Falcons Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony For New Stadium

The ceremony took place about a hundred yards from the actual construction site and was a spectacle that included fireworks, pyrotechnics, hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and a 3-D video tour of the new stadium projected onto a huge movie screen.

“It will be iconic in every sense of the word…in the unique design, the 360-degree, 60-foot-high video board, the retractable roof, the window to the city, the adaptability to many other events,” said Falcons owner Arthur Blank before he and others donned hard hats and posed for pictures with commemorative shovels. ”Our goal is for this building to be a landmark to the city and to the state.” 

Major League Soccer Commissioner Dan Garber announced the first event in the stadium will be opening day for Atlanta’s yet-to-named soccer team.

“There’s already been 11,000 season tickets sold so I think that really speaks to what’s going to happen when this team hits the ground,” said Garber.

Construction on the $1.2 billion stadium is actually already underway. One of the two historic churches that sold its property to pave the way for the stadium was bulldozed last month.

At the ceremony, Blank reiterated his commitment to uplifting the surrounding west Atlanta community. His foundation has pledged $15 million for redevelopment and job training programs.

“This will give us the opportunity to be a catalyst for sustained real change, substantial change, over a very long period of time and we’re equally excited about that opportunity,” said Blank.

There’s a healthy dose of skepticism from residents. Similar pronouncements were made when the Georgia Dome was built more than two decades ago. 

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said this time will be different.

“We’re all going to be together for the next four years so we will either see whether we make the kind of investments we talk about or we don’t,” said Reed.

The city will be dishing out $15 million itself to groups with ideas aimed at stimulating the surrounding area. The deadline for the first round of applications was last week. Projects are expected to begin moving forward this summer.