New Falcons Stadium Up For Discussion

    With the recession cutting back personal spending, many people can't afford tickets to sports games like they used to.  The solution for not being able to sit right in front of the action, was creating HDTV. High definition TV allows you to feel like you're on the foul line. NFL Commissioner, Rodger Goodell, expressed his views at a Fan Forum by stating that NFL game attendance is being challenged by high-definition sports. “One of our biggest challenges in the League is the experience at home,” Goodell said. “HD is only going to get better. It starts with a great facility.”

    Atlanta Falcons have came up with an idea to rebuild the Georgia Dome, in hopes to restore ticket sales and revenue. While many agree that the stadium needs updating, many other Atlanta residents do not agree with the high probability that their taxes will increase as a result. The Georgia Dome, after all, is only 20 years old and holds 70,000-plus people. It has already been estimated that a new stadium will cost around $1 billion, including features such as a retractable roof. Around $300 million of that money is slated to come from a Fulton County hotel/motel tax.

    Governor Nathan Deal recently stated, “There’s got to be a little further explanation to the public, and probably to the members of the General Assembly,” concerning the costs, location and when they plan on constructing. Falcons owner Arthur Blank believes the stadium will increase the teams revenue and franchise. Many economic studies show that new stadiums double the value of an NFL team, however, it is up to the public to vote on whether they accept the new tax and stadium, or if the Falcons are going to continue to play in the famous Georgia Dome.