As the Braves abandon the city for the suburbs, another team has stepped boldly forward to unify Atlanta (Dallas: purchaser, moving)

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Sounds like DawgPark is still butt hurt.

Joe - It is just outside the city limits. But it more how they went about it all. The Braves and Cobb have made clear the move is about targeting fans in the north west suburbs and they don't really care about other fans. Also money.

If you read the full article they get into more details. This move is pretty disgraceful to the Braves and Atlanta history.

So let me get this straight. They are targeting fans in the north/northwest suburbs where the lion's share of their season ticket holders live? And they don't care about their other fans? Wouldn't remaining where they are be a slap in the face of many more thousands of fans?

Yes, ticket holders in Peachtree City and Newnan should be annoyed. But the Braves didn't cause Atlanta sprawl; They are merely responding to it. It isn't their fault that Atlanta's downtown is lifeless (relatively speaking to other cities its size). As an organization, it makes sense for them to have their stadium near the center of their base.

Go look at a heat map of where Braves fans (actual, paying Braves fans) live. Now you can argue that replacing Turner Field this soon is idiotic because it is a perfectly good venue and I wouldn't disagree. Seems like this could have waited 5 or 10 more years until a newer facility was truly warranted (imo)...

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by steveklein

So let me get this straight. They are targeting fans in the north/northwest suburbs where the lion's share of their season ticket holders live? And they don't care about their other fans? Wouldn't remaining where they are be a slap in the face of many more thousands of fans?

Yes, ticket holders in Peachtree City and Newnan should be annoyed. But the Braves didn't cause Atlanta sprawl; They are merely responding to it. It isn't their fault that Atlanta's downtown is lifeless (relatively speaking to other cities its size). As an organization, it makes sense for them to have their stadium near the center of their base.

Go look at a heat map of where Braves fans (actual, paying Braves fans) live. Now you can argue that replacing Turner Field this soon is idiotic because it is a perfectly good venue and I wouldn't disagree. Seems like this could have waited 5 or 10 more years until a newer facility was truly warranted (imo)...

Even based on their map, If they were to locate the stadium at the center of mass of their fans, it would be Buckhead. So lets stop pretending that the Braves-produced map (which is distorted and did not include the data behind it) is the motivation for the move.

[evannole]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Even based on their map, If they were to locate the stadium at the center of mass of their fans, it would be Buckhead. So lets stop pretending that the Braves-produced map (which is distorted and did not include the data behind it) is the motivation for the move.

And your basis for this outlandish statement is? Come on, man. You're entitled to your own (sour grapes) opinion, but not your own facts.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by evannole

And your basis for this outlandish statement is? Come on, man. You're entitled to your own (sour grapes) opinion, but not your own facts.

And your basis that the center of the Braves universe is Cobb, is based on what? A red splotch roughly over the north Atlanta area?

[glovenyc]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Even based on their map, If they were to locate the stadium at the center of mass of their fans, it would be Buckhead. So lets stop pretending that the Braves-produced map (which is distorted and did not include the data behind it) is the motivation for the move.

Isn't Buckhead is closer to Cumberland, than it is to Summerhill?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by glovenyc

Isn't Buckhead is closer to Cumberland, than it is to Summerhill?

Depends on how you measure it. They are about the same. But they are not moving to Buckhead are they?

And again, not sure why you all are so obsessed with the location. Plenty of teams operate outside the city limits. It should be clear that is not the issue.

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Even based on their map, If they were to locate the stadium at the center of mass of their fans, it would be Buckhead. So lets stop pretending that the Braves-produced map (which is distorted and did not include the data behind it) is the motivation for the move.

Maybe so. But what about 10 or 15 years from now? Do you think Alpharetta, Marietta, Acworth, Cartersville and Kennesaw are more likely to add to the season ticket base or do you think more prospective season ticket holders will be moving to Union City, College Park, and McDo?

And maybe if a tract of land in Buckhead were available and in the right price range, that's where they'd be.

[jsvh]

Steve - After this move I am sure they have already seen a huge drop in ticket holders on the southside & in town and an increase in Cobb.

Don't kid yourself about the land being what was holding them back. You really think they would be moving anywhere without $400M in tax dollars?

[brownhornet]

Hell look at where Jerry built the Cowboys stadium....you don't see folks in Dallas crying about it.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

Hell look at where Jerry built the Cowboys stadium....you don't see folks in Dallas crying about it.

Yep. It should be obvious that the location alone is not the issue here with the Braves.

Good quote from this article, that really help to expand on the psychological barrier that is being driven by Cobb & Liberty Media between Atlanta and the Braves:

...Joe Dendy, chair of the Cobb County Republican Party, sent out this statement following the announcement of the Braves’ move to Cobb: “It is absolutely necessary the solution is all about moving cars in and around Cobb and surrounding counties from our north and east where most Braves fans travel from, and not moving people into Cobb by rail from Atlanta.”


It just confirmed that the Chattahoochee is really a moat between Atlanta and the new Braves stadium...