA approved the agreement after architecture firm Populous “delivered its look at the viability of an open-air stadium.” The stadium would have “65,000 permanent seats, 10,000 temporary seats, 7,500 club seats and 110 suites.” The plan “would leave the Georgia Dome standing.” The SEC football championship, the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Men’s Final Four and ACC basketball championships “have all played at the Dome because they prefer an enclosed stadium.” GWCCA Chair Bob Prather said that “if the parties agree on a new stadium, the state or the GWCCA would go to the bond market probably in 2013 or 2014 when officials hope they can raise” $350-400M. Construction would “begin shortly after the bonds are secured.” The GWCCA said that the Falcons “would kick in the remainder of the funds” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/23).
