The Falcons and Georgia World Congress Center Authority's contract with 360 Architecture yesterday was "approved unanimously" by the GWCCA board and "signed immediately after the vote," according to Tucker & Stafford of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The contract calls for 360 Architecture "to be paid a fixed fee" of $32.5M and up to $2.5M for expenses, which is "similar to a reported" $34M fee for HKS Sports & Entertainment to design the Vikings' new stadium. 360 Architecture previously designed MetLife Stadium, its "highest-profile project." The GWCCA board approved the contract after a presentation from 360 Architecture Senior Principal Bill Johnson "showed two strikingly different concepts of how the stadium could be designed." Johnson emphasized that "neither was intended as a proposed design but as an insight into how the firm will approach the creative task." One concept featured a "geometric roof design in which a series of panels would open directly above the football field." The other featured a "larger roof opening, much glass and no upper-level end-zone seats so that the stadium would have a dramatic view of the Atlanta skyline." Both concepts were "prepared without input" from the Falcons or the GWCCA (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/1). CBS Sports Network’s Doug Gottlieb noted the Falcons' new stadium plans include “impact seating," saying it is "like you're sitting in a chair and there’s a big hit and the chair reacts to the chair.” The net's Allie LaForce said, “I don’t know if I would like that. I think I would get sick of that" (“Lead Off,” CBSSN, 4/30).
SOMETHING IN THE WAY? NBC’s Brian Williams described the Falcons' efforts to build a new stadium as the “classic urban battle about the past and the future and the cost of giving way and letting development come through.” The net’s Ron Allen reported two historic churches sit on land the Falcons plan to develop for their new stadium, and the city is "offering millions of dollars if the churches agree to move.” Allen said the city’s first offer to Friendship Baptist Church is "nearly ten times its appraised value, about ten million dollars.” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed “will accept the church’s decision, but hopes they’ll take the offer.” Reed said, “They will be a stronger church, a stronger organization that is more capable because of the millions of dollars that we’re going to pay for the church.” Allen reported there is “another location for the stadium nearby that’s less desirable if both churches don’t agree to move." The congregations will "make their decisions in the coming weeks" (“Nightly News,” NBC, 4/30).
