Local

Campaigns For and Against New Braves’ Stadium Get Underway

November 19th, 2013

The fight over a new proposed stadium for the Atlanta Braves in Cobb County is heating up. Campaigns for and against the plan are getting underway ahead of next week’s vote on a memorandum of understanding for the project by county commissioners.

Cobb Taxpayers Association Chairman Lance Lamberton says his group will work with several other organizations to oppose the stadium proposal.

“We believe it’s inappropriate for taxpayers to pay for what essentially should be a private sector venture. This is an entertainment venue. It is a for-profit corporation, if they want to move or expand they should be able to that, but they should do it on their own dime.”

Lamberton says the Cobb Taxpayers Association plans to start a phone campaign to urge county residents to contact commissioners in opposition.

“We hope to reach several hundred, maybe a few thousand people.”

Meanwhile, a group of pro-stadium business owners launched cobbhomeofthebraves.com. They also paid for this commercial featuring Superior Plumbing owner Jay Cunningham and Loud Security Systems owner John Loud wearing Braves jerseys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh4BQkZ0MnM

And Loud explains why the Cobb business leaders are undertaking the campaign:

“It’s a combined effort to really have the business group as leaders, to be able to let our commissioners know this is a wonderful opportunity for our county. There’s tremendous gains for everyone involved.”

Loud would not say how much the media buy cost, but says it’s substantial and will air in the Cobb viewing area on multiple cable channels.

In the meantime, the Georgia Tea Party has not taken a stance. But Georgia Tea Party Board of Directors Chairman J.D. Van Brink plans to ask Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee to delay next week’s vote.

“We need more time to look at the costs and benefits and see if this is really in the best interest of Cobb County.”

The watchdog group Common Cause is calling for a referendum to allow residents to vote on the stadium project. At the very least, Common Cause Executive Director William Perry says commissioners should postpone a vote on the memorandum of understanding for the project.